October 20, 2007

BEWARE OF GARBAGE TRUCKS & The Dregs & Dross of CRUMMY THOUGHTS!

In my book, in the Chapter entitled, “Is Your Life Chance of Choice,” I wrote about “icky” garbage thoughts using the analogy of a buffet dinner. If you try a certain food, and it doesn’t taste good, you don’t eat it. You spit it out or push it aside on your plate. Unfortunately, some people consistently hold “icky” thoughts, instead of focusing on what they want. None of us would think of eating garbage yet many people constantly hold “garbage” thoughts and spew them out on everyone around them. That becomes their daily dregs and dross. You can’t hold positive thoughts and energies and then keep observing the reality of what doesn’t feel or taste good in your life. You attract new levels of wellbeing and what tastes good in the smorgasbord of life because you always have freewill and choice in what you express. We each have the option of changing our thoughts so we are summoning and flowing energy toward our heart’s desires and what feels good!

Dr. Brugh Joy, used the analogy that natural foods alone will not provide a healthy body. He believed that if you put fine food into a body with a “crummy” mind, you get a crummy body; but if you put crummy food into a body with expanded awareness and positive thoughts, you can still have a fine body.

“Love and kindness are never wasted.

They always make a difference.

They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”

Barbara DeAngelis

My granddaughter, Olinda, recently sent an e-mail metaphor that was entitled: BEWARE OF GARBAGE TRUCKS by David Pollay, who is asyndicated columnist.I am sharing his column here in its entirety with David’s permission. I hope you will visit his wonderful web site at: http://www.themomentumproject.com/news.html

“How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter,or insensitive employees 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 she can get back her focus what’s important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxicab. 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, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches! Here’s 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. Now, here’s what 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 almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And 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. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did. I guarantee it.

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, 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. 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 favorite 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. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. 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 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. You’ll be happier. I guarantee it.”

I love how the Dalai Lama expressed it so succinctly: This is my simple religion…There is no need for temples. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

Yesterday my friend, Carolyn, asked to know more details about Project Kindness, where I did an interview last week with Robert Floyd at: http://www.projectkindness.com She said, “Knowing about the kindness web site has made me much more aware of seeing and sharing kindness in my daily life.” She went on to describe what she had witnessed the day before at the doctor’s office that was a deliberate act of kindness. Carolyn and I commented on what a far better world it would be if people focused more on good will, compassion thoughtfulness, tolerance, understanding and kindness for that then ripples out to the Universe beyond our ability to even comprehend vibrationally (versus gossip and the dregs and dross of, negativity, blame, and those who are constantly nursing, cursing and rehearsing problems and getting lots of drama and mileage out of it). Jesse Jackson’s quote is good to remember: Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.

Kind words can be easy to speak, but their echoes are endless. Mother Theresa

Starting today, I invite you to extend your caring through a phone call to praise, or e-mails expressing your gratitude; extend a loving touch, a helping hand, a compliment, a listening ear, smile at strangers or perform random acts of kindness for the sheer joy of sharing! And, we would love to hear more from you at: http://www.projectkindness.com

Shine on in a radiance of kindness!