Paying it Forward
Chances are you’ve heard the phrase, “pay it forward”. It’s not a new concept – some say it can be traced all the way back to a Greek play written in 317 BC. Most things I read credit an author named Lily Hardy Hammond who used it in her 1916 novel “In the Garden of Delight” who said: “You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.” A Google search of the phrase brings up first the thing that people are most familiar with, the 2000 movie named after the expression itself. The feelgood movie created a bit of a movement, and in 2007 “Pay it Forward Day” originated in Australia. Since then it’s become something that is recognized globally, with over 85 countries participating. Check it out here: https://www.globalpayitforwardday.com
The idea (also known as PIF) is that one small act of kindness can create a ripple effect. One person does something for another with no return expectation; only that they will turn around and do the same thing for another, and so on. You may have even seen some of these small acts and not even realized it- rocks painted with inspiring phrases, or encouraging notes pinned to trees along a walking path. One of my favorite stories to tell is about the day that I decided to pay my highway toll as well as the toll of the car behind me. I tried to peek in my rearview mirror as I slowly drove away from the toll booth to see if I could catch the moment when the unsuspecting driver was told that their toll was paid, but didn’t really see anything. Much to my surprise, I noticed the car racing towards me, and suddenly I saw a carload of older women beside me, smiling and waving at me like they had just won a million dollars. To this day I can’t think about that story without smiling.
Random acts of kindness, or RAKs, are wonderful gifts to bestow upon others. When this became popular after the 2000 movie, a popular thing was to pay for someone’s coffee or meal behind you in the drive thru. Recently I saw a post on social media about this very thing. I’m sure that anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a kindness like this has been grateful and uplifted, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But this post made a good point: the person behind you in the Starbucks line most likely can afford their order, or they wouldn’t be the line in the first place. Wouldn’t your RAK be just as appreciated (and maybe even more) if you went to a school and paid off a kid’s overdue lunch tab? Or contacting an establishment like an auto shop and helping someone pay off a bill they can’t afford? This is one of my favorites that I’ve seen circulating lately:
At the root of “pay it forward” - underneath the acronyms, special days, and movements is the idea that in order to create change we must get out of ourselves. Any deed done that benefits someone else with no advantage for the person doing it is a pure act of selflessness. How often do we really do things with the pure intent of benefitting another, with no expectation of any type of gain for ourselves? Truth be told, paying the toll for the car full of old ladies brought me joy, but also gave me a great story to tell about something I did for someone else. The greatest acts of selflessness remain anonymous and untold. I’d encourage everyone to do this at least once – do something for someone, big or small, and don’t tell a soul. Enjoy the feeling of knowing you’ve started a ripple effect. It may stop with you, or it may reach farther than you can even imagine. You may never know, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did your part.
Energetically yours,
