A Big Thank You For Paying It Forward
Published March 03, 2006
Sometimes, rather oftentimes, all it takes is one act of kindness.
I remember the film Pay It Forward and thinking at the time in some ways how trite but in others, how wonderful if the entire world acted that way... if we all paid it forward, the way I felt it was paid to me today. After all these years of my own paying it forward, and I'm proud and not ashamed to say - I felt it come back to me ten-fold, and what could mean more than that?
I suppose my whole life I have, in one way or another, paid it forward - that I have passed on charms, objects, feelings, knowledge, quotes, books, all manner of things that have been of great help to me, and although at times it was hard to part with such things, I cannot lie — it was the right thing to do.
I remember in particular one year in which I bought everyone I knew a copy of Henry Beston's book, The Outermost House, about surviving in a self-built cottage on the outer rim of the Cape for over a year, and how the book struck me so profoundly (and I admit, I know his daughter, the great poet Kate Barnes as well, which I found out after reading the book which I published when I was a publisher, but I digress).
I also bought and recommend to many people the book Drinking the Rain by Alix Kates Schulman, another great book along the lines of Thoreau (but more contemporary and in this way perhaps more relevant to those of a certain, perhaps younger age who have been through some serious break-ups or are going through such, for here is a book about learning to be independent again and to me, that is always a good thing).
On an entirely different note, to those disenchanted with the world at present, I recommend The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis. For those ill, or who know someone who is ill, then A Grief Observed, also by C.S. Lewis. Both were recommended to me by a very, very dear friend during a particularly dark time in my life and they both helped me through and gave me back the verve I desperately needed.
Today, I felt such kindness in return that I could have wept with joy only slightly tinged with a touch of sorrow.
I had recently passed on a Tibetan flat that had been given to me years ago to help me through a particularly nasty and aggressive form of cancer and also for my epilepsy. I remember all that my dear friend told me was the following: "When you are done with it, when you are ready, keep it going." In other words, although the film had not yet been released, she was telling me to pay it forward. It was only recently that I could see fit to do this, as I've needed this charm over my door for years.
- A Big Thank You For Paying It Forward
- Published: March 03, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Books: Nonfiction, Books: Outdoors, Books: Philosophy, Books: Women, Culture: Family and Relationships
- Writer: Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti
- Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti's BC Writer page
- Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Thanks Prayush -- someone did something really nice for me today --- and thus... i had to write this piece. was so moved... this happens...it's nice to know that; thanks so much for your comment...:)
Coming from a time and place in which people supported each other and did polite things normally, it amazes me that we have arrived at a point that normal concern and courtesy are so exceptional that they must be noted. I blame it on the self-centered hyper-competitive society that we now find ourselves in (the hippies overemphasized 'self-esteem when they took over the schools so a bunch of nobodies have more esteem than they deserve). There's a certain kind of movement, usually far right, that celebrates cutthroat competitiveness as the epitome of economic society and they are very strong in 2006. Too bad for them: I'm a successful competitor and I have the means and abilities to leave them behind. My wife has a lovely country house in the darkest region of the south of France, where no tourist goes, and my Very Best Friend just made an offer on a house near Chinon.
Dear Bliffle, you are right of course in all that you say --- it's a sad thing that society celebrates as you say "cut throat" ways of being... The south of France is lovely. We go every year to France but to Paris and the Loire (or past hte Loire actually to a small town called Pressigny). It only bears mentioning because it is a place that time forgot in some ways and you just don't see this there (in Pressigny that is, population cannot be more than several hundred at most...) NO doubt, you see the same thing in Paris, but that's different... you see this all over the world, but on a more optimistic note, i see acts of great kindness as i did today and nothing could make me happier...
be well, and enjoy France... lucky you!
sade.
Thank you for this Sadi. Those small, often random acts always give me hope. It also reminds me that you never know what little thing will amount to a ton for someone else on a really bad day.
HI Trinket - i cannot even begin to say what a lousy day i have had but one person made a difference and then a bunch of people did and that made ALL the difference... amazing how that works... i am so so so grateful....
all best to you, as ever... and have a great day!
sade
Sadi...thank you as always, for sharing these lovely thoughts with us. doing so, in and of itself, is a great act of kindness, and i certainly do appreciate it.
doing something kind, often randomly, is something i try to do everyday, and it's a lesson i try to teach to my children. i believe that random acts of kindness are what help us to hold on to our humanity.
hey Chantal - then you're on the right track with your children! we try to do the same thing and i believe we succeed... small things are important, trite as it may sound...
thanks, as ever, for reading... :-} I'm always grateful for the comment and the read... be well,
s.
Hi, Sadi,
Just stumbled across your article here, didn't know it was coming! (though from the sounds of what you wrote, neither did you, huh?? lol). Yes, random acts of kindness are so wonderful, especially when they are sincere and not done with an ulterior motive.
Alas, I don't have any kids to pass these things onto yet, but hopefully one day...
You sure have been around! The UK, US and Canada are the only places I've ever visited or lived in.
Steve! I wasn't expecting this either - but a friend prompted and so.... what can you do... ? And this was, i believe, sincere, and that counts for so much...
you'll get around the world - just wait and see -0 and hey, i wasn't expecting this one either... but look for the List of the Moment next Tuesday usually....
cheers as ever,
s.
Thought so, Sadi!
Am looking forward to your next list,
All the best,
S.
Thank you Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti: Your act of kindness in putting your words on this page really moved me..I do a lot of listening to anyone with something sincere to share or who gives advice that is up-lifting..I read and learned from you... and i was up-lifted..and that doesn't happen as much as i wished it did...
thank you...for sharing
Hi Bruce -- Sadi is fine, btw, you can call me Sadi or Sarah, whichever suits if you like :)...
your words mean a great deal, honestly. This piece was written and inspired by someone who did something incredibly nice for me at a time when i needed it most and i know it all seems so trite and so "Disney" in a way and i was worried about that - about perhaps being met with that, but overall, people have been really realy receptive to this notion supportive, much as you have been/are being.
Sometimes, it just takes one small thing and that's really all i wanted/want to say -- b/c that's truly what counts in life and those are the things we remember; small kindness. Just simple kindness when it's unexpected. What could be simpler than that? Not complicated.
I'm really really glad this made you feel uplifted. What an amazing thing for a writer to feel that s/he (she in this case) has done... so you in turn have made me happy. And yes, i wish this sort of thing happened more too but we are part of that chain... so keep it going right?
Best to you, as ever,
sadi r-p.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/44433)
thank you Ameripundit....:)