Pay it Forward Weekend!

This Friday, January 16, “Pay it Forward Weekend” begins. This celebration is the third of its kind. “Pay it Forward Weekend” urges participants to take part in at least on random act of kindness. The only condition is that this act must be carried out without the expectation of receiving anything in return. Last year, 484,743 individuals participated in this unofficial celebration. This year, organizers hope to increase reach tenfold.

Participating in random acts of kindness  creates a ripple effect. We all benefit from good deeds!
Participating in random acts of kindness creates a ripple effect. We all benefit from good deeds!

So how can you get involved? First, join the event on Facebook.  If you are not a Facebook user, don’t worry! You are not barred in any manner from participating. Next, brainstorm an act of kindness. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Pay for someone’s meal in the fast food drive through.
• Leave a bouquet at the hospital for the nurses to distribute.
• If you are in a long line, invite the person behind you to go first.
• Offer to help carry someone’s groceries.
• Tell a manager about how stellar a certain employee is.
• Load extra change into the vending machine.
• Buy a lottery ticket for a stranger.
• Give a large tip to your server when you dine out.
• Let another driver take your parking spot.
• Leave a copy of a good book with a note on the bus.

This list is just the start- random acts of kindness are simple but their impact is outlasting! Consider challenging yourself to carry out one or more random acts of kindness during “Pay it Forward Weekend” and then extending this altruism throughout the year. In life, the littlest things make the biggest difference. Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments section of this post.