Pay It Forward...

When my youngest son was born, as a shower gift I received a double stroller one that I referred to as "the blue limo" because it comfortably accommodated both my boys who were two and half years apart. The stroller also housed all the necessary items in its ample trunk and sported a really cool sunroof. When my friend got married a few years later, I packed "the limo" in my minivan van and headed off with my husband and boys to the church and later to the reception.

Upon arriving at the reception my youngest one started acting up and I placed him in the stroller so he could sleep. At some point during the night, the older one got sleepy and so I wiggled his skinny body into the back seat and he also went to sleep. Perfect. Now, my husband and I could dance, walk and chat with friends without having to worry about the boys. However, my friend and her husband decided to leave rather early and unexpectedly and so every one rushed out to see them off.

There were about 300 people in the facility heading for the door at the same time. My husband and I became separated in the stampede, but I held the stroller tightly and ran for the exit. I stood with the very large blue stroller trying to get out the door for what seemed hours though I am sure it was just a couple of minutes. Person after person walked right by me, through me, over me and around me, and no one offered to let me pass much less help me lower the stroller down the two steps. I remember standing in amazement until I began to laugh at myself and at the ridiculous behavior of the people around me. Eventually, someone stopped in her tracks, moved everybody out of the way, grabbed the front end of the stroller and helped me bring it down the steps out of every body's way. I need to believe she helped me out of kindness and pity and not out of anger because I was holding up the traffic.

I have never forgotten that day, just as I have never forgotten the day someone driving in the car ahead of me paid my toll, or the time my boys and I had breakfast at a local restaurant and exchanged a few words with some strange woman who later quietly walked out after paying for our breakfast. She was long gone by the time the waitress told me. Most recently, an older woman at the supermarket gave me three carnations at the checkout for no reason, except that she wanted to. These events don't happen everyday for me but when they do, I am reminded to pay it forward.

When we do something for another person, we should do it without expecting or requiring anything in return. When we contribute to charity or help others, we should do it because we "want to" and not because we "have to" and when we give, we should give quietly, much like the woman in the restaurant or the man who paid my toll and just drove away. We should give because it makes us whole, because we take pleasure in seeing someone else happy, excited or simply because we "truly" care about these other beings who inhabit the Earth along with us.

Is it impossible to believe that some people enjoy participating in these random acts of kindness? Read Coastal Commentaries. Is it impossible to believe that a stranger could care about us? Just read The Oceangram Blog or read Mike Docherty's post at Fast Company. Is it impossible to believe that someone could give his or her life for one of us? No, it is not impossible, for it happens all the time in this country.

Awarded the Medal of Honor after they sacrificed their lives for others.

Ross A. McGinnis
Michael A. Monsoor
Michael P. Murphy
Paul R. Smith
Jason Dunham

Pay it forward...

Be patient and watch the ENTIRE video and listen to the words carefully. I first heard the song on Skylar's blog A Wolf Adventure and just loved it!

Pay It Forward, by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Click on "the book" and read how the author came up with the idea
Pay It Forward Movement
Pay It Forward Foundation