The Law of Garbage Trucks.

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 set back
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 what
happened. 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 words in 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 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 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
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. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense,"
the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well now "I 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 favourite Football players of all times, Ronaldino, does
this 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 a hit. Ronaldino
is always 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.

Leaders 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. I guarantee it.

--
Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to!!