December 4, 2006
I was at the post office today, in line for the self-service automatic postal service machine, and I got to talking to the woman behind me.
She was holding a big box, and this was the second time she’d been at the crazy post office that morning, she told me, because the first time she came in with the box, they’d sent her back home to cover it up–it was a carton that had shipped beer (Bell’s Oberon, in case you’re interested), and she couldn’t ship the box as it was. So she had to go home and repackage everything, and then come back.
Anyway, we got to talking and I had about seven things I had to mail, and there was a man in front of us who was holding a nine-month old baby under his arm, and with his other, he was processing probably 10 different packages one-handed (doing really, well, too). So I told the woman behind me that she could go ahead of me since I wasn’t really in a hurry…and of course, she was very appreciative.
And that got me to thinking about the whole “Pay it Forward” movement. This is the perfect time of year to Pay it Forward–everyone is so stressed out, in such a hurry, and so focused while we try to get things done to make our holiday perfect, that sometimes we forget about little courtesies.
So I’m going to challenge you all–even you lurkers who don’t post here (I know you’re there) to do one kind, unexpected, unncessary thing for someone else this week. Pay it Forward.
And then, post here in the comments section (I’ll keep this post open until Friday night at midnight EST) about your “good deed.”
For every good deed you post in the comments section, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a Venator Survival Kit in honor of the countdown to the release of The Rest Falls Away!
What is a Venator Survival Kit? you ask.
It will include:
- a stake
- a vis bulla (every Venator must have one…that tiny silver cross you see in the picture)
- a Born Venator t-shirt (your choice of size and style [eg, fitted/baby-doll, regular, or tank])
- an autographed copy of The Rest Falls Away
If you post the Pay It Forward Contest icon on your blog and link to this post, I’ll give you an extra entry in the drawing, too…because, the more people who Pay it Forward, the more good we’ll generate in this world, right?
Right.
So, you have several chances to win:
1) Link to this post by putting the Pay it Forward icon on your blog with a link (and then add your link below)
2) Do a good deed and tell us about it in the comments section. (If you do two good deeds, write two comments. If you do three…)
So…have at it. I’ll draw a winner on Saturday December 9th!
December 7th, 2006 at 7:07 am
What a great idea!
I helped a mom today going into Target. She had three little ones and kept yelling “RED LIGHT”. I realized she wanted the little girl to stop! The mom had an infant in a carrier, a toddler and then this little girl who looked about 4. I caught the little girl just as a car was backing out. The little girl wanted to see Santa!
December 7th, 2006 at 7:55 am
I dropped off a toy for our Salvation Army toy drive and made a small cash donation. I’ve also been making a point of spending more time with my girls.
Thanks for getting me motivated and into the Christmas spirit!!
December 7th, 2006 at 8:44 am
While waiting in line I let a lady with heavy packages go first
December 7th, 2006 at 9:28 am
I was in a car accident on Tuesday (I was rear-ended) and while I waited in the police car for my husband to come and get me, I told the police officer how much I appreciated what he does every day. He seemed to be VERY pleased with that comment.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:33 am
In the grocery store a lady in one of the motorized carts dropped something she was trying to put in the basket. I quickly went over and said, “Let me get that”. I rode one of those carts for a while after my knee surgery and I knew how hard it was to get have to get up and down from them.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:34 am
P.S. I am putting the icon on my blog!!
December 7th, 2006 at 9:48 am
I have really gotten into this idea. Trying to spread some Christmas (or holiday) Cheer. Anyways I’ve been a busy deed girl.
1. I had a huge box of granola bars in my cabinet. I brought them into work and left them on the counter secretly for the company next to mine to have.
2. My mother was looking for a family to help out at Christmas time. (one deed for her). A “poor” family. My daughter has a friend who qualified. I gave her name and her 3 younger brothers names to my mother and sizes. I then told the mom of the friend that I entered her into a contest and she might win some free stuff for the kids. I knew she would feel bad taking a handout. My mother went along with this idea and the kids are going to have an even better Christmas now.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:42 am
I try to live my life by the “paying it forward” method. ( I stay with my grams during the week- do her housecleaning and grocery shopping, I always look for opportunities to put myself second, give a secret donation of money to people I think need it over the holiday season … things like that)
In fact I encourage my bf to do the same, (he wasn’t raised to think like that as I was), and jus the other week he surprised me. He had this old truck he decided to get rid of. One night a man stopped by his house seeing the for sale sign. The man was from a slovic country, and had left his country to avoid being forced into the army once again- he was brutalized that last time he was forced to serve. (BF said his nose had obviously been broken and his some of his fingers were at odd angles.) Anyway, the man had very little money, and was about to leave after hearing bf’s asking price. I guess bf has been listening to me- he sold the guy the truck for $60. (I’m so proud of him!)
Despite that, you’ve challenged me to go beyond!
i can’t wait to see what I can do to pay it forward this year!
December 7th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
I have me husband getting the act too.lol His Boy Scout troop went out in the cold last night and haned out Hot coco and cookies, with no planning for no reason. I’m a proud wife.
December 7th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Oh i almost forget I made lunch for work (20) ladies..just soup, salad and cookies but they loved it. I try to do this once a season cause i know how hard they work.
December 7th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
There was a lady in front of me in the supermarket and she was short ten dollars so as she went to go put something back, i gave the cashier twenty bucks and told her not to tell the lady i had done it. The woman was very grateful and never found out it was me
December 7th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
I drove behind a slow car, reminding myself patience is always useful, while everyone else was passing the poor thing on the left side of the road *it was just a lil two laner in the middle of nowhere* i hate having cars pass me at rapid speeds so i thought i’d give the lady, erm or man for all i could tell, a brake (haha)
December 7th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
I LOVE pay it forward - what an awesome idea! Thursday nights I volunteer at the hospital - surgery wing. Tonight I stayed an extra couple hours to help out.
Hope to get the ‘thingy’ (kinda brain dead here tonight) on my blog tomorrow.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Tuesday night I was at Wal-Mart, & I always offer someone behind me “up fronts”…the guy didn’t take it, but thanked me & let me know he appreciated the offer!
December 7th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
I don’t comment on everyone’s blogs I read, but when they make me feel good, I always make sure I do. I love it when someone tells ME I made them feel good - I hope they feel the same.
December 8th, 2006 at 1:13 am
1) I took the day off of work tomorrow, even though I’d already taken off a day this week, because my mom is having a root canal; even though she said I didn’t have to, that she would go alone, I took off anyway because I don’t want her to have to go alone.
2) Tonight, at the grocery store, I let my grandmother and little brother sit in the warm car while I loaded the groceries–in the freezing cold. In the freezing, WINDY cold.
3) I posted a link to the contest on my blog.
December 8th, 2006 at 10:11 am
I donated my kids out grown, well cared for clothes to charity instead of selling them on Ebay.
December 8th, 2006 at 11:27 am
I did one thing yesterday, thinking specifically of your contest: As I was exiting the subway station, I noticed a dad on the as-yet-unpaid side while his wife and kid had already gone through. His wife was trying to tell him how to work the machine (”It doesn’t take cash!), and it seemed like a stressful situation. I turned around and handed him my unlimitied Metrocard, good for unlimited rides for one day, and told him I was going home, and he could have it.
My prior to this contest good deed is picking my friends’ kids up from their afterschool program and taking them to her house. Problem is, they’re in Manhattan and I’m in Brooklyn, so my son and I have to truck into the city every Friday to do this–not always fun. But her husband is off getting some help for some issues, and she is stuck by herself with two kids and a taxing job. So I offered.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
I try to live like this always; it makes ME feel good, you know? This week, I donated Mom’s coats to a charity (ha, I spelled it charioty first); I dropped off two toys at Toys for Tots; I plan on tipping 30% during lunch on Sunday in honor of my mother (she would’ve been 84 this Sunday) and I’m backing cookies this weekend as well, and taking some to the nursing home my mother lived in for the last 9 months of her life. The people who live there, as well as the nurses and staff are always happy to receive baked goods!
GREAT idea, Colleen
December 8th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Okay that’s strange. I was signed in when I made my comments but, today, they are showing up as anonymous.
So…the first three comments are mine and so is the one dated Dec 7 at 8:44 am.
December 8th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
I posted your link on my blog.
These are thing I have already done and I will try to do more.
1.I was in class yesterday at college where in this class with have to read an article every class period, when after reading my article the next person did not have one. I gave her one I had extra so she would not get counted as not having her assignment. I try to be this way all the time.
2. I decorated my aunt’s house for Christmas because she has no children or a husband.
3. I put my all my change from a shopping trip at Walmart, which was around $11.50 in the kettle outside the store.
4. I went with our group to give gifts out to a nearby nursing home in our city last week.
5. When I am at work at a nursing home, I always take the time to talk to the patients and ask how they are doing and what they need.
December 8th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Well with over 7000 print books at home I picked out 1000+ and donated to the library and some other places this week.
And for tomorrow I’m teaching a craft class to gets and bought all the supplies myself.
We’re going to make Christmas Card Holders out of Coffee cans with yarn holly berries etc.
Then the youngest daughter and I adopted 2 soldiers
December 8th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
I was shopping tonight in JC Penney’s and had about 12 items, mostly clothing for Dad and my brother. I’d just dumped them all on the counter (they were heavy!) when a woman came up to the register. I asked her if she just had one item, she said yes, and I said “Why don’t go you in front of me, then?” She was like…really??? She smiled, the clerk smiled…and I smiled, too. Thanks, Colleen, for the reminder!
December 15th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
The link back will be up soon.
I’m taking care of my Dad now and it reminds me how hard it was for my Mom to take care of me when I was sick… Dad recently was diagnosed by Mom that he got stroke and few other health disturbances.
Maybe it’s not a good deed since it’s my responsibility to take care of my own father, but anyway - I feel like playing here
December 16th, 2006 at 6:54 am
The link back is up now and I hope you don’t mind that I use my own button that any of you can use it, if you want