Note to self...Try not to be a garbage truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of aparking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on hisbrakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driverof the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he wasreally friendly.So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your carand sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught mewhat I now call 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'He e xplained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run aroundfull of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full ofdisappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dumpit and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take theirgarbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on thestreets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage truckstake over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning withregrets, so..... 'Love the people who treat you right. Forgive theones who don't.'Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
—Carlos Castaneda

I do sometimes seem to want to pick miserable...cause I am too tired of being strong...what a dumb choice. As I sit here thinking about why that is, I guess it is because I thought miserable took no work, and strong takes so much...does it take work to be miserable...I am going to pay attention to my thought process when I am allowing the waves of disappointment and overwhelm to crash over me...am I investing as much negative energy as it takes to hold the waves at bay when I make myself see the bright side. Another dark thought I admit to myself, seems like I am giving the other person involved a get out of jail free pass when I choose strong...and when I am mad I want them in jail......ah............so it is punitive, I want to punish someone, and I do. Me...maybe them. Certainly me. If that isnt a lesson in do unto others as you would have them do unto you...what is? Gotta choose what I work on alot more carefully. Taking the high road is always work...I hadnt really thought about taking the low road is work too...because you dont really control that, you have no choice in the fall. ( who does that sound like?) Kinda like falling down a hill...it doesnt feel like work, it hurts and it takes you down...have to climb back up though, and even if you choose to sit at the bottom and wallow...you have to control your thoughts, stay dark, cause we want to be optimistic, the light in us fights...and optimism makes you climb back up...might as well take control of yourself and climb in the first place...less cuts and bruises and you feel better at the end of the day.

Thought for the day

Robert Louis Stevenson:
There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it behooves all of us not to talk about the rest of us

Why do we fear that which we see as faulted in others...why not see them as a chance to learn somthing new and to broaden our understanding. Having lived in UT for so long I forget how much diversity the world offers us. If we are to hope to bring unto Christ his lost sheep...we must love them like Christ...there is no love in judgement...and it is very dificult to reach someone with your fear in the way. I want to love my neighbors...not notice what I wish was different...but I battle noticing the negative, or slip into annoyance easily...

Today there were two little boys riding skate boards out front...they were flying off the ramp and up my driveway, very near the cars...I was bugged, I actually had the thought "Why do their parents let them do that..." Then my mind wandered back...several years when my own boys were young and rambuncious and were climbing too hgh in trees and running pel mel through the neighborhood...I loved my boys and was doing my best...my neighbor too could be doing her best...just as likely that she was than that she wasnt...so I watched them take their lives in their hands and enjoyed the moment and the memory of days long past...

All is well.

Today's thought

“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”
—Plato

I know that when I see service, kindness and thoughtfulness it makes me want to be different. There is a commercial on TV, I think it is a Wakovia commercial...It is just like that...one good act inspiring another. Or the Movie Pat it Forward...watch it if you havent...it is about changing the world...

Ya Know...Random acts of kindness...that is one of my family's favorite Family Home Evenings...secret service...

Have a great day.

Thought for the day

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength.”
—Saint Francis de Sales

The Savior had strength in his gentleness, a great example. I see that in my children...I hope to see it in myself more.

Oh Boy...we get our Girl

I called Sean last night and he asked if maybe Mary, Marci's Mom and I could BABYSIT ELIZA while Marci attends a wedding n Navoo...I said "WOO HOO!!!" I am going to take a couple days off so we can do fun baby things around town on my days...She is about to have her birthday...One on the first of May...wish I could move Springville down here so I could see her all the time...

Cant wait to get to know her even better!!! How fun will it be when I can have little Lily come too.

Today's thought

“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
—Thomas Paine

And so it is...that we came to learn and grow...not romp and play.