April has always been a special month for me! I absolutely LOVE Spring. The weather, the clothes, the parks, the swimming pools, Easter… it is such a fun time of year! It is also special because it is my birthday month! Growing up I always had long lists of things that I wanted for my birthday – but this year, I have struggled thinking of materialistic things. In fact – I told Tyson that all I really want to do on my birthday is hang out with him and Laila! They are my besties and I would love to just spend an entire day with them!
Recently, my friend and her family were out to eat in San Francisco. They sat waiting for an hour and a half to eat at a restaurant – and finally sat down. They had run out of money for their food budget for their vacation, but of course had to eat their last meal before going home and feed their baby. They started chatting with an older couple next to them, but my friend’s little two year old had pretty much had it. Any of you moms know how that is – eating at a restaurant with a two year old is NOT the easiest thing in the world. The older couple soon left and shortly after, it was time for my friend’s family to pay for their meal. They asked for the bill and the server said, “There is no bill. The couple over at that table paid for your entire meal.”
It is little things like that, that show us that there are still good people in the world. For my birthday – I have a service challenge for each of you! For the month of April, it is my hope that there will be GOOD in this world. That each of us, together, will be able to make this a better place to live. That we might be able to bring happiness to those around us. Those we know and those that we do not.
HERE IS THE CHALLENGE:
1) PRINT OFF THIS CARD: {I suggest laminating it, as I hope it will go through several people, but that is only optional and if you have time} You can print the PDF version here: Pay It Forward Card
2) DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE: Here is a list of ideas of things you can do for someone:
3) GIVE THEM THE CARD: Once you do your act of service, give them the card.
4) COMMENT IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW: Tell us how you received the card {or if you started it} and what you did to PAY IT FORWARD to the person you gave the card to. Also, {this is optional} tell us your name and where you are from!
5) {OPTIONAL} TAKE A PICTURE: Take a picture of how you received the card or what you did to pay it forward and post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and #PayingItForwardToday
I love the quote on the card, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” I believe we can make this world a better place, by doing small acts of kindness for the people around us.
It is my hope that you will take on this challenge and pay it forward with me!
Don’t forget to help spread the word! –
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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DD
July 31, 2014 at 3:51 pm (10 years ago)My friend Thunder sent me a card in the mail months after we had discussed the Pay it Forward challenge. It was nothing that I was expecting, and his card came at a time when I needed it the most. It lifted my spirits and reminded me of the love and hope there is in our wonderful world. I paid if forward by buying groceries for a lady standing outside of our store with a baby. She wasn’t your average beggar, and she looked horrified to be standing there asking for anything. When I gave her the groceries she cried. I hugged her, and asked her to pay it forward once she got on her feet. If we all take out the time to do something kind for our fellow man as Thunder did for me, we can change the world. I won’t stop with this one person, but continue this mission.
Jennifer Nelson
April 21, 2014 at 7:39 pm (11 years ago)I am so late at posting this and was so excited when you first posted this for everyone to participate.
I knew this would be an easy service challenge for me and my family because we do our part whenever we can for a local homeless man but I wanted to do more and pass along your card to an unsuspecting person by “paying it forward”!!
1) we have a local homeless man that sits in front of a local business, same place daily. He never begs or asks for anything. If he is offered some token or food/drink or money from someone he is very thankful and grateful for anything someone can do but never angry or upset at the people that just walk by! In the past we have gone thru the drive thru for burgers and have always taken him a couple burgers and some bottled water. One trip we ordered a TON of burgers and frys because we had a bunch of 10yr olds over…BK gave us too many burgers and extra fries because we waited so long for our order, when we got in the car Doug and I said we will never eat all this. So we drove out of our way to go by to see if that gentleman was there and he was. We had a couple extra bottles of water still in the car so we took him food and drinks, he didn’t seem to recognize us but then again he probably sees so many people daily. Doug offered him the food/drink and he just said are you sure and Doug said yes sir, we have plenty and want to share with you. The man was very happy and seemed shocked but very very grateful!
2) just earlier this month Katlyn and I went thru the drive thru at Dunkin. It was early and the people in this town can be rude and entitled sometimes. I was waiting my turn when a car came from the wrong direction to get in front of me in line. I would usually be upset being the car behind me but she was blocking traffic and it was a mess. When I paid for my order I asked the lady if I could pay for the car behind me, she said are you sure and I said absolutely. This lady only ordered a coffee and seemed to be in more of a hurry then me. I gave her the card I printed from here for “pay it forward” and asked that she just give to the lady behind me and tell her that her drink was paid for. She took it and said she would….It wasn’t much but I have had this happen to me in the past and it just seems to set your day right when that happens!
Thank you for all you do and all the stories on your blog Danielle…..I am so blessed to have you as a friend and just want to wish you all the success and happiness in the world for this blog, your marriage and your baby girl. Love and Miss you girl!
Danielle Davis
April 21, 2014 at 9:48 pm (11 years ago)YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the service you did!!! You are such a great example to me…and to ALL of us! I am sure that man is so grateful for everything you have done for him! And I absolutely LOVE that you paid for her coffee! I hope she continues to pay it forward!! Thank you again for sharing Jenn! You are amazing – so grateful for you!! xoxo
Aleta
April 4, 2014 at 2:42 am (11 years ago)I love how service doesn’t always have to be something big! I took the challenge – we had a TON of strawberries so I made some strawberry cupcakes and took them to 2 different neighbors. It’s great when we can do service everyday!
Danielle @ We Have It All
April 3, 2014 at 5:01 am (11 years ago)SUCH a great idea, I am SO going to do this!
Danielle Davis
April 3, 2014 at 5:10 am (11 years ago)Thank you so much Danielle!! I am excited to hear what you end up doing for someone… and hopefully they will pay it forward from there!
Mary Ann
April 3, 2014 at 1:12 am (11 years ago)I love this challenge! It’s the little things like this that brighten your day (and someone else’s).
Danielle Davis
April 3, 2014 at 5:09 am (11 years ago)Thanks Mary Ann! I hope you will be able to participate! It really is the little things!! And you are right – it really brightens OUR day when we are the ones doing it – it doesn’t only help the receiver.
brett
April 3, 2014 at 12:56 am (11 years ago)i realized last week my kids are well trained door holders. my six year hold was holding the door for over a minute for people walking in and out of our gymnastics building. i’ve tried to always explain why it’s nice for someone to do things like that and how it is helpful to others. it’s nice to see something i say sinks in!
Danielle Davis
April 3, 2014 at 5:08 am (11 years ago)That means YOU are a good mom!! You should feel proud of yourself. I LOVE that!!
Clara @A Slice of Homeschool Pie
April 2, 2014 at 10:47 pm (11 years ago)I love the one where you go through a drive thru and pay for the person’s meal behind you. We’ve done on a couple of occasions.
Danielle Davis
April 2, 2014 at 11:23 pm (11 years ago)YES!! I have never done that, but am planning on doing it this month for one of our acts of kindness! So excited to do it!! If you do it again – make sure you print the tag to have the drive-thru person give it to the car behind you! <3 Thanks Clara!
Greta
April 2, 2014 at 7:49 pm (11 years ago)Good idea. However, even just common courtesy of holding a door open or a smile can brighten someone’s day.
Danielle Davis
April 2, 2014 at 8:52 pm (11 years ago)You are exactly right Greta! That is why I even put those small gestures on the list of ideas! It is normally the little things that can make someone happy!
Melanie S.
April 2, 2014 at 7:37 pm (11 years ago)What a great challenge! I’ve already done a few of these today.
Danielle Davis
April 2, 2014 at 7:46 pm (11 years ago)Awesome, Melanie! If you have a minute, print off the card so those who you have served today can pay it forward and share with us what you did for them! Thanks so much!
Maggie C
April 2, 2014 at 7:09 pm (11 years ago)Love this idea! Thanks for the reminder that we can do good in the world.
Danielle Davis
April 2, 2014 at 7:23 pm (11 years ago)Thanks Maggie!! I hope you will be able to participate! It should be super fun!! I am looking forward to it!! With out last service challenge – I learned there are some really good people out in the world that is for sure!
Lauren
April 2, 2014 at 6:25 pm (11 years ago)I love this reminder! I do things like this around the Holidays, but I really should do them year-round! I also love the look of your blog!
Danielle Davis
April 2, 2014 at 7:07 pm (11 years ago)Thank you Lauren! I feel that same way! We always do service around Christmas – but why not throughout the WHOLE year?! I hope you will be able to participate! And thanks about the blog – my husband does ALL of the background work and he does such a great job! I love yours too!
Krystal Bernier
April 2, 2014 at 6:18 pm (11 years ago)I love this idea, you are making the world a better place to live in 🙂
Danielle Davis
April 2, 2014 at 7:05 pm (11 years ago)Thank you Krystal!! I hope that you will be able to participate and start this up in your state! <3