What does “Pay it forward” mean? It means that you repay or give back to someone a kindness or good deed done to you by another person. You do not repay the one giving to you but you do it to others. It starts a ripple effect. If someone gives you something or do a good deed for you, you repay to someone else who may need help. You of course thank that person who did it to you first. Then you help out someone or more who needs the help, a good deed, food or even money. It creates a ripple effect if you do it to 3 other people and tell them to “pay it forward” to three other people and they will do the same and it keeps going on and on, spreading out into the world.
Picture is mine made with the Paint apps.
I have been doing this for some time now. Especially to people I know who cannot afford something or needs some kind of help When they tell me how can they repay me, I just say help someone later who will need your help and do not ask anything in return. I just do it, don’t know why but it makes me feel happy.
Last 2015, that year was not a good year for me. I was feeling stressed, depressed and down. I would post my feelings on Facebook. I was surprised when one day in June I received a package. I told the delivery guy that he might have the wrong person because there was someone who lived further down the street with the same name except it is her married name. But when I saw the return address, it was from one of my online sellers.
I am a plus size so it is hard for me to buy clothes here. So I buy from online sellers selling plus size clothes. The person who sent me this blouse was one seller that I use frequently. I sent her a message saying I did not order any (that year I was financially low so I did not buy any that time). She said that she read my posts and felt sad so she wanted me to feel better. I asked how could I repay her and she said just pay it forward. So one day at a certain mall here in the city, I was waiting for my companions around 3pm. I noticed the security guards were looking hungry and I know they do not make that much. I remembered the good deed done for me so I bought 10 Jollibee yum burgers and told my helper to give it to them. They were surprised and I could see the smile of gratitude and relief. The lady guard hugged me as I was going out and said thank you because she had not eaten lunch yet because her budget was low and did not have much to buy food and her salary was still a week off. I felt happy that I made them happy. I just said someday help someone in need in any way they can. Maybe helping to carry out their groceries or shopping bags, or even just assisting them in any way.
Picture is mine. This is the blouse she sent colorful and made me feel happy.
Then in Aug. I was feeling sad because it was my daughter’s birthday and she was not here anymore. She was in the US working. Suddenly (again) a friend who happened to have the same first name and also went to the same college as I, just older, sent me a message. Her brother went home from the US and she sent me something to make me feel happy. Wow my favorite perfume heheh. It is kind of expensive here in the mall. I saw one that size and it was 4,000.00 pesos. Again I paid it forward when my helper needed financial help because her mother was in the hospital. I just gave her some amount and told her not to worry about paying it back. Just help someone else.
Picture is mine DAISY perfume by Marc Jacobs
Again another surprise, another seller sent me a blouse and a prayer book. The prayer book was personally made with chosen prayers and novenas. She said that she wanted to help me feel better and calm. Another coincidence is that we have the same birthday, I am just way older haha. She also said just pay it forward. During that year I know I have paid it forward a couple of times to different people with different needs.
Pictures are mine
These people who tried to make my life easier, helped me learn the art of giving back or paying it forward without asking anything in return. They also helped me get thru the year. People I have not met personally yet they cared enough to help me feel better and feel loved.
You get a nice feeling inside, something you cannot describe when you see how you helped someone without asking anything in return. Those security guards I still occasionally treat them like during my birthday if I am in the city or just because.
It’s a feeling that makes you feel happy too. A nice warm cozy feeling even if you are not that happy, but seeing others happy because you did something for them makes you feel happy inside.
Just a few days ago another one of my frequently used sellers sent me a message. She asked me my shipping address and I asked why? I said I have not ordered in a long while. She wanted to send me a dress and blouse because they were too big for her and she thought of me. I was speechless. I said thank you very much and why is she doing this. She said she was paying it forward. I asked how could I repay her and she said “PAY IT FORWARD”
These are what she sent, the dress fit perfectly and so did the blouse. Just in time for Christmas. She also told me “Merry Christmas” in advance.
So let us all “Pay it forward” to make the world a better place. We can do it little by little. It is not hard. The reward will be greater than you will know. Good luck in your endeavors. Spread the word. Let's make the world better for our children, our future.
