Pay It Forward

Embracing a simple yet thoughtful gesture

On a mission to get out of my own way

Awww the Monday morning blues. Did you wake up in a funk this morning? I did! I’m not sure why, but I’ve told myself I need to ‘let go’ of this feeling, as it’s a heavy feeling and I want to to start the week off with a little more enthusiasm.

So to shift these sluggish, negative vibes I’m dragging around with me, I’m going to do something thoughtful and kind. Over the weekend I had the pleasure of immersing myself into the last few chapters of Maggie Smith’s memoir ‘You Could Make This Place Beautiful’. It was a journey through the ups and downs of her life, a tale of resilience and transformation and a testament to the power of storytelling. I enjoyed it so much, I couldn’t possibly not share it. It would be an injustice to stack this particular memoir and leave it get dusty on my bookshelf. Maggie’s story needs to be shared and one way I could make this happen is to ‘Pay It Forward’.

It’s been a while since I did such a gesture. I used to cover a book up in Ease Retreats gift wrap, leave a personal note to a stranger - the recipient, and leave the book on a park bench. Just like a book fairy. I’d walk away wondering who would pick up the book, would anyone even see it, hoping it wouldn’t rain. Praying the book would end up in the the hands of someone eager to read the book and appreciate the gift.

Similarly, ‘paying it forward’ is a simple yet profoundly impactful gesture. It’s about taking the positivity, kindness or inspiration we receive and passing it onto others. In essence, it is the art of creating a chain reaction of goodness, where one act of generosity sparks countless others.

One of the most beautiful aspects of paying it forward is it’s ripple effect. When we share something that has enriched our lives, whether it’s a book, a piece of advice or an act of kindness, we create a ripple effect that goes beyond our own experience. Hopefully the person I gift this book to may be inspired to do the same.

So once I’ve finished reading the last chapter of Maggie Smith’s memoir, I’m going to gift it to someone who might find solace, inspiration or joy within its pages. I invite you to connect with me and share in the comments your story of ‘paying it forward’, maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of a similar gesture. And you never know, you might be the person I pay it forward to. I so need to get out of this head funk, and thankfully I think I’ve found the solution.

Until the next time

Take care & stay safe xxx