The One Rule That Will Help Us Make 2022 and the World Better
Pay It Forward
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”– Luke 6:38
I believe I learnt the golden rule as a toddler through my grandma. This rule is truly golden and universal across all orientations, races and religions. And it is metamorphosing into different variants — the most common being “karma.”
But, I have been wondering if, indeed, the golden rule has lost its meaning?
Thankfully, just when I thought the golden rule had no more value than any contemporary cliché, someone restored my faith in humanity.
“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
About ten nights ago, I stood stranded next to my car in a hospital parking lot that was 90% empty. The car battery gave up the ghost. At the time, there were only three cars on the parking lot, including mine. The first guy offered to help if I had jumper cables. I do have jumper cables. But I left them at home.
My panic turned into worry when the next car, six slots away from mine, looked empty. Yet, I approached, not knowing why I was heading in that direction. Seeing a gentleman sitting on the curb in front of the vehicle gave me some hope. “Good evening, brother. Do you have cables to help jump-start my car?” I stuttered. He lifted his gaze from his phone to give me a blank stare. My heart sank as I tried to make up what he was saying with an Arabic accent and fumbled English. I turned to leave when I thought he was getting into his car to go. “Yes, here is cable.” The best four words of my entire evening.
We used the other guy’s car closer to mine to jump-start my vehicle. Yes! I was out of the woods. What the gentleman said in our closing exchanges lit my heart.
“Someone help me before, now I help you.”
Despite our minor communication barrier, we understood one thing. Call it Karam or the golden rule — you get what you send out into the universe.
My accidental experiment of the golden rule came full circle nine days after my failed start ordeal.
“A purposeful act or extension of kindness is never wasted, for it always resides in the hearts of all.” — Molly Friedenfeld
Last night, at about 9 PM, I made a quick dash to the mall for a snappy ATM transaction. Dubai is probably one of the few cities one would not have to think twice about going to the ATM so late at night. I expected to find free parking spaces as it was late. But, the car park was packed to the rafters. On my second round, hoping to see someone leaving, I saw a rare sight. Four guys were pushing out a pickup truck, trying the mechanical jump-start procedure. No way, I thought. Coincidental, I put the jumper cables in my vehicle before leaving the house that night. I drove up to them as they pushed the truck back into the parking space after a failed attempt.
“Do you guys need help with a jumper cable?” I asked reassuringly. I heard a resounding yes, in unison, from four desperate men. They sound like kids who just got a pass to go play outside. I positioned my car, brought out the cable and connected for energy transfusion. In less than ten minutes, engines were revving the four guys were high-fiving each other. As we exchanged closing pleasantries, I said the following.
Someone helped me almost two weeks ago; now I have helped you.
It was like my reenactment of the movie released in 2000 — Pay It Forward.
What do you call such an experience — was it karma? Was it fate? Or was it just another coincidence?
One thing is sure and for a fact. Someone pulled me out of the woods and made my night better. I pulled returned the favour to a set of strangers and made their night better.
Whatever good you receive, return the gesture to someone else. And they, in turn, will do it for another person.
“Together, we can change the world, one good deed at a time.” — Ron Hall
I believe this one rule will make our 2022 better, and we will change the world one kindness at a time.
To pay it forward, you must
1) Always look for an opportunity to serve, teach or give, more so to a stranger
2) Serve without expecting anything in return
3) Not despise the small acts of kindness
Here are five examples of simple deeds of kindness that can make 2022 and the world a better place if we pay it forward in good measure.
1) When you learn something new, teach it to someone else.
2) Lend an active listening ear. Sometimes, all we want is to talk to someone.
3) Volunteer at a charity in your community
4) Donate a book
5) Leave a thank you note for someone
I wish you a happy, brighter and better New Year in advance. Pay it forward.
Book Recommendations
The two books below make the top of my all-time list. They were my personal growth textbook during the 2020 lockdown.
a) Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones — by James Clear
Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, And Unlock Your Exceptional Life — by Jim Kwik
Citations
Here are three quotes on purpose, personal development and “paying it forward.”
“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” — T D Jakes
“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” — Jim Rohn
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” — John Wooden
