I would like to ask you for a small favor. I would like anyone who reads this to please do something nice for someone else.
This has been a particularly bad month for me, and for many I care about. April 1st marked the very beginning of a nearly month long journey I would have with a reaction to a medication. The wife of a friend of mine is pregnant with twins and at 27 weeks she was just admitted to the hospital for the duration of her pregnancy. Things don't look very good. My parents are coming to the end of a very difficult 2 years and starting on a new and scary journey they didn't choose to take.
Tonight my boyfriend and I picked up a card, some of my friends favorite candies, and some chai tea while we were at the store. It's not much, but I think the small gesture will mean a lot to my friend and his wife. I know that I really appreciated every small gesture that was done for me while I was sick. Text messages, facebook messages, flowers, short visits, gift bags.
So if you would join me, I'd like us all to play the Pay It Forward game. I can (almost) guarantee that you will feel better afterward. It doesn't have to be anything big. I'll even post a few suggestions...
12 ways to pay it forward
- write a letter or send a card through snail mail (aka US Postal Service)
- pick up a small gift for a friend, maybe their favorite candy or book you think they'd like
- bake something for others to enjoy
- make a special dinner for someone
- pick up a cup of coffee and surprise your favorite coffee drinker with a cup of their favorite coffee
- tell a co-worker you really appreciate their hard work
- mow an elderly or sick neighbor's lawn
- donate a small amount to your charity of choice
- bring donuts or bagels for people in the office
- do a chore your significant other usually does
- treat someone to lunch
- offer to babysit for a couple you know with young children so they can enjoy a night out
Of course those are just a tiny handful of ideas of random acts of kindness you could do. Please, brighten someone else's day, feel good about yourself for doing something nice for someone, and come back here and comment on what you did. Thanks in advance!
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"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." -- Sir Winston Churchill
Every now and then I come out of my hermit vagabond lifestyle to randomly compliment people. It's very nice to see how much one small compliment (sincerely given) can change someone's whole day. At the very least they will come out of their own hermit lifestyle and look at you.
Wow, this is a great post! I stopped in from Problogger. This motivated me to finish my thank you cards for baby shower gifts - I promise that's not my pay it forward but it did motivate me.
Later this evening - this is it..lol - I will be helping my elderly neighbor mow her yard. Even before reading your post, I noticed that it needed done and figured with two strappin' teenage boys and myself, we could tackle it in no time. She's very particular about her yard, but lately has been sick herself along with a husband who is dying of cancer so I have no doubt it will make her day.
Laura, I think a lot of us are busy in our own world and thoughts that we forget to notice and interact with those around us. A compliment can go a long way, even a small one :)
Hi, Kim! Glad I could give you the motivation to finish those thank you notes. When are you due, or did you already have the baby? Either way, Congrats!
Your plan sounds like a wonderful pay it forward activity!! I am sure if she is very particular about her yard and is unable to take care of it at the moment it is driving her crazy. I am sure she will be extremely appreciative.
Thank you for playing along and brightening someone's day. :)
at my old 9-5 i would bring in donuts at least once or twice a month and pass them out to the gents and ladies in the office.
we were a small company and people would bring in treats they would bake and just sit them in the break room. it was always a nice little surprise to find them.
it's the little things that go a long way.
j, thanks for stopping by and commenting! My current place of employment is the same way. One guy brings in bagels at least a couple of times a month and others will randomly bring in some sort of candy or baked good. I have been known to bring in home made chocolate chip cookies and strawberry-rhubarb pie made with rhubarb from my back yard every now and then. It seems to brighten everyone's day when someone makes the little extra effort to do something nice :) It's a wonderful feeling.