$2.65 That Inspired Me To Be Kind!

--by Swift, posted Dec 1, 2007

Here in Canada, we have a chain of coffee places called Tim Hortons.

It was the middle of winter, and as usual, the drive-thru wait for coffee at Hortons was around 5 minutes. Not forever, but long enough to create a slight inconvenience for me, who at the time was horribly late for work.

Like I did everyday, I got to the order box and placed my order for a coffee and a muffin. So far, nothing about my routine was different. I proceeded to have my $2.65 ready, in exact change as I strive accomplish most mornings.

As I approached the drive-thru window, I was handed my coffee. This was a little odd, but didn't register at first. Normally, they will not hand you your coffee and food until they have payment.

The lady behind the window then says, "Sir, your order has been paid for by the person that was just ahead of you."

What?!? Apparently, that person had seen my order total show up on the screen and taken care of my bill. I couldn't believe it! I'm not sure how long I stared at the lady behind the counter for. All of a sudden, everything that was weighing on my mind disappeared.

It was a grand total of $2.65 Canadian dollars. Not enough to break the bank, not even enough for coffee for two people, but it was enough to inspire me in my desire to "Pay-It-Forward" for the rest of my life.

Every now and then, I still do this -- pay for the person behind me and skip my coffee the next day. Going without a coffee the next day is worth every second of the feeling that I experienced that morning.

6368 Reads

Posted by Swift
Dec 1, 2007
Comments (17)

Readers Comments

snowflake66 wrote: How beautiful -- pay it forward, sweetheart. Big smiles to you :)

AURELIA wrote: Very Nice! You've been inspired and now it's your turn and it sounds like you are very good at it! I'm smiling thinking of how wonderful you are to appreciate and pay it foward...many times over. :) ~AURELIA

tigerlily wrote: Oh Swift... that is too sweet!
I think you inspire me to be a better person myself! ;)

keshavarao wrote: how a wonderful impact on humen possitive behavioural change, how much happyness we can give others, and how much happyness we can get, how much we can spread ? multiple impact. thankyou for sharing your nice experience. keshav

BigRedClown wrote: How sweeet! I love these inspirational stories! they make me all giddy and want to do something nice for someone! haha

Thanks for sharing ;0)

and good on you for passing the love to many others :0)

Jade123 wrote: I think that paying for someone else is a sweet thing to do.

sleepytomato wrote: This is really inspiring! IT is indeed small acts like these that encourage social change and I thank you for sharing your story with us all!

cindy wrote: sacrifice is our reward. Can you imagine the feeling Jesus had when he laid his life down for us.

brighteyes wrote: Please continue to share more stories...you have a gift with words...not only inspiring but could picture you and the situation perfectly.

Isn't is amazing how a simple RAOK CHANGED NOT ONLY YOUR DAY BUT WAY OF LIFE!

I, too, "Pay it forward", every chance I get as I too have had that RAOK MOMENT that inspired me for life!

Setjama wrote: THIS IS SO AMZING HOW LITTLE THINGS CAN REALLY CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE

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