Ok, this might sound weird, but I read someone who wrote the following " Pay it Forward"... can anyone explain what that means , to someone who has no idea? haha..

You give something to somebody before you need something.

Clear as mud?

Rather than pay someone back for what they have done for you. You do something kind, helpful, thoughtful to someone in need or a stranger etc. Like someone helping me with a flat tire. I tried to pay him. He said to do something nice for someone in the future.

It means to do something good for someone. And hopefully, they'll do something good for someone else. It becomes a wonderful social statement about all of us caring for our fellow humans.

Hey, you never know..this stuff might stop wars that have been going on for centuries. Sure worth a try. Why be thoughtless when you can be good?

There's a lot of paying it forward on this board!!!

I get it now ! Guess I have been paying it forward for along time now, since I love giving more than I do recieving. Seriously, I have had to learn to recieve something without feeling obligated to return something in exchange.. Been a hard thing to accomplish, but I am doing that.. But , my drothers would be to Give, give, give because I love knowing someone might be blessed in recieving a surprise, too! thanks to those who made it understandable!

Random acts of kindness.

And remember, it doesn't have to be "stuff" to qualify for Paying it Forward. You can give other things from your heart. Your time, compassion, your thoughtfulness, advice, friendship, kindness, etc. We all have a lot to share. And it doesn't cost you a cent.

that's what I understand it to mean too

I LOVE what you wrote about this. Absolutely perfect!! :thumbup:

It is such a wonderful concept, and as someone mentioned, I'm sure it has been going on forever. There was also a beautiful movie made about it in the early 2000's called "Pay it Forward" with Haley Joel Osment, Helen Hunt, and Kevin Spacey. Have a box of tissues, it's well worth your time to see. Thanks for the reminder to Pay it Forward!

I haven't seen the movie, nor did I know about it. I think I am going to see if I can find it online ( as we just lost our only video store to its being closed down a few weeks ago ).. I love to give things away, as a blessing in surprise - and guess I have paid it forward for years since I do it alot, lol ... I love to give more than to recieve , but I am learning that when I am in need of something, with no means to purchase , its not a bad thing to ask for help.. I am a bit slower in learning to do that, sigh..
Anyway, thanks for your info on the movie.. I have plenty of boxes of tissue , thanks to just joining this awesome site last week.

It means you do something nice for someone without expecting or asking anything in return other than they pay it forward. Biblically speaking, you should do it anonymously so that your blessing is not taken from you and the other person is blessed also. It really does work and is so rewarding.

Nice, wvdek! That says it all. But if for some reason you can't stay anonymous, don't let that deter you. Just be kind and giving to others always. Like your mama taught you.

Love the biblical explanation, too! thank you for sharing that part of paying it forward!

My mom always said if you did something good for someone and expected nothing in return you got roses on your soul. She taught me about pay it forward before it was called that.

Yes, have a box of tissue ready....awesome movie. This is where I learned "more" about Pay it Foward. Need to watch it again myself.

Wow, what a wonderful woman she is to teach this :)

a mitzvah

It's doing somthing FOR SOMEONE else BEFORE you need something done FOR YOU. Random act of kindness thing.

My parents taught me about it too, long before the movie came out. Anyone remember the Good Samaritan?

I just love pay it forward, it's concept is so rewarding and enjoyable.

We had a thread here a while back where the "paying it forward" concept came into question because it does establish a temporary imbalance in our personal accounts. I have no trouble with the concept because receiving is fun and giving can be even funner (love that word).

There are Liberty Mutual commercials that are based on the pay it forward concept that shows a person do something nice for a stranger. Someone else sees it and does something nice for another stranger, etc.

There is a wonderful movie called "Pay it Forward" about a student with an assignment "to make a difference in the world". He decided to do something for three people and those three people pay it forward to three more people, etc. Great movie, sad ending but really good.

I too am a giver. When I lost my finger 5 years ago everyone I worked with gave me things. I had a really hard time receiving. I went to a doctor for the PTS(post tramatic stress). He asked me how I felt when I give. I told him it's the best feeling in the world. He suggested I let someone give so they can have the same feeling. Easy to relate now. By giving someone else the opportunity to give is a great feeling. So if any one would like to send me something my address is-Just Kidding! :)

There's a Christian Radio station in the Twin Cities called KTIS, and they have a thing they promote called "Drive Thru Difference." Here is the link:

http://www.ktis.fm/2010/06/drive-thru-difference-2/

Basically, you print out a note (or not, if you don't want), and when you go to get your coffee or whatever; hand the drive-through people the note, explaining what it is, and you pay for the person's meal/coffee behind you. It's a really great easy way to pay it forward. The note encourages the recipient to call in and on the air, tell what a difference it made in their day.

Just thought I'd share that! I love hearing the stories!

I think the radio station in Spokane, ( a christian station that is our translator in our valley) has the drive thru difference.. Positive Life Raiio.. its neat to hear their stories, but never associatied the term Pay it Forward with that .. thanks for sharing.. makes me want to Pay it forward even more now!

it's funny how advertising works. That's one of my favorite commercials - never pay attention to what's being advertised - considered a failure by the industry.

You know how annoying it is to have to wait for the semi-truck to turn left in front of you?

On my way to work the other morning, a trucker was turning into the street where I was approaching the intersection. I stopped several carlengths from the corner and flashed my lights at the truck. The driver made his turn after he flashed me a big grin and a two-handed wave. It sure made my day, and I think it got his off to a good start, too.

Paying it forward can be a real booster to both the giver and the receiver; I hope we all can make an opportunity for PIF every day!

Yeah, it can be wierd always being the giving one (or the receiving one) in a relationship, but I guess I always considered the concept of "paying it forward" as giving or doing something for someone who didn't expect it - or perhaps someone you don't even know. Someone mentioned the Liberty Mutual commercial - like that.

Watch the film "Pay it Forward" with Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt. It's quite good.

Another saying that means the same thing is "What goes around, comes around." It means if you do to others you will receive good from others. :-)

paying it forward also means to do something not for the applause or the gratitude, but out of kindness. most people here pay it forward without anyone ever knowing.

i was thinking exactly the same thing. a blessing that you perform or an unsought gift of kindness that you receive.

Absolutely Stacy. One of my all time favorite movies. I agree about the box of tissues. And I love Helen Hunt. My kind of feisty gal!

I seen the movie a long time ago an loved it. On day a while back my granddaughter an I were driving home an I stoped to let a car out of the drive at a store. My granddaughter ask me why I did that and I told her about the movie and that I try to do something nice as much as I can. We were going into Wal-Mart after that an she let an older lady go in first and she said Im Paying It Forward.I almost cried wright there in Wal Mart.

About 20 years ago my Dad and I went to an estate sale and I bought a sofa and chair with the plans to reupholster it, which I knew how to do. They were from the 30's, had walnut trim, and solid, springs in the cushions even. I knew I wouldn't get to them for a long time so I made a slipcover for them. No one ever had food in the room they were in and pets weren't allowed, so to me, they were in the same shape now as they were then, just too nice to go in the dump. They would go perfectly in our home, but life changes (as accidents will cause) and I just felt the need to find these things a good home.
Oh, I only paid $20 for the 2 of them.
So a few months ago, after some digging, I contacted an upholstery shop (next door to the place where I bought my sewing machine years ago), went to the website they had, saw a similar set they worked on to what I wanted to give away, and contacted them. Just yesterday I was thinking about contacting them again, they had said sure, they'd like them still but I'm a ways out so I told them try to get them when they were scheduled to come out this way anyways. So this morning I get a phone call and it's them, they still want them, and have a run out this way. They liked the photos I originally sent them and still wanted them! I'm just so happy someone can use them, and even told them I didn't want anything for them, I said, "Just pay it forward"
It's such a great feeling, the set will not be just trashed, someone can use them, and all they originally had to do was answer the original phone call.
Really, the way i was raised was you just naturally paid it forward. Someone must have really paid it forward big time for me to get through the accident as well as I did, it's my turn now

There is a movie out called Pay it forward it was one of the best movies I've ever watched.

example: years ago when our house burned down, a friend of a neighbor gave us a sympathy card with $100 inside. We didn't even know this lady. When we thanked her, she just said to "pay it forward". Not long afterwards, a friend had a house fire so we gave them a card with $100 in it, asking only that they "pay it forward". During reconstruction of their house, they'd moved to a duplex, and the lady in the other side of the duplex sustained major water damage and loss from a burst pipe on her side of the structure. Soooo my friend gave her a card with $100 in it.......

That is Pay It Forward.

I like to surprise people in heavy traffic by letting them change lanes in front of me or letting them on to the road from a parking lot - you know what I mean. Sometimes they're so surprised that they almost don't take the opportunity I've just given them. Especially in Tucson. I try to drive with a smile on my face - better than constantly thinking - 'What's that idiot trying to do?! :evil: '