Pass It On
Whenever, I am in a position to help others, I make an attempt to do so. Often they will respond, "I'll pay you back later." I ask them to please not do so.
Paying me back makes it a one time transaction: I will help you now, and you will help me later. It is done.
One popular alternative is to say that my doing a good deed is "Paying it forward." I also find this limiting because it too has an aspect of a transaction. I will do a good turn today, and will be rewarded tomorrow or at a later date.
I prefer "Pass it on." When I help someone and they offer to help me later, I simply say "Pass it in."
Then, when they are in a position to help someone else, they will do so, hopefully telling them as well to "Pass it on." Thus, it becomes a never-ending stream of good deeds.
Maybe, somewhere down the road, the circle of good deeds will cycle back to me, or maybe not.
Who cares; it simply feels good to help people whenever possible!
Quakertrucker
Paying me back makes it a one time transaction: I will help you now, and you will help me later. It is done.
One popular alternative is to say that my doing a good deed is "Paying it forward." I also find this limiting because it too has an aspect of a transaction. I will do a good turn today, and will be rewarded tomorrow or at a later date.
I prefer "Pass it on." When I help someone and they offer to help me later, I simply say "Pass it in."
Then, when they are in a position to help someone else, they will do so, hopefully telling them as well to "Pass it on." Thus, it becomes a never-ending stream of good deeds.
Maybe, somewhere down the road, the circle of good deeds will cycle back to me, or maybe not.
Who cares; it simply feels good to help people whenever possible!
Quakertrucker
70-79, M
