An ESL blog

It happens to every one of us every now and then,our good spirit get spoiled my some people’s acts. Here is a good story by an unknown author which I got from a newsletter. It is worth sharing.

The Law of the Garbage Truck
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, for an instant you’re probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly one can get back their focus on what’s important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab and here is 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 breaks, skidded and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident whipped his head around and started yelling bad words at us. 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 almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’

This is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’

‘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.If you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.’

So this was it – The ‘Law of the Garbage Truck.’

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 streets!

It was that day I said, ‘I’m not going to do 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 and I see them coming to drop it off and like my taxi driver, I don’t make it a personal thing. I just smile, wave, wish them well and I move on.

One of my favourite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting and good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Good leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present and at their best for the people they care about. The bottom line is that successful and happy people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. What about you?

What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here’s my bet – I am sure you’ll be happier.

Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so – love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don’t. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance – take it! If it changes your life – let it!

Nobody said it would be easy . . . they just promised it would be worth it!

What is Juneteenth. It’s a celebration in US marks the freedom of Slaves. On June 19 th 1865 in Texas its announced that slaves are free. It happened two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. There is a more facts about this observance on chosun. Read it here

For history and more facts about Junteenth

Here are some good resources for Fathers Day Greeting cards,greetings and gifts.

Fathers Day history – A brief history of Fathers day and really good poems. It’s President Richard Nixon who established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June

Fathers Day egreetings- One of the egreeting sites to offer fathers day egreetings. Here is my favourite one on the site.”To a man of few words but of great wisdom..”

White house’s message on Father’s Day 2007

Clip arts for Father’s Day-A small collection of clip arts for kids.

Fathers Day quotes- A good collection of quotes about Father’s Day.

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~
Unknown

A post about different gift ideas for fathers day-Another great idea is a massage. Check with salons, spas, and chiropractic offices in your area.

Some good collection of Fathers Day gifts

A 1997 movie name Fathers Day-It’s not related to Fathers Day though.

I just learned from this post that “143″ is now a new hit with youngsters to say ” I love you”. I never heard anyone saying 143 to someone. I think it’s used in text messages on cellphones. Any thoughts?

I received a forwarded email with a story. It’s a story about an Indian software engineer who migrated to US from India. I though it’s worth sharing.

ONE BEDROOM FLAT… WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN SOFTWARE
ENGINEER..- A Bitter Reality

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA , the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA , it was as if a dream had come true.

Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India .

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.

I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents years of Burgers at McDonald’s and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent a week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA , after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA .

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.

Every year I decide to go to India .. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn’t get any holidays and thus could not go to India .. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.

After a couple more years passed, much to my children’s dislike and my wife’s joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA ..

My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India .. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA .. I decided that I had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India . I had just enough money to buy a
decent 2 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes I wonder was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India , had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking if I am alright. Well at least they remember me.

Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains ‘was all this worth it?’

I am still searching for an answer…………….!!!