by Darlene Doskoch, Canadian Ambassador for Pay It Forward Day International, Rise Calgary
Do you remember the movie, or did you read the book? If not, I still bet you have heard of ‘Pay it Forward.’ The book, written by Catherine Ryan Hyde inspired a worldwide movement. In 2007 Blake Beattie (Australia) started Pay It Forward Day, a global initiative that aims to make a positive impact on people’s lives by sparking a ripple of kindness felt worldwide
In 2009 I became a volunteer for Pay it Forward International, also lead by Beattie. As of this year, we now have over 88 countries involved in Pay It Forward Day. An amazing testimony to the people of this world and their desire to share acts of kindness. Over the years since I began volunteering, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and four other provinces have proclaimed Pay it Forward Day along with several cities in a variety of provinces.
On April 28, we’re celebrating Pay It Forward Day with a global goal: to spark over 20 million acts of kindness. Rise Calgary is doing our part by hosting a Free Hot Dog Day, and we’d love for other organizations and Calgarians to join the movement. You can participate by hosting your own event or simply spreading random acts of kindness throughout the day. Remember, an act of kindness doesn’t have to be grand. It could be as simple as a friendly “hello” to someone you’ve never greeted before. It’s the small gestures that can make a big difference.
Most importantly though, it’s okay if a person doesn’t say thank you. Sometimes receiving acts of kindness can be uncomfortable for someone. Besides, a true act of kindness is done without the expectation of anything in return, including a thank you.
What Can You Do?
• Pay for someone’s cup of coffee
• Get the next person’s food, bus fare, etc.
• Help someone out in need
• Host pay it forward activities in your office, school, church, or community
• Hold the door open for someone
• Rake someone’s yard or sweep their sidewalk
• Be creative!
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