Feb 13 2009
Pay It Forward Friday
I am relatively new to the blogging world, and my education these past weeks has been rapid.
I have noticed that many bloggers participate in a theme for a day of the week. I thought I would start a new one for Fridays. Well, at least for this Friday.
It’s Friday the 13th, and the day before Valentine’s Day. Let’s embrace the love, and counter the would be evils many associate when Friday is unfortunate enough to coincide with also being the 13th day of the month.
I propose that we make today Pay It Forward Friday. Reach out to your fellow man, and pass on a good deed. Then report back and tell us what you did, so we can join in with the general warm fuzzy.
It doesn’t have to be much. Here are some ideas:
1.) That car that’s been driving with its signal on for a minute and a half trying to merge into your lane…be the one that lets her in.
2.) Look into her eyes and smile at the stressed and tired waitress. Maybe even leave her a little something extra in her tip.
3.) Tell that unsung coworker that they’re doing a great job.
4.) Call up or email customer service, but do it to just give them kudos for doing something right.
5.) Take an extra few seconds to hold the door for someone, even if they aren’t immediately behind you walking into the building/room. Do it with a smile and a greeting.
6.) Ask someone how they’re doing, and MEAN IT.
Now think for a second if some of these things happened to YOU today. I bet you would walk with a little lighter step, and feel a little better about the world.
So many people I communicate with are striving to make their mark in the world. They want to be remembered for something, and to know their time on earth was meaningful.
I suspect those same people have an idea of what that contribution might be, and I’m afraid they may be aiming too high. You don’t have to cure cancer or attain world peace to be memorable. I admit I fantasize about being the next JK Rowling or composing masterpieces, but that’s exactly what they are…fantasies. And really, the only glory that comes out of them is for me.
My son has changed my outlook on that. When I tell you he is the most fantastic, perfect, beautiful child, I absolutely mean that. There is so much hope and future wrapped up in his little 2 year old body, and it absolutely boggles my mind. The world really is his oyster, and we’re so lucky that he’s a part of it and will be contributing.
I no longer want to be successful for me. I want to be successful for him. I want to set an example for him, and to show him that he really can shoot for the stars. I want to nurture and encourage him. I want him to not dwell on his unfortunate beginning, but to focus on his fantastic future. I want him to understand that he controls his destiny, and he can choose to be whatever kind of person he wants to be. We ARE NOT victims of our past.
I think that this will be my mark on the world. I could care less if I ever get recognized for it, because I know I’m doing the best I can to plant those seeds and build that foundation.
If my hubby reads this, he’s likely going to gulp and get worried. I confess that I want to foster and hopefully adopt a few more children. I’m not in a hurry to do it right away or all at once (so take a deep breath hubby), but I’m not sure I can imagine not having at least one child in our house ever again. I think even when I’m retired and rickety, as long as I am physically able, I will have a child in my life.
So what does this all mean and what on earth does it have to do with the topic I started with? Hell, I don’t know.
I guess my point is that if you look in the comments to my previous post, it got me thinking. I started to wonder if people don’t reach out more because they thought they were only making a difference if they were curing cancer. I wanted to dedicate a whole post to this topic, because not everyone reads the comments and I think this is important.
It doesn’t have to be that difficult.
You never know. That good deed you do may trigger a domino effect of good deeds, which could ultimately lead to solving world hunger!!!!
Pay it forward.
This is a wonderful idea!
I think this is a sweet idea. There was a story in the news last year about a customer at a Starbuck’s drive-thru who paid for the coffee of the next person in line because the man was impatiently honking his horn. When that guy pulled up and saw that his coffee had been paid for by the stranger ahead of him, he did the same for the next person. And so on and so on all day. A nice gesture can really change your perspective, just as an unkind gesture will carry with you all day. We should leave examples like these for our kids all the time.
Great story, Mrs Bear!! I had not heard that!
Thank you for posting this. I had forgotten that this very thing happened to me last night in line at big box store and it’s so easy to forget the small things people do for you. I’m going to post a link to your posting in my story on my blog; I dont know how the guy is, but I feel the need to thank him.
Thanks kristynoble!!! Sure, the small things may be “small,” but they are no less significant.
Just think of what your child saw. They say it takes a village to raise a kid, and that guy’s good deed was as much an example and lesson to our kids as anything you teach in school.
great idea, and great post. true, we do not need really have to think BIG and do BIG to make a significant impact or to be able to help someone.
I love pay it forward. Great movie about the subject. Hubby and I tried to pay it forward today and give someone directions. They seriously looked loss in our neighborhood.
But I guess one of us looked too much like a hoodlum because the older ladies face turned panic stricken and they locked their doors.
sometimes you can never win
I’m all for this. I try to do this whenever I can: deliver someone’s printout when I pick up mine, hold a door open, make the coffee in I’m in first (even though I don’t drink it).
But it never hurts to do a little more.
Great stuff!!!
Isn’t a shame we can’t even be nice anymore without drawing suspicion. That’s what happens when people forget what it’s like to just do a good deed.
Thanks!
A kind gesture can change your day. A few years ago, Hubby and I were at a Burger King drive through. When we pulled up we found out the person in front of us had paid for our meal. He left a card that simply asked us to do a good deed for someone else. We spent the day trying to find small ways to reach out to people (holding open doors, saying hi, etc). As a retail worker, I appreciate it when the person I’m helping simply says “thank you” or “have a nice day.” See… it doesn’t have to be big to make a difference.
Quadmama
http://gotquads.today.com
That’s 2 stories about people that paid for coffee/lunch out of the kindness of their heart! Why can’t I get in line behind one of these good Samaritans!
Good story, thanks Quadmama!