It's the Little Things: Pass it Forward

I've been following Ashley at The Shine Project for a few months and I love her story and what she stands for. She is doing her part to make the world a better place, and when I saw her latest endeavor, I knew I wanted to get involved. Called "Pass it Forward," this project engages people to share little acts of kindness and generosity with random strangers through the use of a "Pass it Forward" card. Ashley offers the example of paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru, something I've considered doing at Starbucks or the parking garage more times than I'd like to admit, but have never followed through. When you pay for someone's coffee, you give a "Pass it Forward" card with its own special ID number to the next person, who will hopefully do the same for another stranger. You can then go online to www.spreadtheshine.com to follow your card's travels and see just how many people one small act can touch. Cards can be purchased at The Shine Project's store (10 cards for $2.50).

Interactions with strangers are part of the daily grind. Be it someone you pass on the sidewalk, the cashier at the grocery store, a customer service rep on the phone, we're in constant contact. We hear that the way we communicate and behave can have a huge influence on the well being of others, especially when our behavior is negative. We've all been guilty of taking our bad day out on an unassuming stranger, but I've realized that it's so important to be a conscious, active participant in my own life. If we're going to interact with so many people every day, why not make our interactions positive? Ashley's project is one way to remind yourself and the people around you that the little things count and can make a difference. I hope you'll join me on this journey!