David J. Pollay's "The Law of The Garbage Truck™"

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for connecting with me and The Law of the Garbage Truck™! The joy of my work is connecting with good people from all around the world. Together, we are committed to enjoying every day, doing what we love, and making a meaningful difference with our lives!

Below, I am posting my column “The Law of the Garbage Truck™,” also known as “Beware of Garbage Trucks!™.”

The Law of the Garbage Truck™ is a philosophy and strategy that allows people to take control of their lives. Millions around the world have already embraced the message of The Law.

The Law of the Garbage Truck™ is based on an experience I had in a taxicab almost twenty years ago. Over the years I developed the insight I gained that day into a life philosophy and strategy, and named it “The Law of the Garbage Truck.” I have shared The Law with thousands of people from more than one hundred countries in my speeches and seminars.

I have been teaching The Law of the Garbage Truck™ for nineteen years, and three years ago I published The Law in my syndicated newspaper column. Since publication, The Law has exploded into popular consciousness. Over 1,000 blogs have posted The Law—and more blogs on the topic are emerging daily. Millions more have received The Law via email from their friends, family members, and coworkers.

If you are interested in reprinting or posting The Law of the Garbage Truck™ or The No Garbage Trucks!™ Pledge, let me know:  david@themomentumproject.com

Please share with me how you are applying The Law of the Garbage Truck™ in your life. I have heard hundreds of stories, and each one means a lot to me.

My book, The Law of the Garbage Truck: Take control of your life with one decision, will hit stores in early October, 2010.  Sterling Publishing, a Barnes & Noble company, is publishing the book.

Thank you for continuing to support and acknowledge my work; I am deeply grateful.

My best to you,

David

p.s. The North Star Writers Group syndicates my columns. And here are three other great sites where you can find The Law of the Garbage Truck™ and many of my other columns: Happy News, Positive Psychology News Daily, Boomer Times & Senior Life.

The Law of the Garbage Truck™
Copyright 2004 - 2009 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.

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 then 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.

You have a choice.  Make it today. 
Have a Garbage Free Day!™ 

Click the picture above to watch The Pledge Video shot in Times Square, New York City.

David J. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™.  He is a syndicated columnist, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ television program, and an internationally sought after speaker.  David’s book, The Law of the Garbage Truck: Take control of your life with one decision and change the world, will be published by Sterling Publishing in September, 2010.  You can find out more about The Law of the Garbage Truck™ at www.thelawofthegarbagetruck.com.

 

David holds a Master’s degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.  He is the founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association.  You can catch David’s newsletter here.  You can reach him at david@themomentumproject.com, and you can read David’s blog at www.pollayblog.com.

Comments

[David J. Pollay]

Hi Noah,

Great post. Please stay in touch. My book, The Law of the Garbage Truck (release date: September 2010), addresses your good point. We'll talk more about this on the blog over the next year.

Thanks for the book recommendation. Another important book, is Zimbardo's The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil.

Happy New Year, Noah.

David

[Noah]

Dear David,
Happy Holidays, Mazel tov on your project to support resilience and civility.Sign me up,an organized commitment to not pass on destructive behaviors, feelings, and thoughts is a good thing. But as a practitioner of Intensive Short terrm dynamic psychotherapy and as someone who recognizes that our primitive and destructive past influences us individually and socially, I wonder how far we will go on good will alone?
I suggest that you read Russell Jacoby's Social Amnesia if you are interested in understanding the darkside of life, too. All the best, Noah

[David J. Pollay]

Thanks, Prateek!

Great to hear from you.

Best to you,

David

[Prateek Babbar]

one word.. beautiful..

[David J. Pollay]

Hi James,

It's great to hear from you. Thanks for the post, and for your support. Stay in touch for sure. I would love your involvement with the book. It's going to be very exciting.

I send my best to you.

David

[James Oh]

David,

I come to your blog after receiving a commentary from my blog on the law of the garbage truck. I posted this article subsequent to the email, which I received from a friend.

I find it interesting and inspiring that drive me to post it in my blog without even obtaining your permission. With great apology. Now, I get to know the author is you. Thanks for the inspiring story.

I am more than happy to assist you to distribute your books to have bigger coverage.

[David J. Pollay]

Thanks, Coolingstar. I appreciate your support and letting people know about my work. Stay in touch. My book, The Law of the Garbage Truck, is coming out next year with Sterling Publishing. I think you'll really like it.

Keep in contact.

Have a great week!

David

[coolingstar9]

David,
Recently I received about the post about the law of the garbagetruck via email from a friend.
I find it interesting and posted it on my post and Now I know the author is you. Thanks for the inspiring story.

[David J. Pollay]

Hi Gail,

Thanks for your beautiful post. You captured the spirit of The Law of the Garbage Truck wonderfully.

I'm so glad you're also connected via my newsletter. Stay in touch!

David

[Gail Lehmann]

Thank you for 'The Law Of The Garbage Truck' and the Pledge. It literally turned my entire attitude around--especially when the concept was put to use. I learned that I could smile and bless those that would attempt to release garbage, and I didn't have to accept it. What we put out there, truly we get back.
I live in gratitude--every day, and your philosophy ignited my gratitude to the highest level. I am seeing healing, blessings and huge changes in my life.
Also, thank you for your e-mails. They make my day.
Many blessings and Light to you!

[David J. Pollay]

Hi Athan,

Thank you so much for your post. I will send you an email now. You have captured the spirit of my book, The Law of the Garbage Truck. Your appreciation of the people in your life and your desire to see the best in others is an important part of the journey we take together in my book.

Athan, your family is blessed that you are in their lives (and clearly you are fortunate they are in yours). I wish you the best and am looking forward to connecting.

Best to you,

David

[Athan Ray]

David,

I am a young family man with 2 beautiful young children. I have been facing a life threatening illness over the last 2 years with many ups and downs. I have seen my share of garbage trucks and have been guilty of dumping garbage. But the garbage trucks in my life are now few and far between. As I continue to face this illness my streets have been bustling with different types of trucks. Trucks filled with those most human of all qualities, caring, compassion, patience, support, love and kindness.

I have found that even some of the fullest garbage trucks still have room for these qualities and from time to time they may even drop past to drop them off, so they can make room to collect your garbage.

[David J. Pollay]

Hi Candace!

I'm so glad you took The No Garbage Trucks! Pledge and that it is already helping you. I follow The Law of the Garbage Truck every day. Stay in touch. The new No Garbage Trucks! Pledge is coming shortly - you'll love the energy.

My best to you,

David

[David J. Pollay]

Thanks, Roan! Great to hear from you! I'm so glad you liked the video. Wait until you see the new No Garbage Trucks! Pledge. We just finished it. You'll really like it!

Stay in touch!

David

[Roan Peters]

Hi David!

I loved reading this! I watched your video and recognized a few of those people =D They're AIESECers!!!!!!!!!

With AIESEC love,

Roan