Think about the last time someone was rude to you for no reason at all. What were you feeling? Anger, frustration, and most of all confusion. And the age old question:
"What's wrong with this dude?"
That person is rude to you and then you walk away angry at the world. And usually someone else catches the brunt of your anger and the cycle keeps going.
Stress and anger are not the best mindsets to have if you are looking to improve your health. When you are all tensed up and angry at the world, you are not thinking about eating right and exercising. You are only thinking about that jerk that made you mad.
I used to get really upset when people were unnecessarily rude to me. And I admit it still happens from time to time, but I am much better nowadays.
I want to share with you what helped changed my outlook. It was all about The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay.
Pollay talks about an experience he had in the back of a New York City cab. He was riding in the back of the cab when all of the sudden a car comes out of nowhere and nearly causes his a terrible wreck between Pollay's cab and the crazy driver.
If that is not bad enough, the guy who nearly caused the accident blames the cabbie and starts screaming and flipping off them off. The cab driver's reaction was amazing.
He just smiled and waved.
Pollay was astounded and asked the cab driver how he could be so friendly after that man nearly killed both of them. The cab driver answered:
"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."
Wow. My challenge to you this weekend is to look for garbage trucks. I bet you won't have to look far. When they try to dump their trash on you just smile, wave, and have an awesome day.
PS-I highly recommend reading The Law of the Garbage Truck: How to Stop People from Dumping on You, great book.
