What would you do if you could pay it forward?

Question

Pay it forward has been sort of popular the last few months. Oprah did a show and stuff about it. Well I've been paying it forward the last few months. Helping somebody that I know doesn't have the money to help himself. I've been feeding him, trying to get him on his feet again with a job, so he won't be homeless anymore. Then after that, I have to pay it forward to 2 more people which then they have to pay it forward. If you could pay it forward, what do you think you would do? And what do you think about the pay it forward method, which could really help change the world if everybody pitched in? -Always remember, everybody has it worse then you somewhere in the world, and maybe if you see that and see somebody struggling...even being by there side would make them feel a billion times better. Real Answers only please, or I will report you.

where I said "everybody has it worse then you in the world" I meant to put "Somebody always has it worse in the world"

Answer 1

I choose not to do that as it would involve acts of violence against so many. Then I would know that some had it worse. The "Everybody has it worse than you..." comment is perhaps the most mindless thing I've heard in at least a week.

Answer 2

I think the "Pay It Forward" movement is a really wonderful thing. I was very touched and inspired by the movie. In fact, I liked it so much that I went out and bought the DVD. I have loaned it to 8 or 10 of my friends so they could watch it, and then hopefully want to start "Paying It Forward" themselves.

I have already paid it forward twice now.

My first thing was to buy christmas for 2 needy kids in my community. Not only did that act give me a feeling of joy, but I also included my two teenage daughters in it by letting them pick out the gifts. I think my girls learned alot by it. It made them be more appreciative of the things they have and maybe not take as much for granted. My family is not rich, but we are not starving to death either.

The second act of kindness was: A girl who attends my daughter's school lost everything in a house fire. I bought her some clothes and paid her second semester band class fees. I also went out to the local businesses in our area and asked for donation checks to be made payable to this family. I actually received quite a few. Hopefully that made a diffrence in helping this family get back on their feet after their loss. When I saw the look in the poor girls eyes when I took her the clothes and money - it was absolutely priceless.

I plan to keep paying it forward. I dont want to stop at a certain limit. If I ever see a way I can help someone, whether it's large or small - I hope I will be able to do it.

Paying it forward could really change the world. If there is anyone out there who has not watched this movie - PLEASE do do as soon as possible. Maybe you can make a diffrence in someone's life.

Answer 3

Yes, I believe that paying it forward would go a long way with correcting a lot of the ills in the world. That movie was great. I try to do good deeds whenever I can. I haven't sat down and thought about something really special that I would do but now that you ask, if I had a lot of money, I'd help out whomever I could with it. I'd pay off my friend's house. She has a lot of illnesses and still works even though it is very difficult for her. No way would I need a million dollars if I won it. Spread the wealth as they say. But until I win, I'll continue on my way helping as much as I can as the opportunities present themselves.

A long time ago, I saw something that really touched me. I went into a Convenient Store in the early morning on Mother's Day for something. There was a baglady in the store. She was always in that store. A well dressed young man purchased a bunch of flowers and gave them to her with a kiss and a Happy Mother's Day. The look on her face was beautific. I almost cried. Have A Nice Day.

Answer 4

The phrase "pay it forward" is just a repackaging of a concept that is already being practiced by many people all over the world, locally, nationally and internationally. I would hazard to say that many people of the 60s in particular, have an investment in making the world a better place, but it would be an oversight to not include countless religious and secular organizations (there are a few) that have also, persistently and quietly (not seeking public kudos) been providing assistance to those who are in need. I personally practice frequent acts of kindness and hope that there may be a ripple effect. I work for a counseling service that provides assistance to substance and alcohol abusers as well as shelter for the homeless and seriously mentally ill. The one thing that has to be said however, is that while there may be great "paying it forward" moments after one's initial efforts, there may be many efforts that will cease to impact the moment your attention is diverted to another cause. The nature of the beast. One has to believe that overall, the effort matters, but the payoff is not for one's own gratification that one did a good deed. There needs to be a willingness to accept the idea that true generosity of spirit must be unconditional.
"Truth is no harlot who throws herself around the neck of him who does not desire her. To the contrary, she is so coy a beauty, that the man who sacrifices everything to her is still unsure of her favors." -Schopenhauer

Answer 5

I first of all am pretty poor and have 2 kids to take care of but i also am raising 2 of my nephews because my brother and his wife have 5 children no jobs and r on drugs really bad...i don't do it to pay it forward i don't guess,i just do it because i love them and i would take all of his kids and raise them if i had the money to do so...i would love to help the homeless,my heart goes out to all of them the old and the young,but until i win the lottery or somehow money just falls in my lap there isn't really any thing i can do other than open doors for people ,listen to strangers problems and volunteer my time to help...i do meals on wheels in the town i live in,and volunteer at my kids schools....i would love to do more but as for now this is all i can do...lol

Answer 6

I've always given away about a third of my income, and occasionally gotten involved face-to-face in things like prison ministry and Red Cross. But my best experience has been with a young girl I met who was crying in a coffee shop one night over having to give up on going to college because her father had abandoned her, her mom and three siblings. I went home and wrote a check for her first year of tuition, and later paid for clothes, car insurance, phone, car payments, more tuition, etc. like she was my own. I've helped her whole family off and on. She graduated in December and started her first job after college last Monday. I'm her dad in every sense bt the biological. She's my daughter (the only child I have). I had no idea when we met that any of this would develop and certainly wasn't interested in it happening. I couldn't love her more if she were my own flesh and blood and I don't know what I was filling the hole in my life with before she came along, but I can't imagine a day without her phone calls or a week without breakfast together. Yeah, I could have paid for my house with all it's cost me to be dad to someone through their college years. Comparatively it cost nothing for the joy it's brought me.

Answer 7

At work, my boss has helped a homeless person get his drivers license and had him live in his shop along with paying him to to odds and ends at the store. He has been here for 4 years now!

Answer 8

I try and do this every day all of the time. I try and look for at least one person, every day, that I could do something good, a good deed for. For example, if I see someone's car broke down on the side of the road, I will pull over and offer to help. Sometimes it is a simple as saying, "Hi" to someone at work whom I have never ever interacted with before. Be it small or larger, I try and do a good deed for someone every day.

I have even prayed to ask God if there is someone he could lead me to that day...

Answer 9

This Was Oprah Winfreys question & a movie I didn't see. B kind 2 all & they may pass it on. Some don't want help they feel is scam.

Answer 10

Try to help people with drug and alcohol addiction. That seems to be plaguing so many people these days.