May 2, 2010

Sunday Inspiration: The Law of the Garbage Truck

Drumbeats from Iya brought this uplifting story to me via email. I thought that villagers would enjoy it as well...

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital! This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' he explained that 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 sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!


5 comments:

SjP said...

This is a great story. I'm "taking" it with me as Monday morning will soon be here and the garbage is generally not picked up on my side of the plantation until Tuesday...

So, a very much obliged!

Black on Campus said...

I love this story! I am definitely going to try to live by that taxi driver's example. Thank you for an uplifting and insightful glimpse into another way of thinking about things.

Unknown said...

Sojourner & Ajuan - Thank you both for sharing your village voices with us. I hope that others will join us in this weekly meme...

Big Mama said...

Omo,
Excellent advice....and IT WORKS

Unknown said...

Iya - I receive and enjoy your email missives...