Pay It Forward

How will you Pay It Forward today?

Have you seen the movie "Pay It Forward"? If you haven't, make sure that you do! It is one of those movies that really makes you think. Yesterday I started thinking about all of the people who have helped me with things over the last few years. Those people are Paying it Forward!

While I'm in school life is crazy. My priorities are family, school, and work, in that order. Unfortunately it makes our lives more financially challenging. So instead of paying for a babysitter once in awhile, we pay for textbooks. Instead of buying fun stuff we pay for gymnastics (so expensive!) or dance or swimming for our kids. We don't buy clothes for us, we buy them for the kids. This isn't meant to be a "pity-party" at all. It is reality. It is the sacrifice we make for my nursing education. I knew what I was getting into. Long term it will pay off.

So during my schooling I have had a lot of people that have done things for me and/or my family that are so appreciated. Most of those things have not been "paid back". They are just being good, giving people asking for nothing in return. For example several of my day care co-workers have watched my kids in emergency situations either without pay or at a really good price. Do they have to do that? Would I think any less of them if they didn't? No. They are Paying It Forward. My neighbor lets the kids come over to visit quite often. They think of it as another home. Does she need my pesty kids hanging around? No. But those little breaks for me are golden! A few of my brother-in-laws have helped us with minor repairs, painting, and car advice. Again-nothing in return.

There are so many other examples. Not all of them are financial however. Have you ever had someone say something to you that just makes your day? Or week? or Year? I had one of those experiences last week. A parent at the day care came up to me and explained that her son had a really hard first day of school. Just terrible, actually. She said that they asked him if there was one thing that went well for him that day (to focus on the positive). He said, "Well Dawn gave me a Jolly Rancher because I did something nice." (I praised him for doing a selfless and sweet thing for one of the other kids. I also gave him the candy). She said that after talking about that he perked up and went to school the next day without trouble. She just wanted to tell me that my one little act of kindness really made a huge impact on her son. She said that as a teacher herself, she knows that we don't hear about all of the little things that make a difference in a child's life, and she wanted me to know.

I could go on and on with more examples, but you get what I mean. My big goal is to be able to do something for these people in return. Then I think about Pay It Forward. I might not be able to do something for them but I have been making some effort to do little Pay It Forwards whenever I can. (The financial ones will have to wait for now :-) )

My challenge to you is to find something TODAY that you can do to Pay It Forward. I am very interested in hearing from you.