Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Garbage Truck Law...

I got this from an email by my ex-course mate not so long ago and I found it to be so refreshing as currently, my mind, body and soul are so stressed out and can even become like a ‘garbage truck’ in a blink if annoyed etc… I just want to share this beautiful and meaningful story with you (and I hope I don’t get in trouble or anything for posting this…)

Beware of Garbage Trucks (by David J. Pollay)

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 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.'

I began to 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.
Teachers 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.

So.. Love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance , TAKE IT!
If it changes your life , LET IT!
Nobody said it would be easy...
They just promised it would be worth it!

I hope you all have a good read and lesson from this…. Have a great day my friends….

11 comments:

rin-chan 린- 찬 said...

Hi Hombidai, thanks for sharing. I only know The Law of Ueki heheh.. just kidding.

Have a great day to you too.

Anonymous said...

I used to deal with garbage trucks on a daily basis in my old job. Now I don't have to deal with garbage trucks anymore.

Lab papa said...

Bagus ini serita. Sa pun teransang.

p/s tapi kalo garbage truck KK yang along the way suda keluar air babau dia, abis suma jalan, mau tia mo kana juga kita hahahaha

Hombidai said...

hahaha rin-chan, law of ueki...

same with me Aza.. kalau dulu, wah, macam mau sakit jantung kena 'hantam' ja oleh gargage trucks..

lab papa - hahaha, susah mau elak kalu sudah kena di jalan raya kan... nasib kurang2 sudah sia jumpa sekarang...

wmsiew said...

hey Hombidai

great post! keep it up!

KaDusMama said...

nah!! sia pun kadang2 macam garbage truck juga nie..melepas tension yang ada sama orang..hehehe
hope after this, no more lah..terus tesedar after baca ur post..

Hombidai said...

wmsiew - thanks..

kdmama - betul2 ada pengajaran ni cerita kan...

Poppet said...

wooohooo another one for me.. tengkiu hombi.. memang ngam for me at this moment heheheh... sia copy paste lagi ni..
btw, lab papa...skrg tu truck sampah dbkk buli2 sudah, jarang sudah ada yg air jatuh2 di jalan raya... dan nmpk bersih-bersih sudah :)

Lab papa said...

Poppet,

again, what happened? kasi story2 sikit, anasir2 ja'at di lab kah?

DBKK bersih suda? bagus..sa suka

Poppet said...

lab papa.. nothing to do with the lab hehehehe.. side story punya..

Yup, mcm tu DBKK improve sudah oo... siap ada kempen kutu sampah lagi...if you see org buat sampah dr kereta ble sms or email or kol DBKK kasi riput.. hehehehe ramai juga yg kena tangkap sudah and kena denda cash or sapu sampah hehehhe

carolchs said...

sangat bagus utk bikin refleksi harian ni...thanks for sharing this hombidai.