Pay it Foward: One of the many definitions of this term

  Thank to everyone for their amazing submissions. It was VERY hard to pick one. Many of you put a lot of time and thought into your submissions, and I am very grateful. I will be combining so many definitions into a up coming blog post.

"Paying it Forward (PIF) means many things, from giving someone the shirt off your back, to a friendly nod, simple smile, or a few kind words. To pay it forward is actually another form of a random act of kindness. If someone is having a bad day you can PIF simply by telling that person how great they are :)  Paying it forward is showing someone a kind gesture and not expecting anything back in return. It's doing a good deed to restore the faith in humanity, it's telling your brother that he's not as annoying as you say lol. You can interpret any random act of kindness from your heart as paying it forward.  

The biggest reward though, is that you're really paying it forward to yourself! You PIF because you want to and don't need to think why am I doing this. People were born to pay it forward, sometimes they just need a little help understanding exactly what it is. It's true that when you pay it forward it gets passed along! For example, someone smiles at you, you smile back, you then go on to smile at someone else and they smile at someone else and so on. Well that one simple smile just PIF to a whole group of people. Like I said, PIF to me means helping restore the faith in humanity by doing something completely selfless without thinking about it!" - Nikki P

By the way...

We Want to help you help your neighbor.

Nominate an unsung hero or family in need by filling out the form below. Tell us their story in 250 words or less, and you just might get the chance to reward them with $500 cash. We`ll pick a new nominee every week.

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/features/pay-it-forward/

What's PIF anyways?

“Well, I made a difference to that one!” The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had said and done. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

What does "Pay it Forward" (PIF) mean?

"Paying it Forward" and performing random acts of kindness has become the norm for my daughter and I. It is our lifestyle, who we are and how we go about our day interacting with people.  We keep hand written letters and spare change in my car at all times so that in whatever we are doing we are able to spread love easily and abundantly. As we are driving to and from school my daughter will spot a homeless person on the street side and ask if we can give him a letter and spare change. And since we have them already written, we can! Thus making it so we are able to impact more people. Paying it forward is our way of life. But as we have passed out letters, flowers, or change we quite often receive puzzled looks. It has made me realize that not everyone knows what this term even means and this saddens me. My life is permeated with kindness, love and happiness. I start my morning off with yoga, then I listen to my latest inspirational podcast and head to class. We make it a goal to spread love to at least one person before we arrive at our destination. I never thought that others would have no clue as to this treasure, this amazing gift we experience on a daily basis by giving to others. So how do we insight people on the gift of Paying it Forward? What does this term mean to you?

So I am starting another Giveaway!! How would you describe the meaning of "Pay it Forward" to a complete stranger? Or define the term "Pay it forward" in your own words

Enter your answers below in the comments box or post it on facebook.com/deap. You will automatically be entered into a giveaway. Deadline is 9.27.2013

Keep Spreading Love

Kindness Giveaway Winners

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."
Dalai Lama

WINNER #1 - Jamie Lago

WINNER #2 -  Autumn (theycallmeautie)

 

WINNER #3 - Jackie (ringgoldja) 

WINNER #4 - Ashleigh (ash_pack)

I received nearly 100 stories and pictures for this giveaway. And they were all amazing stories and pictures. Some that made me laugh, smile and others that made me cry. I am so inspired by all of you. And so grateful to have met you all and proud to know you. I can not wait to compile everyone's ideas and stories for you all to read and hopefully be inspired as much as I have been. 

I believe no story is "better" than the other - kindness is kindness in any shape or size. So I compiled all the stories from my blog, instagram and email. I wrote everyone's name down and picked them out of a jar.

I received some Awesome Donations from several amazing people. So HUGE thanks to them, I was able to pick two winners of this kindness giveaway! And then I have to smaller winners that will receive a little gift of love as well.

Our Amazing donators are:

Brian Koyama
(facebook.com/brian.koyama.)

Jennifer Hammerberg

(www.etsy.com/shop/jhammerberg)

OfLovelyThings

(www.etsy.com/people/oflovelythings)

Lani LD

(www.etsy.com/shop/LittleDistractions)

Kristyne

gold-soul.com

So Thank You Thank You THANK YOU to are amazing donators !!! You are the ones that made it possible. 

Stay Tuned! I will post stories, pictures this weekend!

THE WINNERS and their stories/pics

Giving Back to Those that Give -Updated

"The surest way to happiness is to lose yourself in a cause greater than you." 

Only a few days left!!!  

You are allowed to submit as many stories as you want.

Submit your kindness story below to be entered in to win a free box of gifts in a random drawing. The Giveaway goes til Sept 13, 20013. (It can be an kindness event you performed or witnessed.) 
(Share your story in the comments box below.)

I have been receiving so many amazing stories. I cant wait to share them all. I love the creativity, time, energy, and love you are all pouring out to others in your own way. So thank you all for sharing with me. The more love and positive energy you put out in the world, the more love and positive energy will come to you in your own life. 

“If you send out goodness from yourself, or if you share that which is happy or good within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times... The more love you give away, the more love you will have.” ― John O'Donohue

Contest Details:

If you see someone performing an act of kindness take a picture or better yet capture it on your iphone cameras and send the video to me. If it is on youtube already, send me the link.

If you would to like to tell me your story, you are welcome to leave a voicemail and I will save your recording.  (send me an email and I will give you a number to leave a voicemail)

Or if you are a recipient of a good deed, send your story as well. Picture, video, email or via instagram. You can tag #starfishstories

And if you have just performed the deed yourself, send me your story as well. Again, it can be picture, video, email or via instagram.

My email is: rel87@ymail.com

Instagram is :ariellecaputo

Thank You !!

Easy Ways to Spread Love

“Sail beyond the horizon; fly higher than you ever thought possible; magnify your existence by helping others; be kind to people and animals of all shapes and sizes; be true to what you value most; shine your light on the world; and be the person you were born to be.” Blake Beattie

 

Here are some super easy and creative ways to pay it forward on a daily basis on any budget. I hope some of these pictures and ideas inspire you.

 Leave flowers anywhere; on cars, at bus stops...

Handwritten notes can make anyone stop and smile.

  

Leave random bills and coins; redbox, gas stations or on the street.

 Gift cards are fun and easy and there are tons to chose from.

 Randomly pay for the person behind you or next to you.

 Hand out water bottles. Or leave coins at a meter.

If you have more ideas, feel free to send them our way or post them up in Instagram. Tag #starfishstories or #deap. You can also download my Starfish Story Letter on the side of my blog to leave for people whenever you decide to pay for the person behind you. 

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Nelson Mandela

Starfish Stories

“Even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water -it will make ripples throughout the entire pond...”
― Jessy and Bryan Matteo 

I was scrolling through Living Social online looking for a specific coupon for my sister.  (BTW it's a great sight to find deals and coupons for food, activities, stuff and so on) I saw a $10 for $20 voucher for Sharky's Mexican Grill. I was thrilled for two reasons: that's a really good deal and its right by my house. So I purchased one, and immediately purchased another thinking someone else would probably love it to. 

After work my daughter and I went on the hunt to find our lucky candidate. Watch the video here. (it is an instagram video, so don't mind the rough editing) Enjoy

Youtube - Part 1

Youtube - Part 2 

 My daughter, Kaliya, handed him the voucher along with our Starfish Letter (you can find the link on the side of my blog to download and print as well) and coins from her own piggy bank. 

And as we got back in the car she was sad because she wanted to find someone else to give her money to as well, but it was dinner and bed time for the little lady. I explained to her, that we will definitely do it again tomorrow. I was actually a little sad myself because I saw others I wanted to give one to as well. One day, money will not be a concern and we will be able to touch hearts all over the country - that is my goal. For now, we are very grateful to be able to make someone's day a little brighter one at a time.

“I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do.”
― Jana Stanfield

Kindness Jar

“Well, I made a difference to that one!” -Starfish Story

"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."
Ronald Reagan

So one of my good friends has a jar in his kitchen that he has been throwing all his lose change in. One day he mentioned how awesome it would be if he just randomly handed out the whole jar to a homeless person. 

 So I asked to tag along to try and get it on film.

We drove around our streets till we found our lucky lady.  And here it is.

 
http://www.youtube.com/kindnessjar

I hope he can encourage you to do the same in your own little way. 

 Some days we cant always help everyone but we can definitely start with one. If you have a video or picture or story you would like to share, please email it rel97@ymail.com You can also upload it to facebook or instagram and tag #angelact @ariellecaputo

Fabulous Forward Fridays

Happy Friday !!

Join the movement and help spread love today. Do a random act of kindness to anyone you see today. Tag your photo #forwardfridays  or email your photos/story to rel87@ymail.com

We started off our Friday by handing our school teachers a beautiful flower to make them smile.:D

“Sail beyond the horizon; fly higher than you ever thought possible; magnify your existence by helping others; be kind to people and animals of all shapes and sizes; be true to what you value most; shine your light on the world; and be the person you were born to be.” Blake Beattie

Making Dreams a Reality

“One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.”
― Henry David Thoreau

Thank you to everyone who did "something" to make this family's dreams come true. With help from www.gofundme and word of mouth, we were able to raise $200 to help pay for these kid's school uniforms and supplies. 

They are your normal happy little kids -Robert is 10. Amanda is 8. Anika is 8. Mya is 6. The girls love to read and write... All four of them live for getting muddy... yeah for mom:) They love realtree camo and dresses with mud boots...ahaha. Robert is a great big brother, loves to build anything he can get his hands on and is fascinated by anything that has to do with electronics. And now they have a new set of uniforms each. No more pulling down the hem and repositioning the buttons ;)

Thank You for all your love and support!

The place where dreams are not just dreams

Saturdays Attitude of Gratitude

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
― John F. Kennedy

"Help yourself by helping others. People feel good when they do good. Research now shows that giving is good for you emotionally and physically. ” 

So we spent our morning Saturday baking and decorating little cupcakes. Then we headed to our local Police station to pay them all a Thank You for their service. 

Thank you LAPD for keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe. #spreadlove and #payitforward