Passing on good deeds to other people

Many of you may have seen the movie ‘Pay It Forward’ or have read the novel of the same name, a story about a young boy who did three good deeds for others in need.

In return, all that the child wanted was that they pass on the good deed to three other people and keep the cycle going.

One good deed might not seem like much, but if everyone did something good for someone else, then the cycle of generosity and kindness can spark us to become better people.

Do between one and three good deeds for others without asking for anything in return. Instead the recipient should be instructed to pay it forward to someone else in need.

Pay it Forward Cards (downloadable in the left bar of the website, https://payitforwardday.com) can be handed to each recipient explaining what Pay it Forward is all about.

There are 24 boxes on the back of the card that are ticked off as the card travels around – each box containing the potential for future good deeds as others Pay it Forward to others in need.

The Pay it Forward part can be completed at each person’s discretion.

The difference we can make is phenomenal.

Here’s some examples that might help give you some ideas

1. At a drive through, pay for the car behind’s meal and give the cashier a Pay it Forward card to pass on…You could do this at bus stop, at a coffee shop – anywhere you like.

2. If it is raining, give your umbrella together with a card to someone who does not have one. (it might be worth taking a spare one with you.

3. Visit an elderly neighbour’s house and ask them if they need to have anything they need repaired.

4. Donate some money to your favourite charity – perhaps collect some donation money from people at work.

5. Tell the manager of a restaurant how great your waiter/ waitress was. This can happen in any store / business you visit. Aim at brightening someone else’s day

6. Talk to parking attendants – try and get them to hand out Pay it Forward cards instead of Parking fines – wouldn’t that be nice? Alternatively you could top up other people’s parking metres to stop them getting a fine.

7. Cook a casserole for a new mother. Caring for newborns is tiring and draining. Mothers will appreciate the ability to eat something home-cooked without having to cook it herself.

8. Buy Lottery tickets and put one in an envelope with a ‘‘Pay It Forward Card’’ inserted. Hand it to a receptionist on the way out of a business appointment.

You just might change that person’s whole life.

9. Give a homeless person some food vouchers along with a Pay it Forward card

10. If you are washing your own car or mowing your own lawn, do the same for your next door neighbour.

11. At your office, thank the ‘‘little people’’. Everyone’s part is essential and no one’s job is purposeless. Thank the mail person, the girl who orders supplies, or the door person.

12. Drive an older person in the neighborhood to the grocery store (they will love the opportunity to get out of the house, as well) or if they aren’t able to go themselves, take their list and go to the store for them. If at all possible, pay for their things.

13. Be a mentor for someone

If everyone did something good for someone else, the cycle of kindness can spark us to become better people. who needs some support.

14.Do some work for a client or one that can’t afford your services free of charge – just ask that they Pay it Forward

There are numerous benefits attached to paying random acts of kindness forward and helping someone else in need. Specifically:

■ Doing good for others can have a powerful, positive effect on the immune system

By contributing towards the greater good self worth and self esteem improves

■ It can prevent people from becoming isolated, encouraging them to meet new people and step outside of their comfort zones

■ Chronic negativity can be dismantled in the mind as positive energy flows from giving to others

■ Studies have revealed that kindness helps relieve stress, which is a huge problem in many workplaces.

‘‘Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health, and it can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders both serious and minor, psychological and physical.’’ - Allan Luks