Garbage Trucks

Beware of Garbage Trucks
By David J. Polly

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? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant
you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a
successful person is how quickly one can get back their 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.'

I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie 'The Sixth Sense,'
the little boy said, 'I see Dead People.'

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.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did
this every day on the Football field. He would jump up as quickly as
he hit the ground after being tackled.

He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his
best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting.

Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from
school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have
to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks
take over their day.

What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if
you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here's my bet. You'll be happier.