Every day, each person has a choice to make; to make the day matter or to not make a difference. Pay It Forward is an idea that has been around for many years. A few years after the idea was first thought of and put into action, a movie was created. The movie was made in 2007 and became a widespread hit around the country. However, as the years have passed, this idea has become less known to people.

So what is this idea exactly? One person chooses to do a large favor for someone in need. Then, when asked how they can be paid back, you just say to “pay it forward” to three more people. This begins a chain of people helping each other. It starts with one, then turns into three, then turns into 9, then  27 and so on. This idea is to make the world a better place. You don’t have to stop at just three acts of kindness, you can keep paying it forward to others forever.

 So how can you Pay It Forward? Here are a few easy to do ideas:

1. Hold the door open for the person behind you.

2. Introduce yourself. Make new classmates feel welcome.

3. Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need. Your old is someone else’s new.

4. Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.

5. Donate blood. One pint of blood can save up to three lives.

6. Volunteer at a hospital, homeless shelter, nursing home, etc. Get outside of yourself and help others.

7. Check up on someone who looks lonely.

8. Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.

9. Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.

10. Babysit for couples or single parents who don’t get out much so they can have some alone time.

11. If someone you love really likes something (a meal, a favor, etc.) give it to them when they least expect it.

12. Pay for the person in line behind you.

13. Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit.

14. Redirect gifts. Instead of having people give you birthday and holiday gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a good

    

    cause.

15. Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you.

16. Put some change in an expired parking meter.

17. Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.

18. Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.

19. Hug a friend. Let them know how important they are.

20. Send a nice email or handwritten card to someone you know, unexpectedly.

21. Setup a donation box at your school and ask others to make canned/dried food contributions. Then deliver the donations accordingly.

22. Compliment someone.

23. When you’re getting fast food, buy an extra meal for a homeless person.

Visit the official website for Pay It Forward at http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/ and share your Pay it Forward stories. No kind gesture is ever too big or too small, and even the smallest gesture can show a person that you care about them. It could make their day!