The Law of the Garbage Truck
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Beware of Garbage Trucks
by 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, 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. 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 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 he 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!"
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 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, 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.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..
Love the people who treat you right.
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!
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I got this forwarded email from a friend. And it was so timely. Because awareness is half the task. After that, you get to choose how you feel.
My hope for you and me? That we choose not to let the garbage in.
Posted in forwarded, lessons, stories by yevka | 2 think I'm nuts
trust me
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Surefire way for me RESIST doing an important task.
Nag.
Nag AFTER I say I have a plan of action already.
Nag when you've given me instructions 3 times already.
Tell my peers to nag me to do the task.
Just nag.
Nag.
It doesn't work with me. Instead of getting the work done, I feel that I'm not being treated as an equal. I feel that I'm not trusted to get things right.
What happens when I resist?
I either won't do the job entirely, delay doing the job, or will do it but not put my 100% thus poor result.
Bottom line. Don't nag. Just trust me.
Posted in rant by yevka | 2 think I'm nuts
facebook fever
Monday, September 24, 2007
After reading Maeyo's post on Facebook, I got inspired to create my own account and see what's the hype. And OMG, it was like a St. Mary's reunion! :D I saw many of my classmates from Dubai there, and it was so good to be updated in what's going on in their lives. It makes me feel how much we've all grown, and how, even if we were lightyears apart, we'll all still be part of each others lives. (Not much friends from Pinas, I guess we're still addicted to Friendster, hehe!)
Thanks for the comment Sharmeely and Becky. Will email you soon. :)
Posted in friends, reunion by yevka | 2 think I'm nuts
another Heroes update
Friday, September 21, 2007
Posted in addiction, heroes by yevka | 2 think I'm nuts
chismax
Check out this chismax about 2 of my favorite Heroes. :D
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Ganun lang pala kadali yun. Hehehe. Thanks Maeyo & lahat pa na nag msg about posting youtube....
by yevka | 2 think I'm nuts
Tagaytay Ghost Story
This story happened a few months ago along the Tagaytay Road. There was a guy who got left behind by a pack of mountain bikers. The group was large and he didn't bring a cellphone. He crashed his bike somewhere between Picnic Grove and DBP. To make things worse, a storm came in. So he walked.
This guy was on the side of the road hitch-hiking on a very dark night in the middle of a storm. The night passed slowly and no cars went by. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few meters ahead of him.
Suddenly, just before the junction going to Manila , he saw a car slowly looming, ghostlike, out o f the gloom. It slowly crept toward him and stopped. It was raining hard, wind blowing all around you, what would you do? Like you would, he got into the car and closed the door, then realized that there was nobody inside the car.... even in the drivers seat.
The car slowly started moving again. The guy was terrified, too scared to think of jumping out and running. The guy saw that the car was slowly approaching a sharp curve. The guy started to pray, begging for his life; he was sure the ghost car would go off the road and he would plunge to his death, when just before the curve, a hand appeared through the wind ow and turned the steering wheel, guiding the car safely around the bend.
Terrified, the guy watched the hand reappear every time they reached a curve. Finally, the guy gathered his wits and leaped from the car and ran to the nearest place where there were houses.
Wet and in shock, he went into a store and voice quavering, ordered two bottles of beer, and told the people about his horrible, supernatural experience. A silence enveloped everybody when they realized the guy was apparently sane and not drunk.
About half an hour later two guys walked into the same store.
One said to the other....... ...
"Yan! Yan yung tarantadong sumakay habang nagtutulak tayo..."
("There! There's that idiot who road in our car while we were pushing!")
Posted in humor by yevka | 3 think I'm nuts
new boys in my life
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Posted in friends, rave by yevka | 0 think I'm nuts
Bakit ganun?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
A round trip ticket costs Php28,854.00
A one way ticket (to destination) costs Php24,194.00
And another one way ticket (from destination) costs Php44,126.96
(Same airlines, same dates)
Bakit ganun?
Posted in questions, travel by yevka | 3 think I'm nuts
another daily dose
Being happy is not when everything is alright, it's when you're alright when everything else sucks...
Happiness is a choice, not a circumstance. I'm learning to take ownership of that.
Posted in sayings by yevka | 1 think I'm nuts
Life Lessons
Monday, September 17, 2007
Three years back I gave the testimonial to my "anak":
"He strives to be in the background, but born to shine."
This weekend, I experienced his shining moment. As a mother I was proud. So damn proud, I cried. Who would've thought I was coaching the world's greatest?
So to Marco Abadesco, my win for the week, Congratulations!
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My life learning for the week:
When you can't seem to get the answers, be of service to others. And know that by being of service to others, and by assisting them in their growth, you too shall grow.
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I had a fantabulous week last week. Silent blogging but so much stories, lessons, learnings and new found friends. Will update soon.
Posted in journey, lessons, week by yevka | 0 think I'm nuts
white light
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
“Sometimes the only way to move forward is to go back.”
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For the past few weeks and months, I have felt "unexcellent". I was always complaining. Rant, rant, rant. Sometimes, I have something to blog about, but don't simply because I didn't want it to be another negative thought put into words, and worse, put into public knowledge. Most of this negativity resulted to poor work ethics. I'm totally guilty of it. And no, I am not proud of it.
One day, sometime after my Cebu trip, I made a conscious decision to stop the drama.
My colleagues, most especially my boss saw and felt the change and commented on it. The self motivation was my driving force, but for sure the affirmations helped. Now, though, they are more sanay to the "positive" attitude that the affirmations have stopped. Yesterday I was 15 minutes late to get to work.
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In an effort to stay positive, I have decided to go to back. Back to the point in my life where everything was always forward moving. That had to be during my life-coaching days 2 or 3 years ago.
Last night was step one. And what a step. Here's some things I've missed to hear.
Take a deep breath. Be grounded. What are your wins? What do you commit to be? What do you choose now? What's the lesson? What have you learned? Choose your higher self. What's the value? Just trust. Accept and be open to the process. Love yourself.
And finally, the killer phrase that caught me off guard because I haven't heard it for such a long long time - "Let's white light Yev ka."
It feels surreal to be back. It's like I'm new and old at the same time. Like meeting a best friend I've lost touch with, for the first time. It's being excited, but scared; sure, but doubtful. Insecure and challenged. But seeing opportunities everywhere.
So here's to new experiences, possibly new friends, new inspirations and new lessons.
I drink to that.
Posted in journey, lessons by yevka | 6 think I'm nuts
How to upload youtube videos?
Monday, September 10, 2007
I don't know how. But I wanted to share this from youtube nonetheless. :)
So if you know how to (step by step please), message me. :D
This made me laugh! Sorry kung luma na, though. Hehe!
Posted in general, humor by yevka | 3 think I'm nuts
blooper and a unique wedding
My brother beat me to this post, but what the heck. Kasali rin ako. So here's my version of it.
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I think my good friend Kris, most recent bride, said it best when she said "a wedding won't be as memorable without the bloopers!" Sometimes the bigger the blooper, the funnier it is to reminisce.
Last Saturday was Kris and Harvie's Christian wedding in Orchidarium. I was part of the entourage (Cord) and my brother (who came all the way from Dubai for the weekend, specifically to attend the wedding) was the groomsman. We were already at the preps venue the night before along with the other abays. Because Kris used to be a coordinator as well (former partner in C3), she planned her wedding well. Everything was right on track. But it doesn't mean that there would be no hustle and bustle come D-Day.
And hustle and bustle it was. My assignment was to assist Kris in the preps. By 5:00pm, flowers were distributed, so were the veil, cord and matches to the SS, hair and makeup already finished with the bride, and working on the MOG and SOG (sister of groom), while the photo/video clicking away at the bride and groom's rooms respectively. All the items to be brought to Orchidarium was in one big box (marriage certificate, souvenirs, poppers, etc). I had my brother bring down the box and put in our car (designated driver for the groom). The parking was quite a walk, so he asked the porter to leave it in the lobby instead and that he'd load it when it was time to go. The wedding was to start at 6pm pa naman.
Everything else went smoothly, including the entourage/bridal march. (Although the girls ended up sitting at the right side, while the guys at the left). That was still okay. Kris marched and Perrine (Harv's sister, veil) next to me started crying. Kyle (Kris' sister, MOH) started to cry as well. I thought "So it's going to be this kind of wedding".
And stop.
It ended up not to be that kind of wedding. Instead it was full of tawa, and "oh my God!", huwhat?! moments.
Halfway through the ceremony, junior coordinator Anna came up to me asking where was the marriage certificate. And I said, oh shoot, it's still gotta be in the car. So I gave her my car key and asked her to get it. And then it hit me... did Glenn even bring the big box from the lobby? I didn't instruct him anymore. I was too busy having pictures taken with the rest of the female abays. So there we were, Kyle, Perrine, and me, looking at one another, saying to each other "Oh my GAWD!". No marriage contract!
So Glenn rushed back to the hotel but didn't make it in time. When the pastor asked for the marriage contract, Kyle went up to the couple with the "fake" contract (basically bond paper, that had the couple's name on it for them to sign on) inside a folder. And with her fantastic smile, she said, "Smile lang kayo. Wag ma stress. Tingin sa camera." Then placed the folder in front of the bewildered couple, and walked back down. So the dynamic duo opened the folder and saw the big smiley face staring at them. Reaction? They tried to stifle a laugh, and hiding the paper from the photographer who was trying to get a shot of it. That "signed thing" will be part of the couple's scrapbook for sure.
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And of course, it won't be a Kris & Harv wedding without being odd and truly unique. Here are some of the things that made it fly:
- Harv's best man, well, was a woman. She was in a barong and one of the most bakla person I've ever met. She was hilarious.
- Their grand entrance for the reception was John Cena's Theme (Basic Thugonomics). With matching dance number ha!
- Dancing, dancing, dancing (all fun, no tears shed).
- Oooh, the cake(s) -- okay so not unique although it was odd that they had a 3-tiered fondant cake, another one layered fondant cake, plus about 150 cupcakes.
- The crowd. Especially the IBMs and the Convergys crowd. They who hooted, whistled, joined in the fun. They definitely caused havok.
- Picture taking. Because the photog simply couldn't get people to do a "serious" pose. Each and every pose was wacky and crazy.
Haay riot. And oh so fun.
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To Kris and Harv. It took you ages, but finally you're there. (Literally 'after 10 years'). CONGRATS AND BEST WISHES!!! 
Luvyu guys.
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Pics to follow.
Posted in weddings by yevka | 0 think I'm nuts
Gaga over Heroes
While looking for more Heroes trailers (hindi makatiis), I chanced upon this site. Heroes Spoilers!!! Wheee!!! I don't download my own episodes (masyadong unreliable ang internet ko) so now I have to find my ever reliable friends who are as atat as I am with Heroes. Calling on Kris, Harv, Mark, Russ, Chard! Wehehe! Download na!
Oh and while I was at it, check this out.
You scored 58 Idealism, 37 Nonconformity, 25 Nerdiness

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 65% on Idealism
You scored higher than 27% on Nonconformity
You scored higher than 19% on Nerdiness
Posted in blogthing, general by yevka | 2 think I'm nuts
Daily dose
It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces.
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I miss blogging. But I miss you more.
Posted in general by yevka | 0 think I'm nuts
Tinkering with multiply
Thursday, September 6, 2007
I've realized that I've totally neglected my Y&J multiply site since I created it. So now I'm trying to revive it.
Yesterday while chatting with Ate, we came up with a Caratao Family group account. So, for Canada peeps who is reading this, please sign up in Multiply so that we can share pics, stories and what nots there. Ate will provide the tutorial hahaha!
:)
Posted in family, multiply by yevka | 0 think I'm nuts
my karma
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
There we go. I've met my Candiru Fish. I'm at the point of regret and I'm not liking myself right now because of it. And I know, I know, it's all my fault. It's all my bloody fault. I need to go to confession...
Aack! I want to go back to being aloof. :(
Posted in guilt by yevka | 0 think I'm nuts


