[REDCART]

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 one can get back their focus on what's important.

David J. Pollay explains his story in this way....

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.'

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.'

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.

Believe that everything happens for a reason. Never let the garbage
truck run over you....

Where's all this wisdom been all my life? I'm now ready to retire!

[nONIE]

aint it the pitts GR,
Were too soon old and too late shmart an old Amish saying)

GR thanks for sharing that piece of wisdom. Never too old to hear of new ways to go through life no matter how old we are Nonie. I will try to keep the Garbage Truck principal in my head and heart going forward. It won't be easy but will make a difference if I can keep to it. Thanks again, a good read..........Johnny

[Sidney Lanier]

Ain't it the truth! Too often we give other people and THEIR issues and baggage free space in OUR heads. The truth is: We don't have to! And we need to keep reminding ourselves of that.... Thanks, JohnnyM!

[Sidney Lanier]

P.S. And thanks too, gryoung! Had never heard it as the "garbage truck" principle....