Opinion | Columnists
Don't thank me for good deeds, just pay it forward
Ghada Al Atrash writes: An integrated effort is needed from everyone to topple barriers, overcome hatred, sweep away suffering and alleviate pain
- By Ghada Al Atrash, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:01 June 10, 2011
- Image Credit: Illustration: Nino Jose Heredia/©Gulf News
As I was walked my son to his KG morning class a few days ago, I came across a young boy (about eight or nine) struggling to lift his heavy backpack up the stairs. With my free hand, I picked up his bag while he followed a few steps behind. Upon reaching the end of the staircase, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the boy had also decided to help carry a kindergarten pupil's bag just as I helped him!
The young boy's counter-gesture left me lost in thought for the remainder of the day and brought to mind the movie Pay it Forward, a production inspired by the national-bestseller novel by American author Catherine Ryan Hyde. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, ‘pay it forward' — it is an expression used in English to describe the concept of asking that a good deed be repaid by passing it forward instead of returning the favour, hence ‘pay forward' instead of ‘pay back.'
In Hyde's story, an 11-year- old boy, Trevor, is asked by his teacher to complete an assignment for a social studies class in which he is to devise and put into action a plan that would change the world for the better. Consequently, Trevor formulates a pyramid scheme in which he is to do a favour that helps someone and then tells that person not to pay him back, but to pay the favour forward to three other people, who in turn, each pay it forward to three more, and so on and so forth. Clearly, when one does the maths, the numbers proliferate rapidly!
More so than ever, there is an urgent need for such a message to be re-invented and acted upon. The concept is powerful and no doubt has revolutionary potential. And with the numerous social media tools available at our fingertips, we can spread our theory at an incredibly accelerated speed across borders in our humanity. We hear of all sorts of conspiracy theories that aim to destroy and kill humankind. Counteractively, let us also conspire; but how about we conspire against conspiracy theories, and bring together all of our acquaintances, colleagues, friends, teachers, students, and most importantly, our children to conspire against hatred, to help one another, to build and to heal.
Let the ball start rolling! We can begin with re-introducing the idiom ‘pay it forward' into our daily language, and perhaps substitute the conventional and worn-out replies to a ‘thank you' with ‘pay it forward.' In turn, each time we perform a favour for someone, we should reply to their thankful expressions with ‘pay it forward' and, more importantly, ask them to pass on the idea. We can plant the seeds of this concept within our families and social circles and at our schools and workplaces so that, with time, we can smell the fragrance of its flowers perfuming our world with goodness and love.
Vicious cycle
I have personally introduced this concept to my college students, and on multiple occasions I have received ‘pay it forward' as a reply to my ‘thank you.' Needless to say, the moment was priceless! It is imperative that we take immediate action as the vicious cycle of hatred is storming our humanity at a violently rapid pace and devouring everyone in its path, young and old. Its hatred gives birth to violence, and in turn, violence leads to pain and suffering, pain and suffering to revenge and revenge to violence once again. Regardless of religion, performing a good deed is preached by each prophet and by every religious leader.
In the Quran it is written: "The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of God is that of a grain of corn: it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains..." (Surat Al Baqara 261). The Old Testament of the Bible teaches: "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:24-25). And, the New Testament preaches: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35).
Moreover, Buddha teaches: "The thought manifests as the word; the word manifests as the deed; the deed develops into habit and habit hardens into character; so watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings as the shadow follows the body, as we think, so we become."
The opportunities for performing a good deed are countless. However, it is also essential that we do not confine our deeds to any geographical, social, or religious boundaries. Goodness must resurface in a world torn by manmade barriers. But efforts cannot stand alone — integrated joint action is needed to topple barriers, overcome hatred, sweep away suffering and alleviate pain. Eckhart Tolle says, "Awareness is the greatest agent for change" — so let us start today by spreading awareness of this revolutionary concept and by asking someone to pay our good deed forward.
Ghada Al Atrash holds a Master's degree in English and teaches at a college in Abu Dhabi. You can follow her at www.twitter.com/ghadaalatrash
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