Beware of the Garbage Truck
The other day, I set aside some time to tackle a long-overdue project - cleaning out old files in my office. Of course the real reason for doing so was to make room for the ever-growing stacks of paperwork piling up on my desk!
As I sifted through the chaos, I stumbled upon an email I had saved from 2007—one that clearly struck a chord with me at the time.
Reading it again, I realized why I had kept it all these years. It captures a perspective that is so simple yet so critical for living a healthy, vibrant life: how we choose to respond to life’s daily challenges matters deeply—not just for our peace of mind, but for our long-term health.
It’s a reminder to be mindful in the moment:
So you can make the best decisions for yourself.
So you can reframe a situation and guide yourself toward a better outcome.
So you can maintain control over your actions.
Let me share with you the story from that email, one that has stuck with me ever since. It’s called The Law of the Garbage Truck by David Pollay, and it begins like this:
The Garbage Truck story is such a powerful reminder of the choice we have in how we react to life’s unexpected stressors.
Stress isn’t just a fleeting feeling—it has profound effects on our health.
When our sympathetic nervous system is triggered by stress, it can set off a cascade of physiological responses: elevated heart rate, heightened blood pressure, and a flood of stress hormones like cortisol. These responses are meant to protect us in life-threatening situations, but in our modern world, they often get triggered by much smaller stressors—like someone cutting us off in traffic or a curt email at work.
Over time, the accumulation of these small stressors can take a toll on our health, contributing to chronic inflammation, fatigue, and even disease.
That’s why the smallest shift in perspective—a simple choice to not take someone’s “garbage” personally—can have a big impact on our well-being.
Reframing a situation isn’t about pretending it didn’t happen; it’s about reclaiming your power. Instead of reacting out of anger or frustration, you choose calm, you choose grace, and in doing so, you protect your inner peace. You send a signal to your body that it’s safe, allowing your parasympathetic nervous system—your "rest and digest" mode—to take over.
Every moment offers us the chance to be mindful, to pause, and to reframe.
The next time a "garbage truck" comes your way, remember: you don’t have to carry someone else’s load. Smile, wave, and move on. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
And honestly, it may just stop that “garbage truck” in its tracks … and maybe open the door to some meaningful reflection.
Here’s to finding mindfulness in the mess and health in the harmony of choosing our reactions wisely.