Yesterday while we were shopping at Costco I noticed a woman trying to load a bag of dog food on her cart and the darn cart just kept moving! I hate it when that happens so I rushed over and held the cart for her while she finished loading.  She thanked me with a smile and we both went our own ways.  Later on when we were in line to pay, my husband let someone with just a few items go ahead of us.  Again, thanks with a smile.  Not only did we make them happy but it also made us feel good as well.

   This got me thinking this morning before I climbed out of bed.  I have visited this wonderful blog called The One Minute Writer.  This blog is a wonderful place to visit if you are suffering from writers block, let me tell you! Every day they post a writing prompt.  You can write something using that prompt in the comments section or you can take that idea and run with it elsewhere.  To get back on my point however, a few days ago the prompt was Strangers.  You were asked to write about something that a stranger has done to help you in some way.  The posted comments were wonderful and got me thinking about the whole pay-it-forard thing.

   This got me thinking about things that others have done for strangers in general as well as how good it makes you feel when you do something to help someone.  Last year around Christmas at a local Starbucks a wonderful and amazing thing happened.  A customer paid for the coffee of the person behind them in the drivethrough.  Now, I know, your thinking, That’s not amazing!, but that one event triggered many more for a period that lasted about five hours!  I have read a few letters to the editor of our local paper lately thanking a stranger for paying for all their groceries! Even in these tough times! I am not in a position to help people in that way but I do still enjoy helping with little things like holding doors, holding carts, distracting an upset baby or toddler, or even just offering a smile.

    Yes, I do have a point to all this.  I am challenging all of you who read this to do something nice and helpful for a stranger today and everyday while you are out and about doing your daily routine.  I bet it will feel great to pay-it-forward to someone.  I would also love to hear about something that a stranger has done to help you!  So go on, get out there, and spread some cheer!  Have a wonderful day and to recieve your smile from me read this wonderful poem by a friend of mine it is called The Gift of a Smile  by Michael Degenhardt.