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 she can get back her focus on what's important.

A year ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of taxi
cab in Cubao. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for LRT Cubao Station. We were
driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a passenger jeepney
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!

The driver of the jeepney, 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 a work, at home,
on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do
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 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.

(This is a story sent to me by a friend from Canada -  Ariel R.)

Twelve (12) Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country

"THERE'S a booklet making the rounds in Metro Manila that every Filipino who loves his country should get hold of and read, and hopefully put the points it raises into practice, in order to help our nation."

"Twelve (12) Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country," by Alexander Ledesma Lacson, may be a "voice in the wilderness"; but as Fr. Ruben Tanseco, S.J. puts it, what Alex proposes are "very concrete, practical and doable" actions for us ordinary Filipinos.

A simple enumeration of these "twelve little things" will not do justice to the work of Alex. You've got to read the whole text, but I shall try to compress a few lines for some of the items mentioned.

1. Follow traffic rules - Why is that the most important? The answer is simple. Traffic rules are the simplest of our laws. If we learn to follow them, it will be the lowest form of national discipline that we can develop. Since it is totally without monetary cost, it should be easy for us to comply with, and therefore should provide a good start.
   
   
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt. - If a seller does not issue an official receipt when you buy a product, the seller may or may not remit the tax to the government. Without an O.R., there is no record of the sale transaction, and the tax that you paid may not be remitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
   
   
3. Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy Filipino. - It may not be good economics to buy 100 percent local products. What I suggest is for us to take a "50-50" buying attitude. This means that we must develop the attitude of using 50 percent of our budget for local products and the other 50 percent for imported choices.
   
   
4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively of our race and our country - this is best addressed to the rich and the middle class in our country, who have contact with the outside world. It is they who talk to, dine or deal with foreigners either here or abroad. It is what they say and do which creates impressions about us among foreigners.
   
   
5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, soldier and other public servants - There is nothing like the power of respect. It makes a person proud. It makes one feel honorable. At the same time, courtesy to others is good manners. It is class and elegance and kindness. It is seeing the value and dignity in the other man. It is, in fact, a mark of a most profound education.
   
   
6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve. - As Louis Armstrong says in his song: "I see trees of green, red roses, too, I see them bloom for me and you and I think to myself, what a wonderful world."
   
   
7. Support your church. (or charitable/ civic organizations - :-)
   
   
8. During elections, do your solemn duty. - Honesty, more than a masteral or doctorate degree, is what gives credibility. And credibility is essential because it is a leader's link to the people. It is what makes the people look to one direction, follow a common vision, and perform a uniform act. In short, credibility is what makes people follow the leader.
   
   
9. Pay your employees well. - No exercise is better for the human heart than to reach down and lift someone else up. This truly defines a successful life. For success is the sum, not of our earthly possessions, but of how many times we have shown love and kindness to others.
   
   
10. Pay your taxes. - In 2003, P83 billion was collected from individual income taxes. But 91 percent of this amount came from salaried workers from the government and private sector, people who had no choice since their income taxes were withheld mandatorily. Only P7 billion of the P83 billion came from businessmen and professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants and architects, among others.
    
    
11. Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child. - You can make a difference in the future of our country by making a difference in the world of children.
    
    
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and to love our country. - Today's children will someday rule and lead this world. But whether they will be bad rulers or good leaders will depend largely on how we raise them today. Our future is in the hearts and minds of our children.

(courtesy of Ivan's Dear Me site)

Please visit my blog at http://abunchofdreams.blogspot.com/