Pay It Forward

The premise of the novel “Pay It Forward” is one that any person can implement in his or her own life, at any time. It begins with doing a favor for another person ~ without any expectation of being paid back. Indeed one would request that the recipient of that favor do the same for someone else ~ ideally, for three other people. The unconditional favors can be large or small. As 12-year-old Trevor observes in the novel: it doesn't have to be a big thing. It can just seem that way, depending on whom you do it for. Both to inspire and to educate, the Pay It Forward Foundation posts projects, activities and stories to this website and to the Pay It Forward Movement website. There’s really no end to what you can do when you set your mind to Pay It Forward!

Tomorrow is National Pay It Forward Day! Here are some ideas of little ways in which you can Pay It Forward.

• Start your own Free Hugs Campaign!
  
• At a drive through, pay for the car behind's meal and give the cashier a Pay it Forward card to pass on...You could do this at a gas station, coffee shop, etc.
• Visit an elderly neighbor’s house and ask them if they need any help with house work.
• Donate some money to your favorite charity.
• Tell the manager of a restaurant how great your waiter/waitress was.
• Talk to parking attendants - try and get them to hand out Pay it Forward cards instead of Parking fines or top up other people's parking meters to stop them getting a fine.
• Cook a casserole for a new mom. Caring for newborns is tiring and draining. Mom will appreciate the ability to eat something home-cooked without having to cook it herself.
• Clip a $5, $10, or $20 bill to a “Pay It Forward Card” and as you pass by someone’s table on the way out of the restaurant, drop or slip it on the table or simply hand it to someone sitting there. If they refuse to take it, give it to the next table.
• If you are washing your own car or mowing your own lawn, do the same for your next door neighbor.
• At your office, thank the “little people”. Everyone’s part is essential and no one’s job is purposeless. Thank the mail guy, the girl who orders supplies, or the door person.
• Drive an older person in the neighborhood to the grocery store (they will love the opportunity to get out of the house, as well) or if they aren’t able to go themselves, take their list and go to the store for them. If at all possible, pay for their things.
• Be a mentor for someone who needs some support.
• Give a homeless person some food vouchers along with a Pay it Forward card.
• Do some work for a client or one that can't afford your services free of charge - just ask that they Pay it Forward.
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There are so many ways to brighten someone else's day. One gentleman donated $10,000 for a lady to have a liver operation she couldn't afford - he was a stranger and remains so to this day. What an amazing random act of kindness and what a difference it has made to that lady and all the people with whom she comes into contact.

It doesn't need to be expensive.....it just needs to be from the heart. What random acts of kindness will you do on April 30^th and beyond?