Bear one
another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
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.
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. 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 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. 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? Here's my bet. You'll be happier.
Life's too short to wake up
in the morning with regrets, so...Love the people who treat you right. Forgive and Forget about the ones who don't.
Pray for them. 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!
