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Don't forget to Pay-it-Forward today

by amyjudd | April 4, 2008 at 11:05 am | 503 views | 3 comments | 2 recommendations

Tribute To Pay It Forward ( Das Glücksprinzip)

This morning on my way to work I got on to the train at my usual station, and there were no seats available. I thought 'oh great, I have to stand for the next 30 minutes and it's 6am' but then a man offered his seat to me. Now he was older than me and appeared to work in a job that was a lot more physical than mine but he still gave me his seat. I was reluctant to take it but I did as he was so insistent.
Maybe he wanted to take part in 'Pay-it-Forward' day?
The concept of this day is to do something for someone and not expect anything in return.
For all you Friends fans, there is an episode about this where Phoebe and Joey have a contest about who can do something completely unselfish.
It's a lot harder than it sounds.
I have yet to do my deed, but we should all try and so something like this today - even just to feel what it's like to do something for someone else with no intention of receiving anything in return.
What are you going to do today?

A message from Blake Beattie (Pay It Forward Day Founder)

‘Pay it Forward Day’ is a brilliant concept by Catherine Ryan Hyde from her book of the same title. Some people were originally quite sceptical of the whole idea: they said that it was good in theory, but not in practise. I challenged this point of view believing that people are genuinely giving by nature, but many get caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day life. April 4 is a time when each of us can get to experience the ‘Power of Giving’ and the ripple effect begins.

I have been lucky to be a director of a wonderful charity called ‘Life Changing Experiences Foundation’. I have been able to experience the tremendous power of giving, and I want others to be able to experience it as well. ‘Pay it Forward Day’ is a time when we all can remind ourselves of the power of giving and in the process we make this world that little bit brighter.

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Rob Peters

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:36 on April 4th, 2008

This reminds me of a debate from one of my philosophy classes in university. Is altruism possible, or do we have a selfish gene that inhibits us from doing anything truly selfless?

My opinion? Who cares. So long as you try to do something nice for someone else, does it matter if you feel good doing it?

In any case, hopefully Pay-It-Forward Day will replenish the stock of positive karma in the world. It can't hurt to try.