David J.

Pollay

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December 1, 2008

I Made My Pledge

Last year something happened to me at work. Someone upset me, and it put me in a bad mood. It threw my whole day off course. I was not myself. I was impatient with others. And it was hard for me to concentrate.

And then suddenly I realized that I had 20 minutes to make a 30-minute trip to my older daughter’s summer camp. Five-year-old Eliana was participating in a presentation in front of all the children, counselors and parents.

I dropped what I was doing, flew out of my office and ran to my car. I tore out of the parking lot and drove as fast as I could manage, darting in and out of lanes and rushing through yellow lights turning to red. I was frustrated each time someone drove slowly in front of me, and when I had to stop for a red light. And as I drove, I did nothing but stare at the traffic and look at the clock. And all the while I mumbled, “How could I be late? How could I be late?”

When I finally arrived at the camp, I had to snake around the busy parking lot looking for a spot. When I finally found a space, I leapt out of my car and ran to the auditorium.

When I arrived at the door, someone pointed to where my wife, Dawn, was sitting with my younger daughter, four-year-old Ariela. I quickly walked down the aisle to their row. I stepped over and around everyone’s knees and feet on the way to my seat. And I blocked their view as I passed by. When I finally made it, I sat down and I looked at my watch. I was nine minutes late. I leaned over and I kissed Ariela, and I kissed Dawn.

I whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Dawn smiled.

I leaned back into Dawn and said, “Did I miss anything?”

And Dawn said, “Eliana was just brought on stage to recite the opening prayer in front of the whole camp.”

“Did she see you?” I said.

“She looked right at us and waved.”

Nine minutes. I sat there thinking, “How could I have missed it? Eliana looked out and saw her Mom and sister. And I wasn’t there. And for what?” I just stared straight ahead.

The next day on the way to work, I thought about what had happened. How could I have missed my daughter’s big moment? And then it hit me. I had let a Garbage Truck run right over me and ruin my day.

But worse yet, I became the Garbage Truck. I turned into a Garbage Truck at work, when I drove aggressively to the presentation, when I left Dawn and Ariela sitting by themselves, and when I stepped in front of people in the auditorium. And worst of all, I was a Garbage Truck when I missed my daughter’s moment in the spotlight.

I had taken someone else’s garbage and spread it to others, and to the people I love the most. I knew about Garbage Trucks, and I became one anyway.

I knew then that I had to make a pledge to myself. I had to stop accepting garbage in my life and I had to stop spreading it to others. I could not be a Garbage Truck. So, I pulled my car to the side of the road, pulled out a pen, grabbed a piece of paper, and I wrote this pledge.

I do not accept garbage in my life.

When I see Garbage Trucks

I do not take them personally.

I just smile.

I wave.

I wish them well.

And I move on.

And I do not spread garbage to others.

I am not a Garbage Truck!

I do not accept garbage in my life.

I said my pledge out loud, and I said it over and over again. I put it to memory. I shared it with Dawn. I shared it with my parents. I shared it with my friends and I shared it with my team members. I put a copy in my wallet, in my planner, on my desk and on my office wall.

And then I put The Pledge to work in my life. When I saw a Garbage Truck coming my way, I would say The Pledge to myself, often in short-hand: “I am not a Garbage Truck,” or “I do not take them personally,” or “I just smile, wave, wish them well and I move on.”

And when I would catch myself in a bad mood at work, or at home, I would repeat: “I do not spread Garbage to others,” or “I am not a Garbage Truck.”

The more I honored my No Garbage Trucks! Pledge, the happier I became. Every time I let a Garbage Truck pass me by, and each time I nipped my own garbage, I achieved greater freedom.

I became free to enjoy every day. I became free to love and care about the people who matter most to me. I became free to focus on what is important in my life. I became free to live my best possible life.  

Last week Eliana had another event at camp. I was there – early.

David J. Pollay’s book, Beware of Garbage Trucks!™, is due out this Fall. Mr. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™ (www.bewareofgarbagetrucks.com). He is a syndicated columnist with the North Star Writers Group, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ DVD, and an internationally sought after speaker. Mr. Pollay is the founder and president of the personal coaching and seminar organization, The Momentum Project (www.themomentumproject.com).

© 2008 David J. Pollay. Distributed by North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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