Catherine Ryan Hyde is a genius. She started an idea that I think if we all decide to act on, our lives would be better. We will become better people, which will in turn make the world better.
For those of you who haven't seen the movie, watch it. You will love it.
For those of you who have, here's a refresher on the concept. It's simple - It starts with one person who does something good for three other people. In turn, each of those three people do something else for three other people, and so on. It's incredible that such small effort on one person's part, if carried on, can change the lives of so many others.
I was listening on the radio today about this Pay It Forward Foundation. Two local guys wondered why the movie didn't have more of an effect on people, why nothing really ever came of it. They decided to start a foundation with bracelets as a way to pay it forward.
They funded this project all on their own. They send bracelets out to people all over the world, and they ask you to wear it. The bracelet reminds to you "pay it forward" to someone else. When you do, you give the bracelet to that person. It then reminds them to do something good for someone else. When they do, they pass the bracelet on, and it continues. What a great idea! They said they have sent out about 325,000 of these bracelets all over the world - I think 55 countries are involved so far.
They pointed out that it doesn't need to be anything big. It could be as simple as helping someone out with their groceries or paying for their meal or paying for their gas. It could even be as simple as smiling at someone who's having a hard day and saying hi.
There are several stories of how people have paid it forward in their lives on their website:
The bracelets are available through this website (did I mention they are free?) and you can read about the people who have "payed it forward," blessing the lives of others as well as their own.
When I was working at the Training Table my senior year, a man came to the counter and told us he wanted to pay for the next ticket on the wheel, no matter whose it was, and he didn't want the person to know. It was so fun to see the woman's reaction when she heard that her meal was already paid for. That act of kindness has always stayed with me.
One year for Christmas, that's what I decided to do. I went to Chili's and told them I wanted to pay for someone's meal. Looking at me like I was joking, she said that she guessed I could pay for a man's to-go salad. Although I told her I didn't want him to know, he came in to pick it up before I left. When she informed him that this random girl paid for his meal, he asked me, "did you pay for my meal?" With tears in my eyes (it seems I can't do anything nice for someone without tearing up) I said, "yes... Merry Christmas." I was about to give him a hug but realized it would probably be inappropriate. After a small awkward silence, I turned and left. It was a great feeling - a feeling I wish I had more often.
I hope that man has done that, or something similar, to someone else. While it is great to be anonymous when doing something good (like the 12 days of Christmas), I think having a bracelet to give to him would have been awesome, being able to ask him to pay it forward.
I am not always great at helping others, but I try to be. I think if we really want to make a difference in the world, we can.
"You must be the change you hope to see in others." - Ghandi
Just something to think about.
8 comments:
I love this movie- and we had a secret angel before who asked us to "pay it forward" and we do any time we can. :)
great reminder, thanks, Heidi!
This is one of my favoirite movies. I've forgotten about it though. I think random acts of kindness go so much farther than we realize. One time I was at the dentist and a woman was arguing with the staff because they wouldn't do her sons root canal because she couldn't pay the office co-pay. She had taken her child out of school, taken off work, waited an hour in the waiting room, and was turned away. It was one of those moments where I knew I had to act. She was such a loud woman though I was embarassed that she would make too big of a scene when I approached her. So my first words were "I don't want you to say anything, I just want you to sit down with your son and let me pay your co-pay." Sounds weird now, but it worked. She quietly sat down and cried. The receptionist was actually annouyed at me. She said this lady is a difficult customer and never pays her bills, we don't really want her for a customer. That made me feel like maybe I did the wrong thing. But the spirit confimed and put words in my mouth. "I'm not doing it for her I'm doing it for her son who needs a rootcanal today." I don't know why I'm sharing this but to say that sometimes we have to be brave to do kind acts. It is out of our comfort zone most of the time to follow the little promptings. Thanks for the great post!
What a great post and a great reminder too! I love this movie, I've seen it a dozen times. I also love the concept of it all. Karson and I try to do little things all the time for random people. It's such an awesome feeling!
Saturday the 25....sometime that night...all the girls and hubbies...you in?
x
awesome post. i love that movie & also always wondered why it wasn't more popular!
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