Creating ripples can be contagious
TRYING TO #BETTERTHEPOND CAN CREATE MANY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES FOR MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THE MORE THAT I TRY TO #BETTERTHEPOND, THE MORE EXPERIENCES THAT I CREATE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS.
I think that it would be fair to say that most people love to give, it warms the heart, and makes you feel like you are contributing to the world in a positive way. But, how many of us have the ability to receive? To really accept a gift when it is given with a true feeling of acceptance, gratitude, and grace? This was the lesson that I learned the other day.
As I have many times in the past, I try to #betterthepond by buying an individual or a family dinner at a restaurant, and this day was no different. Out for lunch with a friend, I had decided to buy her lunch and explained to her my #betterthepond concept. She loved the concept and said that she would buy my lunch, but in turn, I could then buy a lunch for someone else in the restaurant. We were both throwing pebbles in the pond, creating ripples.
Ongoing to the cashier, a woman walked up complaining how her husband left and didn’t pay the bill. This is the point where I saw an opportunity, and told her that I could take care of it for her, and gave her a #betterthepond card. Her immediate response to me was,
“I am quite capable of paying for my own bill, thank you.”
I responded to her that I was merely trying to do a random act of kindness, and trying to better her pond, and it wasn’t the point of her capability to pay. To which she responded, “Well, that’s nice, but I am still very capable of paying my own bill”. Well, no sense ruffling someone’s feathers trying to be kind. So, I asked the cashier to give me a random bill in the pile, and I would pick up the tab. She pointed to a gentleman in the corner having his lunch. I paid for his bill and gave the cashier a #betterthepond card with a note on the back saying that I hope that he enjoyed his lunch and his day. It felt wonderful to give randomly to a complete stranger expecting nothing in return.
#betterthepond lesson of the day: You may be totally capable of paying your lunch tab, crossing the street un-assisted, or shoveling your walk, but are you capable of accepting a gift when it is given? Why is it that we are more apt to give than receive? Do people think that there are ulterior motives, something in it for them, or a hook of some sort? Is this our society?
How would you feel if someone gave you a gift, and you just accepted, said thank you, and had pure gratitude for the gift? Would you then, want to do that for someone else? Careful, it's catchy.
#BETTERTHEPOND WHAT RIPPLE EFFECT WILL YOUR ACTIONS CREATE?
