Do You Pay It Foward?

July 23, 2008 · Filed Under Change, Culture 
In business and in everyday life, change is the only constant. What if you could affect change by paying it forward?
Yep it’s a movie.
Pay it Forward Movie
Yep it’s a book.

Pay it Forward: The Book

But did you know it’s an actual plan based on a work of fiction?

If you’ve read the book, or have seen the movie, it’s based on a very simple but profound idea. An idea that can generate a world movement. An idea for world change.

Pay_it_Forward_TreePerson A does a good deed, or a favor, for person B . As payment or ‘payback’ person B does a good deed, or a favor, for 3 more people. Then each of those 3 people repeat the same action. Then those 9 people repeat the same action as the first. Whether you’re any good at mathematics or not, you can see the endless number of people this can potentially affect, and the lives this can impact.

At it’s very worst, 1 person can have a positive impact and effect on 3-9 people. At it’s best… 1 person can have a positive impact and effect on hundreds, even thousands… possibly millions.

It’s a simple act of faith. Faith in one person’s ability. Faith in the general consensus that all men (& women) are good-natured.

Hmmmm…

So is everyone you meet good-natured and genuine?

Slashing

Therein lies the problem with the plan.

I wonder what kind of world this would be if we all could grasp this simple concept.

We as a society (whether we like to admit it or not), find it very easy to follow the concept “an eye for an eye”. Yeah it’s a dark and evil connotation. This idea spawns from a wrong-doing done to you or someone you love.

I know when I think of those acts we do not like to speak of… when I think about my family, my wife, or my close friends being harmed, I start to get that really bad feeling in my gut; You know, those harshest of crimes, like rape, murder, excessive violence, hate crimes, etc.

How would you react if that happened to someone you love? Would you let it ‘roll off your shoulders’? Or

PositiveAttitude

would you let the arm of the law take care of the injustice done to you and yours???

I scare myself thinking about what I may or may not do. I start to shake.. And well.. Let’s just say that I would become a very, not-nice person.

So why is it that we feel so passionately about an unjust wrong, but we can’t repeat and mirror that passion when something good comes our way?

Why can’t we extend and enhance a good deed or a favor? Why can’t we stay positive throughout our tough and stressful days?

Why is it so easy to seek revenge?

Why is it so hard to pay it forward?

Do you pay it forward?

Carpe Diem

Strong One is a Certified Athletic Trainer and a Registered Nurse who enjoys what life has to offer. His blogging is an attempt to make life more play than work… and not know the difference between the two. You can learn more about Strong and his blogging at To Be A Strong One.

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