Apparently I put a price tag on kindness.
I didn’t know this about myself until today.
A friend and I were heading out for the day. We went through a local drive-thru for some coffee and bagels. As we pulled up and started to hand our money out the window to the girl, she leaned out and said “it’s already been paid”. She nodded her head towards the truck pulling away. We wanted to then pay for the vehicle behind us and keep the chain of kindness going. I joked “as long as it’s not fifty seven dollars”.
The young girl looked at the cash register and said “it’s up to eleven dollars and they’re ordering a lot.” We waited a few seconds. She then shook her head no and said “it’s all right” because they were still ordering.
I didn’t mind paying eleven dollars for an act of kindness. I didn’t mind paying more than eleven dollars for kindness. We ended up driving away so we wouldn’t hold up the line. The car was still ordering.
I have to admit I felt pretty awful for not paying it forward.
Until I sat down to write this.
As I wrote this and was willing to own up to my skipping out on kindness, it suddenly occurred to me that the kindness paid to me and my friend was not diminished in any way by what we did or did not do. It stands on it’s own worth, the action of one person was given, it was received, and it gave us the kind of feeling we are sure that person intended us to have.
Thank you.
©
❤️
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🙂
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How nice that you experienced that act of kindness. But I too would have worried if the person behind me kept on ordering and ordering! I guess all of us would have felt the same as you Colleen!
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Thank you Lorraine. Yes, I wasn’t worried when it was $11 but I was worried that there didn’t seem to be an end to it 😉
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Lol I know how I would have felt!
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I appreciate this. A couple months ago, a guy I had chatted with one morning in line at the 7-Eleven, paid for my coffee. I wanted to go back to that store to drop a $5 in the till for him or another some other morning. I still haven’t. Thanks for the reminder.
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You’re very welcome. I will say, even though I think I try to be kind, it has been in my thoughts a little stronger today to seek out doing kindness.
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And who knows when in the future you may decide to pay it forward sparking a new wave. Enjoy your own happy moment in the spirit it was meant.
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Thank you Tric. I did bring myself around to that after writing this piece. But it helps to hear that reminder.
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You summed up the kindness superbly, with your final kind words.
” It stands on it’s own worth, the action of one person was given, it was received, and it gave us the kind of feeling we are sure that person intended us to have.”
Thank you.
Ivor xx
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Thank YOU Ivor. ❤
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this is true and i have no doubt you will pay it forward when the opportunity arises to help someone else and will start a chain of action. as a matter of fact, you pay it forward often, by helping people with your words and illustrations, both here and in your books. you will not ever know all of the people you’ve helped this way, just when they needed it
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Beth, you are my favorite today. Simply, you made me feel wonderful.
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I totally agree with Beth. You pay it forward so many times!
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Thank you so very much Peter ❤
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Also, MBC, there is no time limit on paying it forward. You can buy the next person’s fast food order when you go through that line again and give somebody else that same feeling!
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You have a great point MBM. Thank you for reminding me. 🙂
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That is so sweet!! ❤️💕😊
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It really was Priceless 🙂
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I fully understand and appreciate your point. An elderly lady once paid for my lunch and left before I could thank her, but her act of kindness had a very positive impact on me.
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It is so heartwarming, to have a kindness extended so unexpectedly. It was graciously received and remembered.
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Reminds me of how I have had learned too that sometimes it is just our time to receive. And not to give. And to feel the gift for what it is. I so appreciate your post.
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I so appreciate your comment Infinite. It is a good reminder. Thank you.
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I think paying it forward can be done in too many ways to count. I am sure you do many things each day that are worth much more. I once told the people at my child’s school that I would love to supply things for other kids but I needed to make sure my kids had things and that was my most important responsibility. I felt bad not participating but financially I really couldn’t and I am still strong on first helping yourself, family and friends and if after that you can do more that is awesome. What if we all did this wow would there be anyone in need? So nice you got free coffee and bagels!
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It really was nice wasn’t it? And I do need to remember this. There is something to said about taking care of ourselves first.
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This was a beautiful little story.
Kindness is priceless. And not sold on Amazon.
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One of the few things not sold there 😉
And thank you!
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Well darn, they should.
World needs more of it
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That’s the plain truth.
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Sprinkle kindness like confetti!!
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THAT is a great way to envision it!
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What an interesting story. I like the idea of “paying it forward” but I think you’re right, that the first part isn’t at all diminished if you don’t act right away. And I have a feeling that when the opportunity pops up, you will show your undeniable kindness where it is needed, rather than forcing it to happen.
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Thank you! I was actually feeling pretty guilty about not paying it forward right at that moment. But as I wrote it, I realized I was kindofsortof diminishing that gentleman’s kind act but not accepting it as it was offered. I would not want to do something kind for someone and then make them feel pressured or guilty as a result! 🙂
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