Reading SpeedyQuad's post about a driver getting mad at him for backing out of a parking space. Apparantly the other driver was 'delayed' getting to the drive-thru. Thankfully SQ was OK and didn't have to do anyting rash. That other guy is one of the 'angry ones'......

It reminded me of lots of angry people in our society, and how they want to 'spread the joy'. Someone had forwarded me this story below.

Some people want to spread their misery and find an excuse to get into a fight or argument. Don't be their enabler....read on:

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The Law of the Garbage Truck

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. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ...

Love the people who treat you right.

Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it…

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

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John

I like the analogy, John.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Excellent philosophy. Been practicing that for years just did not know the correct name. Thank you.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

And you can count on the fact that the "garbage trucks" live miserable, unfulfilling, and hopeless lives. I wouldn't ever trade places with 'em, even for the momentary satisfaction of the "deserves" they think they are inflicting on others.

It's when the "garbage trucks" truly threaten death or serious bodily injury that we need to be prepared to defend ourselves and to deal with the choices they made, and to "take out the trash" if necessary.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

One I need to practice a little more often.

This takes constant practice in my case.

It's very easy for me to become angered by an unprovoked or unexpected verbal assault, so what I find helpful is to game it in my head for "the next time," which surely will come sooner or later.

What will I do the next time someone cuts me off in traffic, or yells at me for a simple mistake, or accuses me of something I didn't do? I ask myself those questions now so that I have a "civilized" response available for later.

I have also come to believe that when we are calm under stress more useful alternatives pop into our heads when we need them then are the case when we are angered, even when we perciveive that anger would be justified.

So far, it's working.

Very good Monday morning advice. Thanks, AR!
The "dump garbage" analogy is appropriate for folks like that.

I had the pleasure of working with an A-10 pilot who was the world's biggest jerk. Never happy, always pissed. I always tried to kill him with kindness. It never did, but he gave up trying to beat me down.

Just remember there can be no argument if only one person argues. There can be no fight if one person chooses not to fight. It takes two to tango and tangle. People who argue with themselves rarely win and usually wind up in State sponsored Hospitals with high fences and locked rooms.