We are slowly approaching the holidays, and for those who celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, it can be a stressful time of year. 

Those who do not still have to endure the hustle and bustle of the commercialism that holidays have become. It is a commonality to witness shoppers, retail professionals and even state workers on metros, trains and at the DMV act out in ways that are any less than festive under the name of stressors from the holiday. 

Although, sometimes it only takes one person to change someone’s mood or positively affect a situation. A way to do that is “paying it forward.” 

The term “paying it forward” takes after a novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, essentially incorporating chains of generous behavior in succession. For example, there is a line at Starbucks, and you are ordering your drink, and when you get to the cashier they inform you that the person in front of you has already paid for your drink. 

Out of generosity, you offer to pay for the drink of the person behind you. This elicits a change that continues down the line in a spark of repetitive generosity. 

Sometimes, paying it forward can happen in an isolated situation. Say an elderly woman is having trouble stepping off a curb, being a good Samaritan, you ask her if she needs help. 

Upon helping her, you are under the impression that you will never see her again, but in a perfect world where this situation can make sense, you may run into each other at a dinner and she may pay for your dinner because you helped her across the street. 

It is so easy to get caught up in the daily struggles of handling estranged parents, holiday dinners, cost of gifts and food as well as others who are simply having bad days. It is also easy to act out in a negative reaction, according to Newton’s 3rd Law:  “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” It may be catered to explain the laws of motion, but it can also be a way of looking at the behavior of individuals. 

One person’s bad day can and most likely will affect someone else, leading them to have a bad day as well. So while you are out and about this holiday season, as well as non-holiday times of year, take a few seconds and make someone’s day. You may find that there is an exuberant feeling to being the reason someone has a good day. 

Share