I asked my friends and readers to submit some of your stories about paying it forward, and I've got three really great ones to share with you.
Paying it forward isn't always a grand gesture. Sometimes its as simple as a hug or a kind word that brightens someone's day. Every day, we all have opportunities to bring a little light to someone's life.
And remember...
From Lindsay:
Last weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving so traveled a few hours to visit Evan's family. On the way home, we decided to stop for some supper at a little small town diner. Evan took the girls in while I gathered the diaper bag and some books and coloring for them. When I got in, they were chatting with an elderly man who was sitting at a table near the door. We sat at our table and Evan said Evalyn had made quick friends with him. Not a surprise. She makes friends everywhere she goes. A few minutes later, the gentleman walked to the counter to pay his bill and then came over to say goodbye. It was difficult to understand everything he said, but we knew that he said he loved seeing nice young families out together, and that it reminded him of what they used to do when he was young. He shook Evan's hand and thanked us for doing a good job with our girls. He said goodbye to them and left. When he left, Evan showed me that when he shook his hand he had left a $100 bill in his hand.
A story we'll remember forever, no doubt.
From Sarah:
Last December, I found out I had gall stones and needed to have surgery to remove my gall bladder. I had an appointment set up with the surgeon, and as we were sitting in the waiting room, my husband mentioned he'd taught the surgeon's daughter. Since my husband is a jr. high band director, he often teaches students all three years if they remain in the music program & gets to know them very well. When the surgeon came in, he and Zach talked about his daughter & how she was doing in high school, etc, etc. We scheduled the surgery for the next week and the day of, the doctor came in to talk to us. After he left, his nurse came back in and said "The doctor wanted me to tell you that because your husband was his daughter's favorite teacher ever, he will only be accepting insurance payment for the surgery & you won't be billed the remainder!" I was so stunned! I was also so incredibly proud that my husband had made such a difference in a kid's life that their parent would want to do that for us!
From Anonymous:
A few weeks ago, I rushed out of my office to go grab some lunch. I was in a huge hurry and frankly, not in a great mood. I zoomed through traffic at break neck speed and headed for a local drive through. In the process I unintentionally cut off an elderly couple because I wasn't paying enough attention. I know if I had been them, I would have honked at me, but they didn't do anything. As I pulled up to the window to pay for my order, I paid for theirs as well - and added on a couple of chocolate chip cookies for them. I also asked the cashier to apologize for my rudeness. Hopefully, it brightened their day a little bit.
Thank you all so much for sharing these wonderful stories! I have loved working with Folgers on their The Best Part campaign. Be sure to check out their facebook page for even more uplifting and inspiring stories!
The Best Part is an online community that’s dedicated to brightening your day—every day. How? By spreading optimism, one share at a time. The Best Part posts inspirational stories, encouraging quotes, good news and other upbeat items on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—and encourages fans and followers to share that optimism with their friends. Because when optimism is shared, it grows, making an even more positive impact on our world. Check out what others are sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
