The Law of the Garbage Truck – Motivational Monday November 7, 2010

I received an email from my sister, Susanna, over the weekend and felt it was a great topic for a Motivational Monday post.  The email was entitled “The Law of the Garbage Truck”.  Here is the story:

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.  So for your week this week, keep in mind to not be a garbage truck to others and when someone dumps on you, try not to take it personally and just let it slide off of you. 

Upon looking further into the “Law of the Garbage Truck” story, I came across where the story originated.  You can check out David Pollay’s blog and even purchase the book David has written based off of this idea. The book is called “The Law of the Garbage Truck:  How to Respond to People Who Dump on You and How to Stop Dumping on others”.

Burn Brightly Without Burning Out November 1, 2010

Sometimes I burn the candle at both ends with an already short candle.  We each have a finite amount of ourselves that we can give to others each day.  All of us want to be the best we can be at all things and we put enormous pressure on ourselves.  Without taking time to stop and rejuvenate ourselves, our flame will begin to flicker and dim because we have used up all of our resources.  So, in order to keep being that bright flame of light, make sure to slow down and take care of yourself so that you can continue to be all that you can be for everyone else in your life. 

(SOURCE)

What will you do this week to rejuvenate yourself so that you can continue to burn brightly?  I would love to hear how you take time for yourself. 

Have an uplifting week and remember to take time for you!  🙂
Iris