Pay It Forward

You always hear about people who pay for coffee or breakfast or groceries for the person in line behind them. They are an inspiration to those of us who don’t often directly do things like that.

Yet every year I manage to do almost the same.

This past weekend was Milwaukee’s IrishFest — a 3-1/2 day festival of Irish music, traditions, and green shirts.

I usually buy the BOGO-on-St.-Patrick’s-Day tickets — buy one, get one free. I often buy too many tickets, often because it’s March and the middle of August is a long way away.

This time I had two extra tickets, and, as I have in past years, I look for someone standing in the purchasing tickets line and give them my extras.  This year it was all electronic, so I spotted a confused-looking older duo asking Security which line they were supposed to go in to buy tickets, and pulled them right over and into line with us.

Two happy entrances later, they were elated. Wanted to buy us a beer or a soda; anything to show their appreciation. And when I said no, not necessary, my best friend standing next to me told them, “Just pay it forward.”

Four simple words.

Who knows what they did after we parted ways. Hopefully hid from the rain and had a beer or a Reuben roll and enjoyed several of the musical stages open to us. I just hope they find an opportunity one day to Pay It Forward.

It’s such a small thing. You didn’t save the world or save a life. You made someone smile in the here and now.

And that’s such a wonderful feeling.

Try it some time. Make the world smile.