Beware of Garbage Trucks

[Sheryl]

I found this and thought I'd share, makes a great point.

How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day?



However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what’s important. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

Here’s what happened. …… I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly.

So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.

So this was it: The “Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: At work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, “I’m not going to do it anymore.”

Well, now “I see Garbage Trucks.” I see the load they’re carrying.

I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

[Bryn Mawr]

and so very true it is too.

[cars]

Very wise Taxi Driver, & you too Sheryl! Don't sweat the small stuff!!

[WonderWendy3]

Awesome reminder of the important things in life! Love it!!

[YZGI]

Or you can treat everything like a dog..



If you can't eat it or hump it...



P i s s on it and walk away..

[sunny104]

YZGI;720549 wrote: Or you can treat everything like a dog..



If you can't eat it or hump it...



P i s s on it and walk away..


:yh_rotfl

great message though, from both of you....

[Pheasy]

Sheryl;720411 wrote: I found this and thought I'd share, makes a great point.

How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day?



However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what’s important. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

Here’s what happened. …… I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly.

So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.

So this was it: The “Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: At work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, “I’m not going to do it anymore.”

Well, now “I see Garbage Trucks.” I see the load they’re carrying.

I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.


What a great idea. Although I would be no where near as relaxed about it as the taxi driver, and will admit that I get very involved and emotional about stuff - But, I do let most of it go eventually.

There is a lot that has happened in my past, for which I had to let the memories, anger and emotions go. I will not, and absolutely refuse, to let the action of others, and the let downs, ruin my life. Often my friends will comment on my attitude to some of the stuff that has happened to me - and they really have trouble understanding. But this is the way I look at it, if someone has hurt me and I have fought so hard to overcome that, to then continue to allow them to ruin my life by hanging on to its memories, would mean that they still have power over me and are still hurting me. I refuse to give them that pleasure!