We all know Gandhi's famous quote; be the change you want to see in the world. But for most of us, once life gets in the way it's hard to break out of our daily routine to stop and smell the roses, let alone do good deeds for others. This is where Pay It Forward Day kicks in.
Inspired by the book of the same name, Pay It Forward Day this April 26 encourages people to do one to three good deeds, expecting nothing in return except for others to then 'pay it forward'.
How does it work? Simply do a good deed for someone else. It can be big or small; you're only limited by your imagination. Then hand them a
Pay It Forward card that explains what the day is about, including the fact that they can now 'pay it forward' and help someone else (but only if they choose to). Just remember to tick one of the boxes on the back of the Pay It Forward card. There are 24 boxes on the card; wouldn't it be great if all boxes get ticked?
Pass on the Pay It Forward card when you do a good deed
Pay It Forward Day is not just for individuals.
Businesses,
schools, and universities can get involved as well. Encouraging kindness can result in a happier environment, which leads to more productivity. It's a win-win situation. And what employee or student wouldn't appreciate a break from the daily grind?
Your good deed can be as simple as paying for someone's coffee to paying for someone's hospital operation. Pay It Forward lists some great ideas
here and
here. Or to make it special, try thinking of your own personal ways to help someone. The sky's the limit:
Don't ignore those annoying street salespeople. Stop, talk to them and even sign up to their cause
Donate money to buskers and tell them what a great job they're doing
Order a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to a friend or colleague, or even better, an edible bouquet
Be the office hero by buying blocks of chocolate to cure 3:30itis
Spoil a loved one. Buy them a massage, a facial, or even a weekend getaway
If your bank balance is more than likely the limit, then don't forget that the best things in life are free:
- Offer your seat to someone on a crowded bus or train
- Offer someone a ride to work/home
- Make someone's morning coffee or tea for them
- Offer to be someone's personal assistant for a few hours
- Walk someone's dog
- If you're in a position to, let someone take an extra-long lunch break
- Use your skills and talents. If you like to bake, make someone a batch of cookies or muffins. If you can knit, make someone a scarf. If you're musical, serenade a loved one
The Pay It Forward website provides a range of
inspirational resources to give us all a bit of motivation. From
quotes, to inspirational
movies, to the
best Pay It Forward stories. You can also share your stories and read other people's
stories.
Pay It Forward Day happens on the last Thursday of April in 35 countries around the world. It aims to inspire 3 million acts of kindness. Why?
- To encourage all of us to embrace the incredible power of giving.
- To show each other that we care and that there is love, hope and magic all around us.
- To know that we may be only one person in this world, but to one person, at one time, we are the world.
It's important to remember that being kind and helping others is important on every day of the year. But it never hurts to put in the extra effort, or to send out a reminder to others around us to also spread some love.
