The Law of the Garbage Trucks

was blog-hopping and found this...

The Law of the Garbage Trucks
A good philosophy, worth trying

The Law of the Garbage Trucks
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 setback on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what's important.

I learned it in the back of a Harare City taxi cab. Here's whathappened. I hopped in a taxi and we took off for Westgate .We were driving 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!

Here's what happened next. 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. How do I know? Ask any Zimbabwean, some wordsin Harare come with a special face.

Now, here's what blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you justdo 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 ofgarbage, 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 letthem, they'll dump it on you. When someonewants 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. I guarantee it.

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 Itake their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, onthe 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 GarbageTrucks."I see the loadthey'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 themwell, and I move on.

One of my favourite Football players of all times, Ronaldino, doesthis every day on the football field. With a smile he always jumps up as quickly as he hits the ground after being tackled. He never dwells on ahit. Ronaldino is always ready to make the next play his best. Goodleaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugsand kisses.

Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and attheir best for the people they care about.

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

What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? You'll be happier. I guarantee it.

ok, so my "immediate boss" is now a garbage truck

last friday, she sent us (all the "supposedly technical" staff of my dept) an email, INVITING us to attend a new "simple" system briefing. Since i was on "cuti-cuti Malaysia" last friday, i only saw the e-mail yesterday, about 3 minutes before the briefing starts. i decided not to go because

1. INVITATION only maaa... as an invited person, u hv the right to decline. E.g : when someone sent u a wedding INVITATION, u hv a choice whether to go or not to go. it's not like someone would die if u dont attend.

2. it is just a simple system, and if u're stoopid enough and doesnt really know how to use it, u can always ask around. plus, the programmer of the system sits right in front and doesnt really hv much to do u can ask him anytime.

and now, she wants a show-cause letter. GREAT!!!

anyway... decided to IGNORE...

or perhaps i can ask for a show-cause letter on why she didnt attend my wedding when i have already wasted my RM1.80 INVITATION card on her.

oh but i guess i just wave my hand *wave hand* and smile

coz SHE'S JUST ANOTHER FULLY LOADED GARBAGE TRUCK!