Day 19: A lighter wallet brings a lighter heart…
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” –Ghandi
What a day! I woke up and decided that this was indeed going to be a glorious morning! My knee was doing as well as can be, and my spirit was alive! I was determined to tuck away the pain. I decided to pay the price of admission to feel the road beneath my feet, as I absorbed the sunrise over the mountains. It has been a while since I last ran my usual running route. Every time I would see a runner on the road, I yearned to be that person. Today, I was on a mission to be “that person”.
I laced up my runners, picked some outstanding running music and hit the road… The pace was as good as it could be. The weather was warm enough to wear shorts and a running tank. I remember thinking as the run ended, “If this is my last run, it couldn’t have been any better!” Today, I found that I was graced to be “that person”! With that sense of enthusiasm and joyfulness, I was secure knowing what my Quest would be today. I headed home wondering how the Quest would feel.
There is nothing I enjoy more, than to share with others and make people smile. It could be sharing a laugh at a self-deprecating story, or lending a hand to help a friend who simply needs a shoulder to lean on and someone to listen. These are the things that I feel content in doing. But what if I were to somehow pay it forward. Would making a small purchase for someone give me that same feeling of fulfillment? Would it even make a difference? Would giving something to a stranger have a positive impact on them or would it even matter? Would paying it forward mean more to me than the person I am giving something to? All these questions flooded my mind as I prepared for my Quest.
I decided that for that next year, every 1st of the month I would pay something forward for someone. The goal is to simply bring a moment of joy to someone who never expected it. For today, I decided I would start off easy. I have never done this before and really did not know what to expect.
I chose my favorite simple pleasure, Starbuck’s, and decided to take a modest $25 and pay for coffee for the customers that followed me. As I approached the counter to do this, I wondered, “Is the cashier going to think this is crazy?” “What will I feel when I hand that card over?” “Will it even mean anything to anyone?” Then, as quickly as I had these questions enter my mind, I was left with one realization… this is not about them… this is about me… this is about me having the courage to part with something meaningful, as I am not a wealthy person by any means. This is about me using my strength from within to forgo some $25 item for the week. I may never know what they think or how they react. But I believe our true value is not determined by our financial portfolio, but rather by our genuine intentions to give. My Dad taught me that the gratification you get from giving is truly priceless. With these thoughts in mind, I paid for the gift card. As I handed it back to the cashier and explained my intention to pay for the following customers, he smiled and I went to pick up my drink and sat down.
A woman approached the counter and ordered her drink. The cashier explained that her drink was paid for and she appeared surprised, happy and smiled. A guy in his early 20’s came in and he was told the same thing as he tried to pay. He let out a surprised chuckle and had the biggest grin on his face. I am not sure what happened after that, as I didn’t feel a need to watch. I found myself feeling more content not knowing. I reached for my coffee and couldn’t help but notice the quote on my cup and it was in those words that I felt reassured about today’s quest. 
I sipped my coffee, and hoped that in some very small capacity, I was able to make someone’s wallet heavier, while lightening their daily burden. Now I hope that perhaps, someday, they will do the same for someone else.
Counting down the days until July 1st and the next opportunity to pay it forward. Parting with something precious felt so good… Wondering what tomorrow will bring…
Leave a Reply