. . . for Lauren and Lauren: Pass it on . . .

April 16, 2014

Pass it on . . .

(my new favorite leggings from JCPenney)

Remember how I wrote about my hard day the other week?  Later that evening I got an email saying that a blog reader friend had sent me a Starbucks gift card.  Just because.  

I can't get over how happy that made me.  How a little gesture made a huge difference in my hard day.  And still feel happy about it. 

I don't think I've ever written about it before, but the first year Chris and I were married I experienced a random act of kindness that I'll never forget.  I was grocery shopping before we were leaving for a weekend of camping.  I had my whole cart full in the checkout lane and after I was rung up realized I didn't have my wallet.  Long story short the woman behind me insisted on paying for all my things.  I even tried to remove the anti-cellulite lotion that I debated buying because it was $8, but she insisted that I buy everything I had.  It was over $70.  I tried to get her address to send her a check and all she said was just make sure to do something nice for someone else.  All I could do was say thank you and give her a hug.  

Eight years later and I remember every detail of that act.  I want to live life seeking out those opportunities.  I want to do a better job making people's days better.  

So thank you Carrie for reminding me what sweet, thoughtful and kind people are out there.  And that your kindness rubs off to others.  I want my kindness to be contagious.  I want to randomly bring a friend flowers or bake them cookies.  Or send a letter or a $5 Starbucks card so they can enjoy a cup of coffee on me. 
 
Have you ever experienced a random act of kindness that you'll never forget? 


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22 comments:

Denise said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

That was very sweet.

shelleystirs said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I have had someone pay for my order at McDonald's drive through. It made my day! A few weeks later, I paid for the person behind me.

Paying it forward felt fantastic!

Ashley Ponder said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I have been leaving nice gifts for a woman at work and she has no idea they are from me. She is so sweet and always does so much for others that I wanted to do nice things for her without her feeling the need to do nice things for me in return. I love the act of giving.

Pamela said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Oh how sweet of her to send you that!!! Wow...I prob would've bawled my eyes out in the grocery store ha that's amazing & so sweet!

Lindsay @ Pursuit of Pink said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

So sweet - you definitely deserve a Starbucks gift card just because. And oh my goodness, the grocery story is fantastic. I want to do that for people. I am really starting to learn that you NEVER know what people are going through. And by offering up simple acts of kindness could seriously make all the difference to someone. So glad you had a smile put on your face.

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

That grocery store story is SO sweet and on a day where a driver was a total jerk to me it helps remind me that there is good in the world! I have never been the recipient of a random act of kindness like that but here about it all the time and have always wanted to do a few things like it!

Kristin said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

What a sweet story!
Someone paid for my order at the drive thru once and I've definitely never forgotten it. Also, a woman on a flight handed Scott a $5 starbucks card. She said that she usually buys a handful of them and hands them out to soldiers.

chalayn said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Wow! That's so awesome. The only thing that comes to mind right now is when the person in front of me in the drive thru paid for my coffee. I had woken up on the wrong side of the bed and so I stopped for some liquid joy. Then the person in front of me paid for my drink and suddenly I noticed the sun peeking through the clouds and I didn't feel so grumpy anymore. :)

maria said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

isn't it amazing how nice people can be, just because? I think it gives just as much happiness to the giver as the receiver!
xo

The Girl who Loved to Write said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

It's amazing how big of a difference a little act of kindness can make!

Gentri said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

What a great story!! Thank you for sharing. Such sweet acts of selflessness! :)

Kate said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

That is seriously SO amazing.

My friend worked at a restaurant, and we often went there to eat for a quick lunch. Neither one of us were hungry, so we just decided to split a regular sized entree. When the waiter came to our table, he said, "Someone has paid for your meal, but I'm not allowed to tell you who it was. Enjoy your day!"
We THINK it was a man she had waited on many times before, who was conveniently hiding behind his morning newspaper, but we never found out.

It's amazing how something so small can make you feel SO important and SO loved.
The fact that someone paid for your grocery bill astounds me. I love those little reminders of the good people in the world. I wish the news would tell us more about THEM instead of the negative things we hear so often.

two birds said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I love acts of kindness like this!! Enjoy your coffee!!

Unknown said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Oh I love it Katie. What a great story. I love paying it forward. We all need to do it and the world would be a much better place and happier place.

Agi:)

vodkainfusedlemonade.com

Helene in Between said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

seriously, one little thing can change your whole day!

Niki {Glossy Blonde} said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

That is so sweet! And the grocery store woman is incredible! I would never forget that either.

Carrie Corrigan said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Thanks for being willing to share your heart on your blog. I look forward to your posts everyday. So glad to have been able to give just a little, tiny bit of that happiness back to you!

Unknown said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Random acts of kindess, paying it forward...things we should all try to do more of! I'm inspired to do at least one today :)

The Olive Tree Blog said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

I love these stories!! My grandma last year showed up at my house with all the goodies to make a steak dinner...I mean good expensive steak...b/c she had over heard me saying how hard it is was to go out on dates lately b/c of my husbands work schedule and the work that 3 kids entail...so she brought the date to us. :)

Allyssa said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

aw! This is so sweet! I feel inspired to by someone coffee now! haha!

Unknown said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

Wow nothing like that has happened to me before but that is so wonderful and I am glad there as so many nice people out there!

xoxo, Tara

Magical and Beautiful said... Best Blogger TipsBest Blogger Templates

beautiful reminder.
thanks for sharing