There was once a man walking peacefully down a busy city street, enjoying the crisp morning air. As he rounded the corner, a dump truck came speeding by, nearly clipping him with its rusty bumper. The driver, red-faced and scowling, leaned out of the window and unleashed a torrent of angry words. The man could feel the heat of the driver's frustration, like a heavy load of trash being hurled his way.
But instead of reacting, the man simply smiled and waved. He watched as the dump truck rattled away, leaving behind only a cloud of dust and its trail of bitterness.
You see, the man understood something very few do: many people are like dump trucks. They go through life carrying loads of garbage—anger, frustration, disappointment—all piling up inside until they can’t hold it anymore. And when they can’t, they dump it on anyone nearby. It’s not about you. It’s just what happens when their truck is too full.
So the man let the garbage roll off him, knowing he didn’t need to carry it with him. He walked on, leaving the driver's trash where it belonged—behind him. The man knew that if he picked it up and spread it, he would only become another dump truck in someone else’s day.
The next time someone unloads their garbage on you, don’t take it personally. Smile, wave, and move on. Let their trash stay where it fell, and keep your own load light. Life is better when you don’t carry someone else’s garbage.