What would you do to change the world?
Can you think an idea which very simple but really powerful to change this world? Has anyone ever done in their life to do something great and made a real difference in your life, something that couldn’t have done on your own. If someone did you a favor, something big and something that you couldn’t do by your own? Instead of paying the favor back to you, you asked him to pay the favor to other three peoples? And after that these guys do the same thing and asked to pay the favor to other three peoples. Can you imagine what will happen? In 2 weeks, there will be a phenomenon call ‘pay it forward’. I really like this ideology because it’s making this world a better place to live. And this is the way how you going to change the world.
The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. More specifically, the creditor offers the debtor the option of "paying" the debt forward by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. Debt and payments can be monetary or by good deeds. In sociology, this concept is called "generalized reciprocity" or "generalized exchange". A related transaction, which starts with a gift instead of a loan, is alternative giving.
This is the ideology which being brought by someone who think that is the way how to thanks someone who risking their life to a stranger. The author’s name Catherine Ryan Hyde. And this is how, she got an inspiration to create this ideology which can change the world. This is a few true story which I pick from the pay it forward organization. At least Malaysian people can know and what this ideology exactly means.
1st story
Hi,
My name is Alisa, I live in Wichita, KS. I was extremely moved by the book and the movie, "Pay It Forward." I'm in a class called cognitive psychology with my all-time favorite teacher, Dr. Libby. She was also moved by the movie. We had a big presentation due at the end of the semester and I was stumped on a topic. I decided to Pay It Forward and then present my experiences with the class. As I was researching the topic I came across your website and decided to share with the world.
I was taking supper to my boyfriend when I drove by this guy on a very busy street digging through the trash for food. I decided that if he were still there when I drive back by, I'll go to McDonald's and get a gift certificate for him to get some hot food.
As I drove back by he was still sitting there in the cold. I immediately went to McDonald's and got him a $10 gift certificate. As I walked up to him thousands of thoughts went through my mind like this guy to be a serial killer, he could rob me or kidnap me. I put all those thoughts in the back of my mind and went with my intuition.
I told him what I was doing and all about pay it forward. He told me that no one had ever really cared about him and that because of me he believed that there were good out there. He said that a hundred people probably drove by in that half an hour and I was the only one who cared. He told me his name was John and that four years ago he was a "normal" guy living a "normal" life. All that was goen when he got divorced. As I was leaving he asked what I wanted for the certificate, I told him to keep the chain going!
I got back into my car and cried. Not because I was sad but because I was so overwhelmed with joy. No one in the world deserves to dig through the trash.
The very next day as I was pulling into Wal-Mart, I saw a blind guy pulling a full cart behind him all while he was leading with his stick. I pulled over and offered him a ride to where ever he needed to go. He was so thankful. As he was getting out of the car at his house, I told him all about Pay It Forward and told him to help keep the chain going!
I've got one more left but I think I'll continue. Hopefully one day when I need help Pay It Forward will come back to help me!
Thank you, Alisa
2nd story
I learned about "pay it forward" through a real life incident that happened to my brother about five years ago. My brother was driving in Newton, NJ when he got a flat tire. He did'nt have a spare, money, or even a cell phone to call for any help. A man stopped on the side of the road and asked if there was anything he could do to help. My brother explained the situation and that he no money to even get the car towed. the man, without hesitation, called a towing company and paid to have the car towed. He then drove my brother to the auto body shop where his car was taken to. The man insisted to pay for a new tire to my brothers car. My brother asked him what his address was, and assured him that he would send him a check to pay the man back. But this kind stranger just smiled and told my brother that is wasn't necessary. He told my brother that if he ever saw someone in a similar situation, that he should help them the same way that he had helped my brother. When my brother told me this story I was amazed by the kindness and generosity of this stranger. I was only about thirteen years old, but i always carried the thought with me. Now I am eighteen, and for the first time, I finally got to pay it forward. I was at a local gas station filling up my tank. It was cold and rainy, and it almost midnight. I glanced over and saw a kid sitting on a suitcase. He looked like he was freezing. He was walking over and repeatedly using the pay phone. After I paid, I swung my car around and asked him if he needed a ride somewhere. He replied, "Yeah, Philadelphia." I knew that i was not going to be able to to take him that far, at that time of night. Instead, I invited him to spend the night so that he wouldn't have to stand in the cold any longer. And so he did. I know that everyone thought I was crazy. What if he was a psycho-killer? What if he robbed me? What if he was dangerous? All these question did enter my mind. but I let my intuition take over. Something was telling me that everything was going to be okay. We spent the night brainstorming how we could get him home. We looked on the internet for bus and train schedules, but nothing was promising. The next day, with the help of my sister, we took the kid back home. After the long drive, he told us he would go inside and get us some money and pay the rest to us later. I just told him that the next time he saw a person in the same situation, that he should do the same thing. All i did was give him a food and a place to stay. It was really nothing that financially set me back. I guess what I am trying to say is that "Pay it Forward" does work. I wish there were more people out there who could take time away from their own lives and spend it on another person's life. It would definitely make this world a brighter place. Thank you for hearing my story.
Very Sincerely,
Ellen McGovern Wantage, NJ
With all these stories, it can open our eyes to do a good deeds but no favor in return. At least we can try to create a nice world in peace, full with good deeds and keep the chain of PAY IT FORWARD to establish a great community. Singapore already established this community. Why we can’t try. Bring up our culture to the other world and show what Malaysian is!
Just a simple question to ask yourself. Why every time, when u helping somebody, u ask a favor again? Why we can’t ask the person that u helped to do the same thing to the other people who really need? Why we can’t be so generosity by helping them and keep the chain PAY IT FORWARD so that we can create a good deed that we made continuously to the other people. Gosh! It so good if we can make our place like this! Helping by helping, deeds with deeds. So great!
Now, lets together to make this ideology become a part of our life. Trust me, a good deeds will not come easily. But a good deeds that u made will come back to you!
