What is Pay it Forward and 8 Easy Ways to Do It
What is pay it forward? Many of us first heard the phrase with the 2000 release of the movie of the same name. The concept is simple. Repay a kindness to another when a kindness is paid to us.
Kindness is free. And so easily given. Here are eight easy ways to pay it forward when a kindness comes our way.
1. Smile at someone. For no reason. The lady in the drive through at McDonald’s. The older man bagging groceries at Kroger. Just smile.
2. Point out something you like in someone. Maybe it’s how they talk to their dog in a way we would all like to be talked to. Maybe it’s the way they send thank you notes that sound like they took time to write them.
3. Ask someone for advice on something you know they’re really good at and have worked hard to accomplish. Most people have something they’re knowledgeable about because they love it and have spent time developing it. They may be only too happy to share what they know and feel complimented that you sought them out.
4. If there’s an older person in your life, drop by for a visit just to talk. Ask them about something meaningful in their lives that interests you and give them a chance to talk about it. Older people have a wealth of experience and history to share with others, but it may seem to them that no one has time to listen.
5. If you have a dog that loves people, try getting him or her approved for visits to a local nursing home. Dogs can make people smile with the simple wag of their tails. Regular visits can bring joy to those who may not have many visitors.
6. Plant a small garden in the spring and share your vegetables with a food pantry, an older person who can no longer garden, or a family who could use the assistance. A few tomato and squash plants can yield an abundance of produce.
7. Maybe you have a neighbor who isn’t able to walk his or her dog as much as they would like to due to age or health issues. Volunteer to do so for them.
8. Offer to teach someone something you know how to do. Maybe you know a teenager who would like to learn to play guitar but can’t afford the lessons. Or someone who doesn’t have computer skills but would like to. It may seem like a little thing to us, but can be huge to someone who may not have had the same opportunities in life.
What’s the best example of paying it forward you’ve seen lately? Or one you’ve done yourself?
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Inglath Cooper
I love books! From my earliest memories, I loved being read to and then reading practically every book in my elementary school library. There’s something about taking a little trip into a wonderful story that is its own unique pleasure. Over the years, my favorite authors have provided me with glimpses into worlds I would never have known had I not picked up their books. From Beverley Cleary to Lavyrle Spencer to Jodi Piccoult to Anita Shreve and so many others, I am grateful they chose to become storytellers. A great story has the power to move, change and shape its readers. To me, that’s an honorable calling and a task I aspire to.
Follow me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/#!/inglathcooper
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Nashville – Part One – Ready to Reach. Buy it at Amazon.com
Nashville – Part One – Ready to Reach. Buy it at Amazon.com – http://amzn.to/171tjpu
Young singer-songwriters going for the Nashville dream! Nineteen-year old CeCe Mackenzie leaves Virginia for Nashville with not much more to her name than a guitar, a Walker Hound named Hank Junior and an old car she’d inherited from her grandma called Gertrude.
But Gertrude ends up on the side of I-40 in flames, and Nashville has never seemed farther away.
Help arrives in the form of two Georgia football players headed for the Nashville dream as well. When Holden Ashford and Thomas Franklin stop to offer CeCe and Hank Junior a ride, fate may just give a nod to serendipity and meant to be.
Nashville – Part Two – Hammer and a Song. Buy it at Amazon.com
Nashville – Part Two – Hammer and a Song. Buy it at Amazon.com
5 Stars. “Ms. Cooper has written such a beautiful story that gives you hope. It fills you with laughter, sadness, and many other emotions. You feel connected to the characters and really share in their successes and hurt in their failures. I can’t wait for the next part to come out. I’ve really grown attached to the characters and want to see what lies ahead for them. Again…beautiful story.” – Amazon.com Reviewer
5 Stars. “Her car catches fire, 2 smokin’ hot guys stop to help. . . .the rest is history.” – Amazon.com Reviewer
5 Stars. “This book captured my attention from the very start! The characters are each unique yet seem to fit together. I love each of them, especially Hank. I was reading this on a plane and was so disappointed when I turned the page and realized I was going to have to wait to find out what happens. Excellent! I definitely recommend Nashville!” – Bookishblonde – Amazon.com Reviewer
