"They don't care that he's transporting garbage..." - the hard work and secret of happiness of a half-century-old driver
Every morning, as we walk through clean streets, we often don't think about the hard work behind it. One such person who gets to work while the city is still asleep is a garbage truck driver who has spent nearly half a century behind the wheel. His work may not be visible to the naked eye, but behind the cleanliness that thousands of people experience every day lies the hard work of our hero.
"They don't look down on him because he carries garbage..." - the work and secret of a half-century-old driver's happiness
Throughout his life, he has encountered different attitudes from people: some appreciate his work, while others look down on him because he "carries garbage." But for him, the criterion of happiness is different - honest work, family, and returning to work every day with satisfaction.
Our hero today is 69-year-old Muhammadolim aka, who has been working as a garbage truck driver at the "Maxsustrans" enterprise for 16 years and has 50 years of driving experience. His life is not only about hard work. Behind him is a wife who is as strong as a mountain, 15 grandchildren, and a life dedicated to cleanliness. We listened to the work process and cozy home of our hero and listened to his wisdom of life.
"Nowadays, people are nervous, some people don't look down on our work"
Muhammadolim aka's working day begins at 08:00 in the morning. His daily task is to transport waste collected throughout the city to special landfills. In a day, he drives 70-80 kilometers. This man, who has been driving for 50 years, has seen with his own eyes how people have changed over the years.
“People used to respect each other. If an older person was sitting, they would say “Assalamu alaykum”. Some of them now pass by without saying hello. At bus stops, young people sit with their heads down, while the elderly stand erect. People are more nervous now for some reason.
Some respect our profession, but many do not consider it a waste of space. There are those who wave their hand in front of you and pass by without bothering with their movements. Sometimes when we are forced to stop and work, they honk their horn and shout. But we work with gratitude, because where there is cleanliness, there is grace and blessing,” says our hero.
Treasures and unexpected finds found among the garbage
The profession has its own difficulties and surprises. Muhammadalim aka does not hide the fact that during his career he has also found valuable items among the garbage.
"Once, while throwing away the garbage, there was a clicking sound. I looked and saw a ring. I thought it must be copper on the end, so I took it home, and my grandchildren played with it. Then I found out that it was a gold ring with an eye. When I checked it at a shopping center in Tashkent, they confirmed that it was gold, and I sold it for 400 thousand soums at the then current price. This was a lot of money. Another time, I found a broken gold chain among the garbage."
Of course, such cases do not happen every day, but these are like small gifts from Allah to a person who works honestly.
The secret to 45 years of happiness: “Don’t pick a man’s pocket”
After finishing his work at the landfill, our hero and I headed to the Zangiota district, where his house is located. His wife, Sister Zulhumor, welcomed us in the spacious and neat courtyard built 15 years ago. The chirping of various birds and quails in the courtyard indicated the peace in this family. Sister Zulhumor, who has been sleeping on the same pillow for 45 years, explained the secret to a happy family in one word:
“It’s okay!”
“What would you say is the secret to a happy family? It’s respecting the boss and saying “it’s okay” no matter what he says. A man doesn’t need anything else: his food, tea, and clothes are ready on time, and the house is clean. My grandmother taught me: “Never ask a man for money, don’t look in his pocket. Then you will be blessed and respected. "I have never picked my boss's pocket until now. There were times of hardship, and we also saw days when we could not cook a decent meal for the children. But everything passed with patience."
A person with light from within
During the conversation, it was not difficult to feel how satisfied Muhammadolim aka was with his face and work.
"They say where do you get energy from at this age. I get energy from within, from myself! I am approaching 70, but I still have dreams. I hope my grandchildren grow up and see their weddings," he says with a smile.
The cleanliness in his house is in harmony with his responsibilities at work. Sister Zulhumor says that Muhammadolim aka has always loved cleanliness. Even if there is a single piece of wood lying in the yard, he does not go unnoticed.
In conclusion...
We often take the cleanliness of our streets for granted. However, behind this are hardworking people like Muhammadalim, who work in the rain, snow, and scorching heat, and sometimes even patiently respond to our inappropriate behavior. They don't just carry garbage, they help the city breathe. Thanks to their hard work, our streets are beautiful and our houses are beautiful. Dear friends, let's appreciate the work of such people!