Pay it forward

The "pay it forward" tree

Trevor McKinney, an 11 year old in Las Vegas, was given a class project by his social studies teacher Eugene Simonet. Eugene was a loner and was different; he had burn scars on his face and neck. The project – he had to come up with a plan that would change the world through direct action.

Do you think it is possible for one idea to change the world? When Abhishek Bachchan mouthed the words “An idea can change your life”, for a mobile ad, he was not referring to what I am about to share with you.

On his way home from school, Trevor notices a homeless man, and decides to make a difference to his life. He comes up with the plan to "pay it forward" by doing a good deed for three people who must in turn each do good deeds for three other people, thus creating a charitable pyramid scheme. He takes the man home, much to the displeasure of his mother, Arlene.

Trevor developed his logic based on a simple concept. When someone does you a favour, do not pay it back Pay It Forward…

Soon Trevor realises that his efforts to help the homeless stranger is futile as the homeless man steals from him and runs away. Not one to give up, he then decides to do a favour to his lonely teacher Eugene and his single mother. He fixes up a dinner date for them. After a couple of meetings they start liking each other and decide to get married.

Two good deeds, Trevor just needed one more to complete his project. One day on his way back home from school, he comes to the defence of a kid being attacked by bullies. Boldly he tries to fight them off, although they are older and bigger. Even as Eugene and his mother, run down to stop the fight, the bully pulls out a knife. In the scuffle Trevor is pushed onto the boy with the knife and is stabbed in the abdomen.

Trevor is rushed to hospital, where he dies from the stab wound.

Terribly distraught, his mother Arlene and Eugene watching a television news report about Trevor's death, learn that the movement "pay it forward" has grown nationwide. Venturing outside, they see hundreds of people gathering in a vigil to pay their respects to Trevor.

Trevor is gone but his simple idea has made the Biggest Difference. The Pay it Forward movement has changed the world for many. One child, one assignment, one great idea.

Seems too dramatic? In 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde's novel Pay It Forward was published and then adapted into a film by Warner Brothers. What began as a work of fiction has been championed in real life by the Pay It Forward Foundation, Catherine is the Founder President. The Foundation focuses on bringing the idea of paying it forward to school children, parents, and educators. The simple idea of doing good deeds can easily be conveyed to children. As of today the foundation has worked wonders for millions of people across 53 countries.

It is easy to throw up your hands and say “But I don’t think I can do anything for three unknown people”

You too can be a part of the movement. Three simple points to change the world

1.     Be attentive wherever you are look for opportunities to help. You may have an elderly or disabled neighbour who is too shy to ask for help with the daily chores. You meet a child at the traffic signal who is hungry.

2.     Do something nice for someone you don't know at all (or don't know very well). It should be something significant, and for a person from whom you expect nothing in return.

3.     Spread the word. If the person wants to "repay", let them “pay it forward", for three people they don't know, and ask those three people to do something nice for three more people. The idea is to consciously increase the goodness in the world.

You can change people's attitudes about the world through your unobtrusive acts of kindness. When you receive a favour, make sure to undertake three random acts of kindness. Most nice things done for strangers must be one-time efforts.

It can be risky helping strangers, but trust your own good intentions and don't be afraid to go out on a limb if you believe your actions can help the person.

Some will not act grateful, but the benefits will come around when you are not there to see it. Trevor did not live to see the movement grow...

During the last fortnight, I managed to undertake two tasks:

1. I donated money for food to an NGO that works with the visually impaired  knowing that this deed would surely make someone smile.

2. I let a customer with just one item to buy pay ahead of me in a long queue at the Mall, and asked him to do a favour to someone at the next instance possible.

Let your action speak for itself; don't expect anything in return not even a thank you.

the world needs kindness...

You can begin the very moment you step out of this venue, at the traffic signal, at the railway station, inside a local train, buy someone a train / bus ticket, buy someone a meal, donate some clothes to help someone maintain dignity… without expecting anything in return.

The ball is now in your court… you need to pass it on to three others and ensure that you Pay it Forward.