...and I also created this for a t-shirt design:
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Someone posted the story below on a forum. Although it is about something we all know already it may be helpful to read about this again. It has become pretty essential for me at the moment as Í am dealing with people who are trying to dump there "stuff" on me. So, I just smile and wave....
"A couple of years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New
York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. 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. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck". Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did. I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: At work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore." I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see dead people." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on."
Yep, I sat down today...I just did it. After brushing my teeth I thought "ah what the hell, lets give it a go". It was over and done with without any pain. I have slaughtered the monster under my meditation pillow and just sat. Well, it might be a struggle every time to slay the monster, but at least I won this one!!
"Francisca,
Strangely, your post reminds me of quitting smoking. I would make all kinds of excuses not to. I still have smokes left, I have a nice Zippo lighter, and other people are smoking, I only smoke to be social, it is the only way for me to step out of the office for some fresh air, excuses ad nausea. Finally I realized it was just the right thing to do and dropped it. Can you identify your resistance to just sitting? Maybe if you labeled all of those things then it would be easier to let them go, then get on with what you know needs to be done.Just some random thoughts. "
That comment touched the sore spot for me. It DOES feel like quitting smoking!!! Thank you Jordan!
In the last weeks I have been pondering over this and wondered what it was that bothered me so much with zazen. I believe it has much to do with me loving my busy brain. I love being all over the place, high on this jumpy energy.
So I will come clean right here and now: Hi my name is Francisca and I AM ADDICTED TO MY BOUNCING-ALL-OVER-THE-PLACE THOUGHTS ! Or in short: I AM ADDICTED TO STRESS!
