Paying It Forward... It does exist!

I've heard of it, and understand the concept but until a few days ago, I witnessed it for myself.
Pay it forward is an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying it to others instead of to the original benefactor.

The other day my mom and I were minding our own business and decided to go for a Starbucks Coffee. When we reached the order menu, we not only ordered what we initially went for but our order looked something like this:

1 Chai Tea Latte

1 Coffee

2 Pumpkin Muffins

2 Oatmeals

2 Refreshers

1 Greek Yogurt

Totaling somewhere between $25.00

As we drove up to the starbucks window to pay, the young lady at checkout told us "Your order has alredy been paid for by the car ahead of you!" My mom and I were shocked, surprised and thankful. It was our first big order at Starbucks and we didn't even have to pay for it! With that being said, now, one good deed leads to another and it's our turn to Pay It Forward.

“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, after surveying 3,296 volunteers.

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 the train station, 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 Scratch-Off 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 neighbor
11. At your office, thank the “little people”. Everyone’s part is essential and no one’s job is purposeless. Thank the mail guy, 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 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