Pay it forward

Paying it forward means if someone does you a favour - you do someone else a favour and pass on the gesture of kindness.

I owned a bar and had a young couple come in and sit in bottle service. They told anyone who'd listen that they just got engaged and wanted to celebrate.

They ordered the full service champagne with a bottle of our cheapest Andre we kept around just to spray the crowd for fun.

Our server brought out strawberries and whip cream, the bottle, and the staff made the big baller fuss across the dance floor. Everyone was giving them the works. The bill came and the young man's card was declined.

He was completely embarrassed. He asked to speak to the owner, that's me. He was brought to my office and I could see he was a little nervous. He explained he'd deposited his paycheck earlier and his bank account showed that the funds were available. He showed me on his bank app. He asked if I could trust him to bring the money the next day.

He was about 22 years old. I saw myself in a similar situation with a gallon of milk as a young father 25 years earlier. I told him to consider it an engagement gift, no worries. No need to flip out over a $3 bottle of champagne, my cost, and $3 worth of strawberries. He enjoyed the rest of his evening and left.

The following Monday, that kid stopped by with a $20 bill.

He'd forgotten to tip the server and felt badly. I thought this kid had heart and I respected him for coming back. I put his tip in an envelope for the server and wished him the best. I know it's not like paying for someone's groceries, but it still made me feel good.

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A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away."The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?" "Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet.."How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room.

A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot.

The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said,

"I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.

.The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!" The vet shrugged,

"I'm sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."

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When 22 year old Harman Singh reached the site of the road accident in Auckland, he found a five year old young boy with a severe head injury bleeding on the road. Though his religious beliefs demanded he (and all devout Sikhs) cover his head at all times in public, Harman didn't think twice, removing his own and using it to help stop the bleeding till help arrived. His choice of humanity over religious beliefs helped save Daejon's life.

Karma was swift for Harman Singh - who was still mourning the recent death of his father - as a New Zealand television crew interviewing him in his apartment noted the lack of utilities and furniture in his apartment.

Taking it upon themselves, they coordinated with a local furniture store and showed up once more at Harman's house, this time with a new bed, coffee table, sofa and chair. Domino's too stepped in, offering six months of vegetarian pizzas on the house for Harman. He also went on to receive the district commander's Certificate of Appreciation at the Manukau police district awards.

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CHECK THIS OUT IF YOU WANT A CULTURAL SURPRISE FROM SOMEONE SO YOUNG. CLICK HERE

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John: You gave me a free week at Hamilton Hall some years ago. I came out of hospital after an eye operation and you offered me to come down as a way of having something to look forward to - and it really helped my healing process, mind, body and soul. The thought that you put yourself out for a complete stranger with free accommodation, food and where you kept an eye on me as I would have been alone in recovery at home and you couldn't stand to think of me all alone, and I have never forgotten your kindness.

In the years since I have ' passed it forward' may times - and have offered help and accommodation to some I have found worthy of help and sadly, some times they take advantage and abuse in return and all I was doing is offering kindness, and it is clear that some cannot accept that and feel the need to screw you in return. I try and over look this and still offer help where needed as a way of ' passing it forward.'

Big Big thanks John

Martin.

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