pay it forward

i ran across this expression this evening on a thread here at DG and was surprised that there were ppl who hadn't heard of it. I hadn't either until i saw the movie called 'pay it forward'. Excellent illustration of the concept and so is DG

Gayle

"Pay if Forward" is rather exaggerated in the movie.Mom and Dad were taking our small family(only first 3 born) out to visit relatives in California. Dad kept passing gas stations looking for the best price. Of course, he ran out of gas on a long stretch of empty highway in Utah. night was coming & he had a family to feed but no cars or trucks came for hours. Finally, an old pickup rattled up and stopped. the elderly man in it took out a battered red gas can & poured gas into the car. Dad offered him money, but the old man just said "This can gets around. Fill the can and pass it on."

Mom & Dad got to a gas station filled the can & headed for California. On their way back thru Arizona, they saw another car stopped by the road. Obviously out of gas. Dad stopped, used the can to fill their tank & passed the can with good wishes on to the next family. Mom still tells this story & likes to think that battered old can is still out there making it's way around the country with good deeds. "Just pass it on..."

Hi Gayle, I use the phrase often and was surpised as well that no one had heard it said before. I try to live my life that way. Do something nice for someone and that person does something nice for somone else and so on and so on.
If we all lived this way, wouldn't it be a wonderful world to live in?
Jan

I rather enjoyed the movie myself. Would like to see more inspiring movies such as that rather than alot of the trash that is out there. And the gas can story is absoulutely wonderful!!!!
I too try to live my life that way. It would be a wonderful world if we all did.

I try to treat others as I want to be treated. I share & help when I can. It all starts HERE>

My hubby and I absolutely LOVED the movie. The concept is fantastic and I totally agree with it. It's a dirty rotten shame that we don't all even attempt to live that way. We live in such a selfish society.....

Some people believe in Karma and I, being one of them, feel that what you do affects everyone around you and that what you put out is hopefully what comes back to you. Ya think?

Yeah, Jan... I agree that what goes around comes around. (Karma!) I am discovering that I am not as truly giving as I wish I was... I tend to judge people and if they are not doing for themselves (trying to help themselves), I hesitate about giving (over and over) to them. Sigh. Maybe I will do better the next tiime around.

I LOVED that movie, except for the ending (which I think was the only possible ending). The concept is fabulous and if we would ALL practice it, what a wonderful world this would be.

darius, what you describe is the difference between a helping hand and a hand out! I will offer a helping hand but will not offer handouts which enable someone to rely on others for life. While a helping hand will get someone over a hurdle and allow them to regain their ability to stand alone.

Bravo Zanymuse!!! I couldn't have said it better nor would I try.

Thanks, Zany... I DO think you described it correctly!

Zany, You are right. People can have bad luck, but they are responsible for the bad choices they make. I have a sister that says life has been rough on her: she jumps from husband to husband, she won't keep a job, She refuses to grow up and be responsible. She's decided now that she wants to "retire" and she expects all of us to support her.
My Mom is the only one who falls for her line. Tow of her kids are just as bad , but 3 are responsible people.