Pay it Forward

United States
July 10, 2010 6:19pm CST
I am very interested in the concept of Paying it Forward. One time I was getting my son McDonalds, the lady in front of me in the drive thru, paid for me, and I thought it was just such a nice thing to do and made my day. Today, I was loading a ton of groceries in my car, and this nice man who had just finished putting a ton in his car, asked if I wanted help. Do any of you try to pay it forward? I wonder if there are ways of paying it forward in a bigger way. I am going through some financial challenges myself, but I know there are people way worse off than I am, and I would like to find a way to pay it forward somehow.
1 person likes this
3 responses
Rallon
@Rallon (441)
• United States
11 Jul 10
Yes, paying it forward is a great concept! It just plays into the fact that the Golden Rule is a good method of living and coexisting with others in the grand scheme of things. Doing good always benefits yourself as well as others, even if you aren't able to see the payback for it.
aurorastorm
@aurorastorm (1131)
• United States
12 Jul 10
I agree, it feels good to do something for someone else, and leaves you with a good feeling all day. If you do it because you are expected something back in return that really defeats the whole idea. The idea is to do something selflessly for someone else, to help then with a need.
1 person likes this
cher913
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
10 Jul 10
thats very sweet of her to do that. i havent really encountered that but i do get the idea. paying it forward doesnt have to cost money though, just doing something nice for someone will do. what about cutting someones grass?
aurorastorm
@aurorastorm (1131)
• United States
11 Jul 10
I like the idea of this. I wont cut someone's grass per se, but I would help someone with their grocery shopping or another chore they might have. I am going to do something today that pays it forward. Even if it is something small it will help someone else and make me feel good. Right about now I need some more feeling good.
sid556
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
29 Jul 10
Hi there aurorastorm, I don't have the means to pay-it-forward in big ways but the small ways which may not seem like much may be everything to someone else. I imagine that man who offered to help you put your groceries away just made you feel really good, didn't he? Sometimes just a friendly smile or a kind gesture can make someone's day more than you know.