Pay It Forward

So... I've got a personal style blog and I take lots of pictures of myself. I write/talk about clothes, shoes, accessories, make-up, food, etc.; a lot of superficial stuff. And for a while I struggled with two seemingly very different  parts of myself. The part that loved that meaningless crap, and the part of me that cares (very deeply) about shit that matters. I was (mistakenly) under the impression that those things couldn't co-exist in the same person to the extent that I wanted them to... that somehow caring about things that don't "matter" delegitimizes the rest. That was a naive way of thinking. We (especially women) can care about all sorts of things, and the belief that you have to be one thing or the other only perpetuates a really crappy marginalized view of women. I will spare you the feminist rant I could go on right now, but I do want to take this "style" blog over tonight to showcase something other than shoes and accessories (and my mug). Let's discuss a pretty awesome concept: Pay It Forward. The holidays tend to bring out the best in most people; we greet strangers more readily, give more to charities, help those less fortunate than ourselves, etc. So... I thought that it would be cool to throw out some ideas/ little ways to brighten up someone's day; and if everyone who read this did just one of these in the next few days, that would be pretty rad. 

Pay It Forward Ideas: 

• Open the door for someone.
• Give a helping hand when you see someone carrying a lot of stuff.
• Give a homeless person your leftovers from a restaurant you just ate from.
• Purchase a couple of umbrellas, blankets, ponchos at a dollar store and keep it in your trunk – when it’s a rainy/cold day, find a person who needs it and give them one.
• Give a lottery ticket to a stranger.
• Leave anonymous thank you notes.
• Put change in a vending machine.
• Drop off a toy or game at a homeless shelter.
• Pay for a  toll for the person behind you.
• Send someone a small gift anonymously.
• Drop off flowers at your friend or neighbor’s house.
• Buy a meal for a homeless person.
• Buy a movie ticket for the person behind you in line.
• Pay for someone’s meal behind you at a fast-food drive-thru.
• Write an inspirational note to someone who needs inspiration.
• Send a card to someone in the military overseas.
• Put something you no longer need on craigslist.org for free.
• Drop off a toy or game at a hospital.
• At the post office, leave some extra stamps at the stamp machine.
• Buy a phone card and give to a homeless shelter for them to give to someone.
• Take flowers to a hospital ward and give them to someone who hasn’t had any visitors.
• Drop off teddy bear to police department to give to traumatized children.
• Write letters of appreciation to groups who are helping the community, the environment, etc.
• Go to a tourist spot and offer couples/families to take their pictures with their camera.
• If you know someone who is having a hard time financially, pop $5, $10 or $20 in an envelope, disguise your writing or type the envelope, and mail it to them.
• Write anonymous, loving post-its for strangers to find.
• At a restaurant, pay for a table’s lunch or dinner anonymously.
• Pay for someone’s groceries.
• Volunteer your time at a non-profit organization.
• Smile!
• Acknowledge the cashier who’s helping you and genuinely ask them how they’re doing.
• Wave back to children who wave at you.
• Say hello.
• Reach an item off a high shelf for someone.
• Give up your seat to someone who needs it more.
• Remove debris or other obstacles from a road or path.
• If you arrive at a stop sign at the same time as another driver, let them go first.
• Pay someone a compliment.
• Help someone with their groceries or bags.
• Offer to help an elderly neighbor with their household chores.
• Call a friend randomly and let them know you’re thinking of them.