The world can seem like an unfriendly, threatening place, yet we all want safety, health, and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones.
How can one ordinary person -- you or me -- make a positive difference in this world?
One way is the practice "paying it forward." While the steps might be simple, the outcome could change the world.
So what is this “Pay it Forward”?
The concept is very simple: When someone does a favor to you, something that you couldn’t have done all by yourself, don’t pay it back to the person who helped you. Instead pay it forward to people who need help just like you needed once.
It can be best described by Benjamin Franklin’s words in a letter dated April 22, 1784:
" I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. "
The term "pay it forward" was coined, or at least popularized, by Robert A. Heinlein in his book Between Planets, published in 1951:
The banker reached into the folds of his gown, pulled out a single credit note. "But eat first — a full belly steadies the judgment. Do me the honor of accepting this as our welcome to the newcomer."His pride said no; his stomach said YES! Don took it and said, "Uh, thanks! That's awfully kind of you. I'll pay it back, first chance.""Instead, pay it forward to some other brother who needs it."
In 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde's novel ‘Pay It Forward’ was published which was later made into a movie with the same title, starring Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, and Kevin Spacey. In Ryan Hyde's book and movie it is described as an obligation to do three good deeds for others in repayment of a good deed that one receives. Such good deeds should be things that the other person cannot accomplish on their own. In this way, the need to help one another can spread exponentially through society, creating a social movement with the goal of making the world a better place.
The idea of the book has been championed in real life by the Pay It Forward Foundation.
The Pay It Forward Foundation was established in September 2000 by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and others to educate and inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and provide them with opportunities to do so. By bringing the author's vision and related materials into classrooms internationally, students and their teachers are encouraged to formulate their own ideas of how they can pay it forward. Visit http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/ for more details.
“Pay It Forward” is not just a book , not just a movie, but it's an IDEA.
It's an action plan within a work of fiction. But does it have to be fiction? I am hoping not.
What began as a work of fiction has already become much more.
- The mathematician Paul Erdos, in one of his visits to Harvard University, met a promising math student on the verge of expulsion for inability to pay his tuition. Erdos paid the young man's tuition in full. Years later, the man offered to return the entire amount to Erdos, but Erdos insisted that the man rather find another student in his situation, and give the tuition to him.
- In 2004, a small group of University of Minnesota students, wanting to find a way for students to do ordinary things to improve their world, created the student group Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF). The main event for STLF is the annual "Pay It Forward" tour, where college students spend their Spring Break on a bus trip to several cities doing community service projects, with the idea that those served will "pay it forward" and benefit their communities.
- On October 26, 2006 Oprah gave her audience a challenge to Pay it Forward, giving 300 audience guests $1,000 USD on a debit card and a camcorder to record the acts of kindness they did. The rules of the challenge were very specific, the money had to be spent within one week and could only be used to help charitable organizations or an individual person but not a relative.
So you know what to do now. You can either see this as just another idea or you can believe in this idea.
Sometimes The Simplest Idea Can Make The Biggest Difference. Try these simple steps.
1) Educate your children about Paying forward.
The simple idea of doing good works for others to repay the good that has happened to you is one that can easily be conveyed to children and encourages them to be socially aware and take a role in making the world a better place.
2) Look for opportunities everywhere to pay forward.
Even small acts, such as paying the bridge toll for the car behind you when you pay for your own, counts. Perhaps you have an elderly or disabled neighbor who is too proud to ask for help with their yard work.Or maybe you're in a
restaurant and see someone who looks like they could use some kind stranger to pay for their meal. You can change people's attitudes about the world through your unobtrusive acts of indness.
3) Practice the “Pay it forward” principle in your daily life.
It will make you alert to unexpected kindness from strangers toward you, and you may find yourself becoming more grateful for everyday kindness and consideration from people you don't even know.
4) Spread the word.If a person thanks you and wants to "repay" you (that is, pay it "back"), let them know that what you'd really like is for them to pay it "forward" -- you'd like them to do something nice for three people they don't know, and ask those three people to do something nice for three more people. The idea is to consciously increase the goodness of the world.
If it makes the world a friendlier place, you succeeded!
And finally a word of caution.
Do take care of yourself. If you have excess, then share with those in need, but don't give away your last dollar. The stronger you are the more good you can do for others.
And remember, "You can never pay back; but you can always pay forward."
-- Dear! Jap Evans
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