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Day 119: Pay it Forward

A Little Spring in Your Day

Today is all about giving and receiving. Or as it has been refereed the Pay it Forward theory. I have a dear friend who, about every 6 weeks, calls me to asks for a “play date” with my son. My friend Liza is a retired school teacher and misses having children in her life. She has two grown children of her own but the days of playing with young minds that absorb information faster than you can dish it out are over for Liza – until she borrows my little sponge to enjoy.

As I have written many time before I’m a working Mom that raises her son full time. I don’t have a Nanny and the only time I use a sitter is for an occasional date night with my husband. I’m not complaining, I love being a Mom and being able to raise my son is a gift in itself, but having a few extra hours off to do whatever I want is such a treat for me.

This lead me to my unexpected GIVE today.

DAY 119: GIVE 119

I had 3 hours today to do whatever I wanted. The list was going through my head… shopping… a workout…some writing time.

But I decided my first stop was to a friend with some fresh flowers. My new friend Cynthia is a intuitive chakra balancer. This is not the first time I have mentioned Cynthia as she consistently keeps popping up in my life. She gave me a session just before the holidays and refused any form of payment to help balance my energy. I have a little to much of it most days and when I get on role it gets all mixed up like an over shaken martini.

So today, on a rainy cold Monday, I made my first stop to Cynthia with a fresh bouquet of tulips. What better way to say “spring is in the air” but with flowers that bring in the season. I feel very fortunate that Cynthia has come into my life and I wanted her to know how thankful I was for her. It was my “pay it forward”. I was given a gift of time and I wanted to pay that forward to a friend with a little surprise to brighten her day and a big thank you.

When was the last time you surprised a friend with a special thank you. If you have a story, send it along so we can all be inspired with your GIVE to a friend.

Time Commitment: 15 minutes

Cost: $10 of flowers

***Please help me spread the word about 365give. If you like this post or any others please share it so together we can inspire people to give more in their lives. You can Tweet it, like it on Facebook or email it to your friends and family. Remember to subscribe to my daily GIVES from the main page so you can be inspired to GIVE every day.

Together we can change the world one day at a time.

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)