Karma It Forward

My daughters love to read, and our home is filled with books.  I try my hardest not to pay full price for books and utilize the wonderful garage / yard sales that my community has in the summer to replenish my book supplies so that there is always something "new" to read.  This summer didn't yield the quantity of books that we are used to, and my girls had patiently spent month reading the same books over and over.  (We do frequent the library as well but they go through books so quickly that we could be there every single day!)  So it was a big deal on a day after camp when I decided on the spur of the moment to head to my local big-box store to let the girls pick out new books. As I was getting my almost four year-old unhooked from her car seat, a woman approached me.  She was thin, frail looking and clearly upset.  Apologizing for startling me, she explained that she was with her brother and two small children, had no money and was almost out of gas.  She called the police to see if they could help her, and they gave her a ticket for expired license plates.  Now, I know what you are thinking.  I was thinking the same thing.  I've been approached by people with similar stories dozens and dozens of times and I've never responded to them.  I never carry cash either, but I knew that I had at least a $5 bill in my wallet.  Before she even finished her story, I pulled the $5 out and handed it to her.  Her eyes widened, she thanked me profusely and went on her way.  I hoped that her story was truthful, but realized that I was okay with giving her the money either way.   I finished getting my kids out of the car and we went in to the store to completely our mission for new books.

The next afternoon I received an email from the Office of Financial Assistance at the local community college that I attend, notifying me of an unexpected grant I had received.  For those of you not familiar with college grants, the application paperwork and required information is submitted to a Federal program (FAFSA) that oversees all grants and student loans.  Once your paperwork is submitted and they do not require anything additional, it can take month before you hear if you are eligible and/or qualify for anything.  The State of Illinois also has a grant program, administered through the college you attend, and determined off of your FAFSA paperwork.  I had already been
notified in June that I qualified for a Pell Grant for the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 semesters.  Being a single mother on a fixed income, it is a HUGE relief to receive financial aid for my classes as well as assistance with my childcare WHILE I am at classes.  But this new grant notification from the State of Illinois program was completely unexpected, and I was floored when I received it.  My family had a nice bit of cheering and happy dancing in the kitchen!

Several days later, my sweetie and I were in the car together.  I had forgotten to tell him the story of the women in the parking lot, and shared with him what happened.  I told him that I had been unsettled being approached like that because the kids were with me, but I had given her some money.  Was it wrong of me to do that?  Or to feel that way?  I am blessed with a great relationship and a fantastic partner who is my sounding board.  He is also incredibly wise.  He just smiled, looked at me, and said "You had the money to give on that day, so you did.  It doesn't matter what she used it for.  Clearly she needed it enough to approach you."  After a little more conversation, he pointed out something amazing to me.  I gave a needy woman $5.00 and the following day I got a grant for school of almost $1000.   As I sat there in silence and let that thought marinate in my brain, a sense of wonder washed over me.  It happened in that order.  Now, don't get me wrong - do I think every time I give someone $5.00 I'm going to get $1000 in return?  Of course not (although wouldn't that be fantastic!).  But I live my life under the principal that everything happens for a reason.  And everything we do and the choices that we make lead us to something bigger.  Whether we want to see it or not is up to us to open our eyes and accept it.

For whatever reason, I shared with someone in her time of need and then someone shared with me.  Wouldn't it be amazing if the world worked this way every day?  If we all lived under the "Good Karma Out / Good Karma In" and "Pay It Forward" philosophy?  I try to use the "Karma It Forward" approach to life, which is a hybrid of both.  When is the last time you did something for someone with ZERO expectation of a reward in return?  What about doing something for a stranger?  Have you ever had someone pay your toll on the expressway for you?  Or buy your cup of Starbucks in the drive-thru because they were having a great day and wanted to share?  Have you ever done it for someone else?  I encourage every one who reads this to go out and do something for a stranger in the next few days.  Even better if they don't know it's from you and can't thank you, like the drive-thru.  Make it a Karma It Forward project - write a little note ahead of time that says something like "Having a great day and wanted to share it.  Please enjoy and do the same when you can.  Karma It Forward!" and ask the drive-thru attendant to pass it on when they are given their order.  You'll be AMAZED and how wonderful you will feel, knowing that you have hopefully changed some one's day for the better.  And who knows - maybe when you are having a miserable day someone will Karma It Forward to you!

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