I thought this would be the perfect time-of-year to create this thread, as a way for people to come up with ideas for making this world a little better ... if only in small ways: I challenge the great minds of CB, (and this blog is crammed with intelligent posters ... don't deny it!), to come up with ways for doing small things for strangers to make their day a little brighter ... in the hope of them repeating the gesture. It would also be cool to have people report back as to what other's reactions were, or how it impacted themselves.
*NOTE: THIS IS A TP-FREE ZONE* - No TP's given out or received here, as that would somewhat defeat the purpose and "spirit" of the thread.
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I'll start it out with something I've gotten in the habit of doing over the years. (I have to give credit for the idea of this thread to a video posted by Amonkey about the meaning of Christmas.)
Just a suggestion: Whenever I go through the tollbooth on the highway, I pay the toll for the car behind me ... usually there's no way for that person to know who did it, so it's completely anonymous, (epsecially on the Maine Turnpike, where it's not as busy as Boston, etc.), and it doesn't cost much. I started doing this when my kids were small, to teach them about consideration for those we don't know.
To be honest, I did it as a one-time thing, but from then on they made me keep doing it, and it's now a habit for all of us, and kind of a family thing. It's a very cool way to initiate a small "pay-it-forward" message. Not everyone will copy the favor, but it's still a great way to spread the Christmas spirit ... all year long.
By the way ... have a very Merry Christmas and happy and prosperous New Year!
OK, well I'm going to mention just a couple more I thought of ...
1 ) Pay for the toll of not only yourself, but the car behind you, and tell the tollbooth operator to ask them to "pay it forward". (I know I already said this, but I wanted it on this list to reiterate
2 ) Leave an extra tip for a good waitress/waiter, (beyond 20%), and leave a note on a napkin asking them to do something similar for someone else, and "pay it forward"
3 ) If you're at a Celtics game and your in line waiting to buy a beer or other drink, offer to buy a beer for the guy/girl behind you, and ask them to pay it forward
4 ) Do the same thing at the movies when in line for popcorn/candy/whatever ... or even pay for a strangers ticket, and tell them to pay it forward
5 ) Buy a dozen roses, (or other flowers), the next time you're going to the grocery store or mall shopping, and hand them out randomly to others, wishing them a good day, (and PIF, of course)
6 ) If you're at the movie rental store, offer to pay for a movie rental for a stranger, or some candy to watch the movie with, and say "Pay it forward"
7 ) Carry some packaged dog treats around with you, (like smal packs of Pup-er-roni or Beggin' Strips), and when you see someone walking their dog, hand them a package. (People LOVE their pets, and this could be a home-run).
8 ) Get some McDonald's or Burger King gift certificates, (they come in small denominations), and hand them out to people who may be homeless or destitute ... or just look hungry. We take it for granted, but you'd be amazed at how good a Micky D's cheeseburger looks when you haven't eaten all day.
Try one or two of these just once and see what happens ... the best thing is the feeling you get inside ... it may be that your bringing a blessing to someone else's life, but the biggest blessing is yours, and how it warms your heart to do for others. You never know, it may start a chain reaction, but even if it doesn't, you've made your day brighter ... and someone else's. I'm going to try my best to do the things on this list and report back the results, if I notice any. If I come up with more ideas, I'll list them ... wish you folks would, too!