Had a tasty dinner and a few drinks at Red Lobster on Monday night - our waitress Amanda was very attentive, helpful, polite, and all around great at her job. She even recognized us as regular customers even though I believe it has been quite some time since she has been out waitress. Just wanted to say good job!

THE LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK

2004 2012 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, you re probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of your success is how quickly you can refocus on what s important in your life.

Garbage Truck

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. And 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 brakes, the car skidded, the tires squealed, and at the very last moment our car stopped just one inch from the other car s back-end.

I couldn t believe it. But then I couldn t believe 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 New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face. And he even threw in a one finger salute! I couldn t believe it!

But here s what really 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 could have killed us! And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, The Law of the Garbage Truck . He said:

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 look for a place to dump it. And if you let them, they ll dump it on you.


So when someone wants to dump on you, don t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Believe me. You ll be happier.



So 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, or on the street? It was then that I said, I don t want their garbage and I m not going to spread 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 dump it. And like my taxi driver, I don t take it personally; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time was Walter Payton. Every day on the football field, after being tackled, he would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Over the years the best players from around the world in every sport have played this way: Muhammad Ali, Nadia Comaneci, Bjorn Borg, Chris Evert, Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson, and Pele are just some of those players. And the most inspiring leaders have lived this way: Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King.

See, Roy Baumeister, a psychology researcher from Florida State University, found in his extensive research that you remember bad things more often than good things in your life. You store the bad memories more easily, and you recall them more frequently.

So the odds are against you when a Garbage Truck comes your way. But when you follow The Law of the Garbage Truck , you take back control of your life. You make room for the good by letting go of the bad.

The best leaders know that they have to be ready for their next meeting. The best sales people know that they have to be ready for their next client. And the best parents know that they have to be ready to greet their children with hugs and kisses, no matter how many garbage trucks they might have faced that day. All of us know that we have to be fully present, and at our best for the people we care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their lives.

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.

Link: bewareofgarbagetrucks.com/wordpress/the-law-of-the-garbage-truck/

To the hardworking paramedics of ambulance 1149. Thanks for the kindness and care you demonstrated. I was so satisfied with the amount of effort you guys put in as well as the ride to MET hospital.
Best wishes to both of you.

Due to this mornings article in The Windsor Star about city bylaw and fines to be handed out we are offering services to those in need or anyone facing a fine for non shovelled sidewalks in Windsor due to enforcemnet bylaw ? Call us @ Tri-County Services Ltd. and we will be glad to clear at a reasonable rate ! 519-566-9274

the gentleman at Sears Optical.. I bring my elderly mother in constantly because she is falling asleep on her glasses or sitting on them.. He is always helpful and courteous, and has repaired her glasses many times for free, asking for nothing but a smile and, if we want, a donation to their eyeglass charity. All of the folks there are amazing, but Rob is why we keep going back! -- THANK YOU!!

I was sitting on a chair at the train station on the phone. After I was done with my daughter trying to get through to her about a personal issue I started crying. This gentleman walked up to me and handed me a tissue because he noticed me crying. He said I don't want to bother you but you look like you could use some help. I looked up at him and my eyes started to water even more. Well after about 30 min of talking he taught me something. I called my daughter back and we came to an understanding. I am sorry I couldn't thank you enough again and again. You are one wise man Jeff. Have a safe trip to wherever you were heading.

Signed
A mother who learned something

I went to dirty Jersey restaurant on sat with my 4 kids. I had been physically abused/ removed from my apartment by my soon to be exhusband. I was upset and freezing so we went there to get warm and maybe cheer the kids up.well I have to say the bartender roxi went above and beyond to make the kids laugh. even let me use her cellphone to find a place. You young lady have been spotted

There was a couple good citizens who asked if I was ok and needed help. The one citizen offered me his shovel so I could dig snow away from my vehicle as it slid off the side of the road. I was trying to avoid hitting a dog going into the middle of the road while being walked by its owner. Then I called my husband to come and pull me out of the ditch. That individual never even stopped to see if I was ok or needed any kind of help at all. All I can say is the nerve of some people. One Day you may need help from someone and you won't get it as Karma's a Bitch when it does come around.