Pay it forward

I stepped out for my lunch break a little later in the afternoon than usual. I couldn’t wait to get out. It was cold and looked like it was going to rain, but I welcomed the fresh air. I walked down the street, largely ignoring the people passing me by, with mixed thoughts going through my mind…. How busy the morning was, how miserable the weather was (again) this week and slightly annoyed at my colleague who asked me to pick up a few groceries for her while I was out. I thought couldn’t she have gone to get these instead of running out to meet this guy she had only been out on a few dates with for a coffee!

I walked for a while and then turned into a little laneway filled with small cafes and quirky shops. The good thing about going out later in the day was that you avoided the lunchtime crowds. I walked past a shop, a hole in the wall, and looked at the colorful doughnuts displayed in the window. Ah the green box. I had seen it before. People were crazy for the doughnuts that came in the green box. I glanced at the doughnut menu and then looked around me. A small boy had just pulled his mum over to the window. I moved aside slightly and glanced to my left, and briefly saw a man. The yellow and black colors of his Richmond football club supporter’s scarf caught my eye. I looked back at the doughnut menu. The little boy and his mum were still there on my right.

It was all a bit of a whirlwind. I suddenly heard “Would you like this doughnut?” I looked up and saw the man with the yellow and black scarf. “I bought this one.” He pointed to the doughnut named Liam Hemsworthy and handed me a green box. I was stunned. I blurted a “thank you.” The man stepped back into the shop. I stood there with this box in my hands. The mother and son looked at me. I didn’t move until the man walked out. I smiled and properly thanked him. “You’re welcome. Have a great day. Pay it forward” he said and walked away.

Instantly I thought and felt different. I put the green box in my bag and walked slowly back toward the office, but not before I stopped at a small convenience store and picked up my colleague’s groceries. This mystery man had been so kind to me today. It made me think that you will never regret being kind. So go out of your way once in a while to surprise those you love or even a stranger. You never know you might make their day.