While visiting New York City years ago we hopped in a taxi and took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
Our 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. Our 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? That guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"
This is when our 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 -- frustration, anger, disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
A pearl to string: How often do you let other people's nonsense affect your mood? Do you let a terrible driver, uncouth waiter, curt boss, bratty kids or an insensitive acquaintance ruin your day? For an instant you're most likely set back on your heels. These are very stressful days and these things happen frequently. 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. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:8-9)
The blessing of your smile in stressful moments becomes a blessing to others
Know you are loved,
Lyndi
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