The Law of the Garbage Truck
How often do you let other people change your mood?
有多少次你让别人改变了你的心情？
Sixteen years ago I learned a lesson. I got in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station.
16年前，我学到了人生中重要的一课。我上了一辆出租车，出发去中央火车站。
We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
我们正行驶在右车道上，突然间，一辆黑色轿车从我们前面的停车位冲了出来。
My taxi driver used his brakes. The tires made a loud noise. At the very last moment, our car stopped just 3cm from the back of the other car.
我的出租车司机猛踩刹车。轮胎发出很大的噪音。就在最后一刻，我们的车停在离黑车只有3厘米的地方。
I couldn't believe it. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, turned his head around and he started shouting at us. I couldn't believe it!
我简直不敢相信。另一辆车的司机，那个差点酿成大事故的家伙，转过头来，开始冲我们大喊大叫。我简直不敢相信！
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy could have killed us!"
出租车司机只是微笑着向那家伙摆手。所以，我对出租车司机说：“你怎么什么都不说？这家伙差点杀了我们啊！”
And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
这时，出租车司机告诉了我一个道理，我现在将其称为“垃圾车法则”。
He said, "Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of anger and disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they look for a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you."
他说：“很多人就像垃圾车。他们满载着垃圾到处乱跑，全是愤怒和失望。当他们的垃圾堆积如山时，他们就会找个地方来倒这些垃圾。如果你由着他们，他们就会把垃圾倒在你身上。”
So I started thinking about how often I let Garbage Trucks run right over me and how often I take their garbage and spread it to other people.
所以我开始思考，有多少次我由着别的垃圾车把垃圾倒在我身上，又有多少次我把他们的垃圾拿出来，倒在其他人身上。
I began to see Garbage Trucks. I see the load people are carrying. I see them coming to dump it. And like my taxi driver, I don't take it personally.
从那时起，我开始看见了垃圾车，看见了他们满载着垃圾，看见了他们想来倒垃圾。正像我的出租车司机那样，我并不当回事。
I just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
我只是微笑，挥手，祝福他们，然后继续向前走。
整理：2024年2月6日于金融超市
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