Pay it Forward

[Officer196]

So given the time of the year I thought I would share something that happened to me last week that truly made my day.

Last Monday due to a headache I opted to go straight home after work and just pick up some drive through. I placed my order at McDonalds and pulled up to the first window to pay. As I tried to hand the cashier my debit card he said, "Your taken care of, the woman in the car in front of you took care of it". Having heard stories like this before, I know the idea is to pay it forward, which I tried to do but unfortantly was the last in line. I have no idea who the person was in the white SUV, but thanks. You made my day!

This is the first time this has ever happened to me. This ever happen to anyone else?

[kokabeel]

I've payed it forward a bit, and not once has it been done for me. Sucks ;/

[RLucas]

It's happened to me a few times, but I can honestly say that the giving is way more rewarding.

[andrewdt]

Agreed it seems far easier to give than receive. Funny how I felt prompted to pay for the lady in front of me at the supermarket (her weekly groceries), then drove home to find that friends had dropped in and left a huge meal for us in the house just because they thought it might be some help we needed! I tell you I was blown away.

But keep on giving, whether you receive or not is immaterial. That is the beauty of pay it forward, it is not tit for tat. The more you give, the better you feel. Period.

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by andrewdt

But keep on giving, whether you receive or not is immaterial. That is the beauty of pay it forward, it is not tit for tat. The more you give, the better you feel. Period.

I agree. If you can find the true pleasure in doing something for someone else without expectation you're going to find your life is a lot nicer. It's enough to see the smile on someone's face who has just received something they weren't expecting. Now that's Christmas.

My "pay it forward" started 20 odd years ago. I was in San Francisco and had been mugged. I was on my way to Napa where I had a job, and told the woman on the bus what happened. She listened intently, then said "That's an awful introduction to our beautiful country" and took me back to her family, gave me ice cream and beer and introduced me to her family and gave me a wonderful meal. I don't have her name or address to send her cards, she was just a random generous stranger, but 20 years later I'm still telling people of her generosity. Your random acts of kindness might only give you passing pleasure, but it's possible that they will deeply effect and change the lives of the people you touch.

Merry Christmas

[NgaiHill]

Last year, just before Christmas, my friend, her partner and her three kids were doing their grocery shopping at a local supermarket, a fortnight's worth. My friend noticed an older man who seemed to be in the same aisle at the same time a lot and appeared to watch them. One of the kids even noticed. She didn't say anything to him though, just kept on shopping. When she got to the checkout and went to pay this same man stepped forward and said he'd like to pay for their groceries. Its something he does every year - finds a family in the supermarket then offers to pay for their groceries. Just one family, once a year at Christmas.