Monday, September 22, 2008

paying it forward


A couple of weeks ago, I read a column  in the Oregonian about a young man named Matt Strong who decided he didn't need material gifts for his birthday. Instead, he asked his family and friends to do a good deed for someone, and to let him know what they'd done. This small request has snowballed into something with a life of its own. A followup column in yesterday's paper confirmed that thousands of people in the Portland area have taken his idea to heart, performing acts of kindness ranging from moving earthworms out of the sun to paying for a stranger's lunch at the drive-thru.

This is certainly not a new idea. Human beings have been performing random acts of kindness since the beginning of civilization, but lately it seems we've gotten a little distracted. There's a sort of "every man for himself" attitude going on right now, and I believe once we recognize that we can all do something to improve the lives of others, we can effect great and lasting changes for us all. 

So, here's my question: What can you, and what have you done lately to pay it forward?

3 comments:

Magpie said...

:)

I think you know what I did...in fact, I know you know!

Suz Broughton said...

Hello,
Found you through Foolery's blog. This is funny, because my husband just helped a guy who ran out of gas and when the guy tried to pay him back, he said "pay it forward."
My daughter (7) was with him and he had the opportunity to teach her what that was all about.
Great story. Thanks for sharing.
Suz

Glennis said...

This is embarrassing, because in reading this, I realize that I've let my busy life keep me from doing things like this.

Great wake-up call!