The Law of the Garbage Truck

I received an article from my colleague, Vanessa Yong, who is also the President of our Dennis Wee Group Toastmasters' Club. Vanessa is a very well groomed and lovely lady, who has a cheerful and bright personality even though she has quite a hard life and has gone through enough sufferings to last her a lifetime. She is always
positive and forgiving.... read on and you will know her secret! Let us all practise the law of the garbage truck! We will be able to save a lot of money in wrinkle cream, botox, etc. and enjoy the "free emotional cosmetics" provided by the law of the garbage truck!!!


Dear Choo,

After reading this, you would know why I can't be bothered to remember unhappy incidents.

In life, we go thru too much unpleasant experiences. It's OK to be upset for a while but to remain angry is really not worth it.

The trick to this is, when you start to get angry, think of the wrinkles you would develop from that. That should deter us from it! Heehee......

Cheers
Vanessa

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?

You'll be happier Here's my bet.


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!