What’s the ROI in ‘Paying it Forward?’
So I just happened to be in the Twitter neighborhood the other day and I asked my followers:
âWhat have you always been curious about?â
Someone replied:
â@ManifestWell perhaps the results of ‘paying forward’ a kind gesture shown. Maybe the change some people seek is just as simple as this?â
Great idea! I probably donât have to explain what paying it forward means to this audience. Has anyone ever done something nice for you and didnât expect anything in return? Then when you try to repay them they say, âJust pay it forward.â You probably get the picture.
I donât know about you, but to me that makes the person who committed the nice deed become the greatest person in the world at that moment. If youâre like me, you probably say to yourself⊠âI want to be that person! Thus, the paying of the forward continues. The desire to act from heart, unconditional courteousness, and kindness becomes contagious.
The first time someone told me to âpay it forward,â I was in Belgium in a little deli. I didnât have any money and my friend bought me a sandwich, just to buy me a sandwich. I admired that type of gesture, and I wanted to live by that energy ever since.
Paying it forward is a very powerful thing. I can remember the first time someone told me to pay it forward, but I donât remember the first time someone told me to go f*** myself. Ironic? No. Quintessential? Yes.
So, give someone a hand, buy them a sandwich, give them some heart, and donât demand anything in return. Donât even demand that they see you as a swell guy or gal. Just hope that they see the beauty in an act from the heart. The âreturn on investmentâ in paying it forward is the collective potential of everyone to know the greatness of a heart-filled community. There is nothing selfish about paying it forward. Paying it forward is paying power to a better way of life. I think my Twitter respondent was right when she said, âMaybe the change some people seek is just as simple as this.â
I donât know about you, but remembering how powerful this type of movement can be is getting me pumped up. I want to pay something forward right now, but Iâm more eager to hear about your paying it forward experiences. Donât be shy to comment⊠unless you donât like to pay it forward.
“pay it forward” I never heard this expression before and now I have something to tell people instead of “sure no problem”
I agree that paying it forward is a wonderful concept! My third grade students started a pay it forward project this year, and it has expanded beyond our wildest expectations! Here is the website we created for the project: http://www.thirdgraderspayitforward.net
That's such an awesome concept to teach at such an early age! Imagine how much they will learn from that project and how it is going to effect their lives and everyone else it inspires.
Definitely! Try it at random moments and see what comes of it.
I love your article! Thankyou so much for taking the time to write about this – and yes, getting 'pumped up' is all part of this very simple act. Again, it's the simplicity of feeling rather than thinking that we all need to remember – it's the only thing that we can truly believe in because feelings, good or bad, don't lie! Many thanks again…
Thank YOU! It was a pleasure to write.
[...] Pay it forward â Set the frequency of your day to a positive pitch by paying forward an act of kindness. [...]
oh, first time for he to hear this expression…acts of kindness? reminds me of doing this a few times .I was at the food court in AlaMoana Shopping center, and as I was sitting having my lunch , I watched this youngman, obviously he was not a local person..with a backpack moving from one concession to another. I finally realized that he had not enough money to buy a meal. I could tell he was a special person and new in town. (later found out he was a drummer and here with a music group) . As I watched, him.. knowing he must have been very hungry..I quietly walked up to him and gave him a twenty dollar bill. (he insisted on giving me a silver collectors coin in return ) I certainly did not need it. but took it as a gesture of receiving it. I still have it today as a memory of this one person whom I saw had such a beautiful face and eyes. I wondered many free souls like himself , he was such a beautiful soul living in this world of many dimensions. I percieved he was a talented musician that lives in the moment…I wish him to be safe, happy, and find himself with kindered spirits, who appreciates his beautiful presence.
I'm sure the coin must have been a sentimental piece for him to have it…perhaps a coin from his grandmother..??? i thought???
I think one of the nicest things we can do when driving in congested traffic getting on or off the freeway..is being in synchronizing movement with other drivers who are with you on the road.
I often follow this course here in Honolulu, to allow the driver on my right to move in if I see them blinking their lights to cut into my lane..”MY LANE?” It is always interesting since I consciously do this…as I am going on to the freeway, there is two cars, trying to get off the freeway and two cars including myself going on to the freeway, it is nice to have such harmony with strangers driving as if we are all dancing together in harmony. I always am thankful to be part of this , paying forward and usually the driver who “cut” in front of me…also is as I see him wave a “shaka” sign with his hands to me. “magic happens when we treat strangers as ONE”. What we do to OUR ownselves, we do to every other person
oh, first time for he to hear this expression…acts of kindness? reminds me of doing this a few times .I was at the food court in AlaMoana Shopping center, and as I was sitting having my lunch , I watched this youngman, obviously he was not a local person..with a backpack moving from one concession to another. I finally realized that he had not enough money to buy a meal. I could tell he was a special person and new in town. (later found out he was a drummer and here with a music group) . As I watched, him.. knowing he must have been very hungry..I quietly walked up to him and gave him a twenty dollar bill. (he insisted on giving me a silver collectors coin in return ) I certainly did not need it. but took it as a gesture of receiving it. I still have it today as a memory of this one person whom I saw had such a beautiful face and eyes. I wondered many free souls like himself , he was such a beautiful soul living in this world of many dimensions. I percieved he was a talented musician that lives in the moment…I wish him to be safe, happy, and find himself with kindered spirits, who appreciates his beautiful presence.
I'm sure the coin must have been a sentimental piece for him to have it…perhaps a coin from his grandmother..??? i thought???
I think one of the nicest things we can do when driving in congested traffic getting on or off the freeway..is being in synchronizing movement with other drivers who are with you on the road.
I often follow this course here in Honolulu, to allow the driver on my right to move in if I see them blinking their lights to cut into my lane..”MY LANE?” It is always interesting since I consciously do this…as I am going on to the freeway, there is two cars, trying to get off the freeway and two cars including myself going on to the freeway, it is nice to have such harmony with strangers driving as if we are all dancing together in harmony. I always am thankful to be part of this , paying forward and usually the driver who “cut” in front of me…also is as I see him wave a “shaka” sign with his hands to me. “magic happens when we treat strangers as ONE”. What we do to OUR ownselves, we do to every other person