Whether we come to terms with it or not, the phrase “everything happens for a reason” has been a piece of advice given or received at some point in the past. But if you take the time, you may find some truth within the depth of this statement.
I’m not trying to commence some monumental “Moby Dick” fate versus free-will deliberation, but just think back to the last time someone did something nice for you. Maybe that gesture, be it minute or grand, was meant to create an effect. A ripple effect.
This is the concept behind the “Pay It Forward” movement. In order to keep humankind both human and kind, this phenomenon gives an irrefutable reason to be generous. It works on the idea of positive karma; the idea that an act of kindness will be reciprocated with another act of kindness towards another individual.
This movement became apparent to me the other day when I was doing laundry. Someone prepaid for a dyer cycle and left a note saying, “Enjoy! Pay it forward!” Such a simple act made me reconsider the intentions of people. I followed this kind gesture by paying for another dryer cycle. It was a simple, but you never know what it could lead to in the long run.
On a larger scale, celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey participate in this ‘Pay It Forward’ movement, and help people they hardly know just to be able to say that they have made a positive impact. These random acts of generosity are able to leave a person in better spirits than before, which is rewarding in and of itself.
This ripple effect supposedly continues in hopes that everyday presents you an act of kindness, and that you pay it back. You never know when karma will get you, so buy someone their coffee or dryer cycle, lend someone a hand, or simply give a compliment. Just pay it forward, because you never know whose da