The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay Book Review

The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay

 “Twenty years ago, while riding in the back of a New York City taxicab, David J. Pollay narrowly escaped a life-threatening car crash. The driver who almost caused the major accident started yelling at David’s taxi driver, who remarkably just smiled, waved and wished the other driver well before he and David drove away. David asked how the cabbie could remain so calm. His reply spawned the defining principle of The Law of the Garbage Truck and left author, David J. Pollay awestruck.

His driver said: 

“Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment…And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. So when someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally…move on.”

 This book struck a chord with me right away. All too often I tend to internalize a snappy coworker or a rude sales clerk. We have all experienced trying to be there for a friend emotionally only to get "dumped on" in their process of venting their frustration. The author gives many examples of how to handle everyday interactions with others that can impact your day in a negative way. By reflecting the insecurities, bad moods, anger, and frustrations of others, we can avoid absorbing the negative emotions into our own lives.

Packed with sage advice, stories, and questionnaires, Pollay helps you to develop a heightened sense of awareness of how much garbage you are picking up as well as how much you are putting out onto others.

At the end of each chapter is a "call to action" where the author gives you a task to help you gain insight into your life and enact positive change.

From David J. Pollay's Blog:
"In our lives we often focus only on where we stand in the stream. We act concerned only with what’s in front of us. We forget that there is always an upstream and a downstream. We are affected by those who come before us, and we affect those who come after us. Someone is always impacted by our thoughts, feelings, and actions. If you feel lucky, be grateful. Say thank you to anyone who might have helped you. Say thank you to God if that is your belief, or act grateful in this powerful world of ours. Don’t leave luck unaccounted for—show your gratitude. Focus on what’s good.
The Law of the Garbage Truck reminds us to be grateful for the good that comes to us from upstream, and thoughtful of what we send downstream."

We all hold within us the power the reverse the cycle of garbage:

Smile, wave, wish them well, move on and let the garbage trucks PASS YOU BY

James 1:19 “..be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.”

You can find more about “The Law of the Garbage Truck” here-

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A huge THANK YOU to Sterling Publishing for sending me this incredibly insightful book