Help Others.org: The Law of Garbage Trucks -- A Kindness Story

Sixteen years ago I learned an important life lesson, in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

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, skidded,
and missed the other car by mere inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was actually friendly!

So, I asked him, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and could've sent us to the hospital!"

And this is when my taxi driver told me about what I now call, "The Law of Garbage Trucks."

"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. Instead, just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happier because you did."

Wow. That really got me thinking about how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? AND, how often do I then take their garbage and spread it onto other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I resolved, "I'm not going to do it anymore."

Since then, I have started to see Garbage Trucks everywhere. Just as the kid in the Sixth Sense movie said, "I see dead people," I can now say, "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.

78 comments: page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Mavis wrote: Thank you, this is really an eye opener coz i've been alllowing myself to get worked up for nothing, yet it's just another garbage truck. I'll feel useful next time some1 does it again, especially on the road, coz i know he/she'll just be off- loading some of that garbage, and i won't add the garbage to myself as well.Lets smile and pass blessings to such people.

Tom wrote: You sound like an elementary school teacher. This is obvious advice and your anecdote is uninteresting. And guess what! Because you have this policy of nonchalance, you can easily blow off my criticism and fail to grow as a person. Enjoy your meager and uninteresting life!

sarine wrote: very inspiring story !

Ramana wrote: Your message is very inspiring and uplifting. This is also the purpose of AHAM, the Association of Happiness for All Mankind, a non-profit organization, formed 30 years ago in North Carolina. It operates a meditation retreat in Asheboro, NC and one in Tiruvannamali, South India. Its name is its purpose. Its website: www.aham.com

Keep the kindness flowing and going! :-)

Best wishes

Norman wrote: Sometimes we encounted rude people and who knows, everybody has a story to tell. Attimes, with kind actions, they may just change their attitude.
Pss!!! seems this's the case with one of the guys who commented on the story. Thanks for sharing anyway and keep the spirit alive.

Mary Ellen wrote: I have been living my life that way for the last year or so. I learned to do that through theraphy because I was going through a bad time in my life. But the story put it into a title "The Law Of The Garbage Trucks" that even simplifies it more. It is a little hard to learn at first, but well worth it once you see the results. Thaks for putting a name to it for me !

ali wrote: Hm. Gee tom, i think you've just proven his point. Great story david.

Ben wrote: Woow, you just lit a light bulb in my head. I always thought it was always my fault. Thank you

ethyl wrote: Every comment section needs a tom because it wouldn't be a true comment section unless some jackass endeared us with an insult. And tom did that for us. Amidst all the warm, positive thoughts was tom to spill his garbage truck. Ali is right. He gave david the perfect opportunity to prove his point. Have a great day, tom, hope things start lookin' up for you. Ethyl

Shelly wrote: I get the whole thing about it not being personal. I just happened to be there when someone did something stupid or mean.

I worry about bad drivers. Maybe the next person they cut off in traffic won't be quite as awake.

So-when someone does something stupid i say a quick prayer for them. They need all the help they can get. As do i.

The Law of Garbage Trucks

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