Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Garbage Truck of Life*

Another gem sent by a dear friend via email... and again, so very true.



One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

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

He explained that 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 sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so....."Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't."

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

*Written by David J. Pollay
davidjpollay.typepad.com

13 grace-filled voices:

The Birdlady said...

Perfect way to start my day. Thanks, Jayne. (Did your cards get to you?)

Lynne said...

A great lesson Jayne- thank you!

NCmountainwoman said...

I'll think about this story many times every day. Thanks for planting such a great idea.

Tera Rose said...

true, so true.

Mary said...

Thanks, Jayne :o)

Susan said...

That wise cab driver refused to "get dirty." Good for him, and what a great example.

Marsha said...

Wonderful! I am going to remember this and try to not let the "garbage" bother me as it sometimes does. A good one to share with others too and soon there won't be any "garbage" around!

Evelyn said...

Great story, Jayne! Life is much more pleasant when we realize that when people are overly upset, it's usually NOT ABOUT US!

2sweetnsaxy said...

Such a great story and lesson. Hope you don't mind if I copy this to post on a message board I'm on.

TSannie said...

Thank you so very much for that reminder. Don't want to become even half a garbage truck!

Chris said...

Hi Jayne,

Thanks for posting this great story! My name is Chris, and I work with David J. Pollay, the author of The Law of the Garbage Truck™ - Beware of Garbage Trucks™! I just wanted to stop by and let you know that you can read the original story on David’s blog davidjpollay.typepad.com. I know he’d love to have you stop by!

Also check out the video of people in New York City taking the No Garbage Trucks!™ Pledge: bewareofgarbagetrucks.com. It’s pretty cool.

Thanks again!

Chris

chris@bewareofgarbagetrucks.com



Thanks for posting this great story! And thanks for correctly attributing it to David J. Pollay! My name is Chris, and I work with David. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that you can read the original story on David’s blog davidjpollay.typepad.com. I know he’d love to have you stop by!

Also check out the video of people in New York City taking the No Garbage Trucks!™ Pledge: bewareofgarbagetrucks.com. It’s pretty cool.

Thanks again!

Chris

chris@bewareofgarbagetrucks.com

Jayne said...

Hi Chris,

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know about David and his website. The email I got did not have his name listed as the author of this great piece, so I am happy to know I can attribute it to him!

RuthieJ said...

I like that story Jayne! It's a good one for me to try and remember every day. Thanks