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| Gary
Rimar
Before I saw the movie Pay It Forward, I had the idea placed in my head (I do not know from where) to pass on good deeds. I had no concept of doing so exponentially (pass it on to three), but someone somewhere taught me to do good things for folks, and tell them to pay me back by doing a good deed for someone else, and to ask them to do the same. The odd thing is that you succeed by not succeeding. It is impossible to out give G-d, and it seems that every time I try to give away myself, I get more back. If you think this is wrong, make a small investment and try to give away smiles to strangers. You will find that it is impossible to give away more smiles than you will get back. Based on this reality, I feel even better with the concept of doing things exponentially. Helping people out in public is easy for me to do, but not for everyone. I happen to be handy, so I carry locksmithing tools in my car. I can't help myself with them, but I can certainly help others who lock themselves out of their car. Because of my work, I carry a cell phone regularly. I also happen to have a free nights and weekends package. I have loaned my cell phone to people who ask me if I can make change so they can use a pay phone. I have been playing piano professionally for years. Sometimes I will play for a charity function for free or at a greatly reduced rate. As an example, when I lived geographically close I used to go to the Leader Dog School for the Blind and entertain their graduating classes the weekend before graduation. This was a once-monthly activity. Not everyone plays piano, but everyone has a talent they can share with those that need it. As an aside to the music part of my paying it forward, I have co-written a song to exemplify the "Pay It Forward" philosophy. I have shared it with other people who are into the "Pay It Forward" concept, and it has been well-received. If anyone has any ideas on how to promote that to get the idea out more than it already is, please let me know at pianoguy@mail.com. When I see someone with a "Will Work For Food" sign, I give them food and tell them to pass on their labors to help three people. I don't know if they will, but we don't have to be 100% successful in this to succeed. Because I want to be a helping force in the world, I took some classes in alternative dispute resolution. I have used these skills in the county court system. I can't ask these people to pass on help to three (professional distance), but I do know that I'm helping them be less damaging in their world because they are less angry. Before you think I'm trying to position myself as some kind of saint, please realize that I'm not even close. I just look for opportunities to be of assistance where I won't get myself hurt, and then go for it. I'm also not bored and looking for stuff to do, as I have a full-time day job, do the music stuff, try to work out at the gym regularly, and just live a very busy life. Do what you can, and it is more than you would do if you didn't do even that. Some may wonder why I am so involved in this. Half my life ago, my life was a big mess. There are a lot of people who put some serious time into making me into the man I've become, and for them I'm eternally grateful. My "Pay It Forward" activities are a reaction to paying them back, by doing what they did for me. The highest form of charity is to help someone to become self-sufficient. Even if you can't do that, a high form of charity is to help someone who can't possibly be of help to you. However, if they help someone, they make the world a better place which ultimately does come back to you (and everyone else). That is my interpretation of the essence of paying it forward. There are other things I do, but they aren't repeated often enough to call up to memory. Also, it isn't really important what I do. What is important is that you do what works for you, and pay it forward. You already owe someone, so you may as well get started on your journey |
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