PAY IT FORWARD

So, one of my friends posted up on Facebook the other day, a little challenge for 2012.  This is what it said:

Pay it forward in 2012…. I promise to make something hand-made for the first five people who comment.  They must in turn copy this status and make something for the first five people who comment on theirs.  The rules are that it has to be hand-made by you and they must receive it before 2012 ends.

Sounds simply enough, doesn’t it?

So I copied and pasted this challenge onto my status, and commented on my friend’s wall that I had accepted her challenge. 

However, the response to my post has been quite interesting.

So, I’ve had three friends that followed the challenge; the re-posted my status and commented on mine.  This is where the fun for me started.

I sat down the other day, and made some little earrings (I hope they don’t read this before they receive their pressies!), wrapped them up in tissue paper, enveloped them, and posted them off.

I really thought about the types of earrings I would make, and the people whom I was sending them to, and hope that I have been able to give them something that they will enjoy.

This is where I got my first lesson out of this little challenge: it was nice to give someone a random gift, for no other reason than giving. 

As I dropped the letters into the mailbox, I was smiling from ear to ear, trying to imagine their faces when they received the present; when they opened it, and hopefully, when they wore them.

It really made me happy to do something so randomly simple; spreading a little bit of happiness.

A dear friend of mine, Jane – whom I call Aunty Mole for various reasons, is the queen of random gift giving.  There have been numerous occasions where I have received a little envelope in the mail from Aunty Mole that contains a collection of assorted condoms and sexual protection aids (she works in a medical clinic).

However, my favourite would have to be the fridge magnet she sent me.  You see, I was telling her about my bosses, who travel overseas quite regularly and collect magnets for me from all over the world.  My fridge is covered in them! 

So, a few days later, I receive an envelope in the mail, with a magnet that states ‘Aunty Mole went to Nagambie, and all she got me was this magnet L’.  She printed out the words, stuck it on a magnet, and sent it down to me. 

It was simple, handmade and hilarious. It has pride of place on my fridge, where I can see it every day, and every time I see it, it makes me smile.  Tis by far my favourite magnet.

Sometimes, random acts of humour are as important as random acts of kindness.  Maybe it’s actually one in the same?

The other thing I learnt through this little challenge is what some people won’t do.

We all do it.  We all copy and paste our friends’ statuses of Facebook, whether it’s a funny joke, a relevant comment or an awareness/acknowledgement thing, like the ‘put this up for an hour for all of those people that have had cancer in their life….’ 

These things are great, but cost us nothing.  They ask nothing of us, really, because in a few hours time; they’re forgotten.

However, this ‘copy and paste’ challenge was a little different.  This actually required the copier and paster to physically do something.  To give something of their time and money, without the expectation of something in return.

Out of the 250+ friends I have on Facebook, only three were up to the challenge.  Sure, a large majority of people may not have seen the post, but for the rest of them: the challenge was too difficult for whatever reason.

Some people are not into the handmade thing, or feel that they cannot make something by hand, so that would put them off immediately.  I get that.  However, you could bake a cookie, wack it in an express post envelope, and your friend would be eating it the next day.  You could cut a heart out of a piece of paper, write ‘you’re an awesome friend, and this is why I love you’ on it with a friggin’ glitter pen, and post it.  A magnificent work of art is not required; just something simple and handmade with love would do.

However, the majority of people would have just thought: ‘I can’t be fucked.’

Admittedly, I did that myself.

When I initially read the challenge, my reaction was ‘what a great idea, but I can’t be bothered with that shit.’  Then I thought: well, why not?  Why can’t I do something?  Five people; that’s all.  Five things.  Won’t take me long to make some jewellery, and I enjoy making it anyway… why not?  Why can’t I do this, and spread a little love?

So I committed to this challenge, and am proud to say that I have succeeded, and learnt a few things along the way.

What also intrigued me, was to see who would take up the challenge on my post.  I knew one of my friends definitely would, because she’s a random gift giver anyway.  However, I was surprised at how few did.

One of my peeps actually asked if she could comment on more than one post (therein receiving lots of gifts).  I replied that she could do that, but for every comment, she had to post the challenge on her status, and be prepared to pay it forward.  Sadly, I think she was lost after that, and that’s okay. 

However, I think it’s a clear reflection of society today.  We only seem to be prepared to do something if we’re gonna get something out of it.  In our self-centred, self-motivated lives, we don’t seem to care so much about others anymore, and when we do, it’s either to gain something material, or something emotional like recognition or praise.

Why can’t we just do something for the sake of doing it, without the expectation of receiving?  Just like Aunty Mole? Surely it’s not that hard?

Sadly, I think the art of giving is lost.  Now, when we give something, it’s for an express purpose or reason, like a birthday or Christmas. 

When was the last time you saw something in a shop and thought ‘OGM! Such and such would love that!’ and then went to the trouble of actually buying it and posting it, just for the sake of making someone happy? 

I know it’s been a long time for me.  Too long, in fact.

I will say, at this point, that I have a few friends that often think of me.  You see, I have a fetish for Hello Kitty.  Yes, Hello Kitty.  I can’t explain it in any other way than it’s something that echoes back to my childhood, and some good memories I had around Kelly Kitty toys.

Anyway, there have been numerous times where I have received random presents of something Hello Kitty in the mail, like a key ring, lolly pop, glitter pens and so on.  My friends have even given me stuff in person, because they simply had to get it for me!

Now, how beautifully random and thoughtful is that?  I’m sure that they get as much joy out of giving to me, as I do in receiving.  In fact I know they do; I can see it on their faces. 

Plus, it’s nice that people are thinking of me in a positive, fun way (for a change!).

So, maybe it’s time to change our ways?

Maybe it’s time to stop being selfish (which is a controllable quality, not a bad one) and start thinking of others.  Start spreading a little joy?

Maybe it’s time to really start paying it forward? 

Peace out.

PS: if you feel like taking up this challenge, it's not to late to copy and paste!