Spreading joy in this cynical,
burden-laden world in which we live is no small order, but it’s not impossible.
There are numerous quotes reaffirming the idea that if you want to change the
world, you have to start by changing yourself, but what does that mean? Some people
get the idea that only a celebrity concert or popular TV show could reach the
masses with a positive message or that you have to be wealthy.
The overwhelming realization that this may never be their reality brings a feeling of resignation; they drop their dreams and go back to life as usual. But what if it is much simpler? What if you really can look inside and affect change? If you are interested in such an idea, this is a great place to start.
Essentially, the concept of “pay it forward” consists of paying someone else (a third party) with a good deed for what another has done for you. When the third party asks how he can pay you back, ask him to help someone else in need, or pay it forward.
The overwhelming realization that this may never be their reality brings a feeling of resignation; they drop their dreams and go back to life as usual. But what if it is much simpler? What if you really can look inside and affect change? If you are interested in such an idea, this is a great place to start.
Essentially, the concept of “pay it forward” consists of paying someone else (a third party) with a good deed for what another has done for you. When the third party asks how he can pay you back, ask him to help someone else in need, or pay it forward.
I find it interesting that for every one of the seemingly innumerable
Grinches out there, there are also a few good-guys; those who give and give – and give some more
never think they are doing enough. Case
in point: I posted a simple question on the Facebook news feed earlier today. I
posed the question, “I wonder who cares?” Without prodding me to expound on my
question, three of the four people who responded immediately said they cared
and further stated that if they had more money they would do more. It came as
no surprise to me that these three responded the way they did. They are indeed
loving, caring individuals who I know for a fact are constantly digging deep to
help others – whether they know them or not.
The Pay It Forward exercise ends up helping a
different person every time and keeps the good energy flowing forward,
generating more and more good deeds ahead. You may never know how far the chain
gets, and how many lives it touches, but as Mother Teresa once said, “If you
can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
People Paying
It Forward
How can you get in the game? Try practicing the pay-it-forward philosophy in your own life. Still not sure how to do it? These resources may help motivate you:
* PayItForwardFoundation.org is the website started by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and the Pay It Forward Foundation. Here you will find classroom resources, tips for starting your own pay-it-forward revolution, bumper stickers, wristbands and links to other informative do-good websites.
If you are a teacher, use these resources to start a yearly pay-it-forward project in your classroom. Perhaps it will catch on to the whole school, community and who knows, maybe some future teachers in your class may take the project to their own students some day. You can then post your stories on PayItForwardMovement.org to share with the world. Now that is truly a good chain to create!
You don’t have to be a teacher to touch lives—start your own pay it forward group with friends, family members and the children in your life. There are no specific rules to follow; the key is to get started.
How can you get in the game? Try practicing the pay-it-forward philosophy in your own life. Still not sure how to do it? These resources may help motivate you:
* PayItForwardFoundation.org is the website started by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and the Pay It Forward Foundation. Here you will find classroom resources, tips for starting your own pay-it-forward revolution, bumper stickers, wristbands and links to other informative do-good websites.
If you are a teacher, use these resources to start a yearly pay-it-forward project in your classroom. Perhaps it will catch on to the whole school, community and who knows, maybe some future teachers in your class may take the project to their own students some day. You can then post your stories on PayItForwardMovement.org to share with the world. Now that is truly a good chain to create!
You don’t have to be a teacher to touch lives—start your own pay it forward group with friends, family members and the children in your life. There are no specific rules to follow; the key is to get started.
* The Residence Hall Association of Syracuse University (where my son attended and play basketball – Go Orangemen) started a Pay It Forward Campaign to help increase community service efforts on and off campus. Can you take this to your school or your child’s? Are you an alumna or alumnus who can suggest a pay-it-forward program to your former alma mater?
Another popular pay-it-forward act has been where someone pays the bill
at a retail store or grocery market for the person behind them in the checkout.
That has become quite popular here in the U.S.
I started a movement online several months ago by simply promoting
businesses of my Facebook friends who were entrepreneurs, I called it Pay It
Forward Friday. It was very gratifying and brought joy not only to the business
owners, but to me as well. Since my endorsements were completely unsolicited,
it caught them off guard and they were absolutely elated.
The Bible says,
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31
Doing good deed for others without expectations of anything in return
for yourself is indeed a joyFULL experience. Give it a shot.
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