Pay it forward

I was watching a movie and among the first few scenes of the movie, the teacher assigns the class a term project to come up with an idea to make the world a better place and put it into action. Everyone comes up with a different idea but the movie focuses on the idea “Paying it forward”. The idea of this particular student was to help three people in life, in a way that is much wanted by them or that can change their lives but they will have to pay it forward to three more people. The effect is supposed to multiply. All the efforts that student makes go in vain and he thinks he has failed but in actual the thought, the effort, the care which he shows towards the people caries the idea forward. Life-saving-help from complete strangers gives a whole new perspective of looking at life; a stranger can care for stranger, it’s not necessary to know anyone to show concern and that is the spirit needed to make the surroundings better.

Why can’t we just do it? Why don’t we take the incentive? Throughout the movie the emphasis is made on the fact that it is not easy and people feel too insecure to help anyone but at times for mental peace sometimes it is best to help someone else to attain it. It is actually a great feeling. Every little done makes a small difference. May be we could start by stop littering.

People read, watch, listen to various things for either information or entertainment but they miss the whole idea being implied in them. There are a lot of people talking about ‘doing well; big idea’, a few of them actually implement them too, but a very few pass it on. Something as simple as greeting a watchman or any blue collar worker passing by is a gesture which can bring a smile to someone’s face. It would not make a difference to you but it might to whom it is said.

We do small favors to many strangers, giving a lift, donating blood, helping someone cross street, buying dinner for the needy (not beggar) and so on. May be next time when some says ‘bohat meharbani apki- meray laik koi khidmat’, we can tell him to do something good for someone else.