Pay It Forward

This awesome, inspiring story was shared with us from our corporate office and thought it would be a great story to pass along to all of you. 

60 Selfless Ways to Pay It Forward

This story was sent to me from our very own Jess Schneider and I wanted to share it with you because it is truly amazing! As our Anytime Fitness mission is to improve the self esteem of the world, this seems to tie in perfectly.

Alyssa Josephine O’Neill is from Erie, PA (Jess’s hometown) and was diagnosed with epilepsy last year.  The story revolves around Alyssa telling her mom that she wanted to try a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, her mom told her that they would go the next day. They didn’t make it because Alyssa had a seizure that night in the shower and passed away.  To remember their daughter, the O’Neill’s went to Starbucks and prepaid for 30 pumpkin spice lattes as a pay it forward thing.  Starbucks matched it and this incredible Pay it Forward Movement for #AJO has taken off.  Click here for the story

Their Facebook page- Click here for the FaceBook page- had over 17,000 likes in about a week and over 15,000 talking about it!  They have gone global and on their Facebook page, they have pictures from ALL over with people holding Starbucks with #AJO on it but it goes much deeper than just paying it forward with coffee!

They say “I just wanted to let everyone know, that this movement is about so much more then coffee. It is and will always be about kindness, paying it forward, and epilepsy awareness. There are thousands of ways to be kind, pick whatever feels good to you.”  Another comment says- I love how #AJO has become a verb.  Have you #AJO’d today?  The support in Erie is CRAZY and you see #AJO everywhere!

“Selflessness is the sincere concern for the well being of others.  It’s about love.  It’s about compassion.  It’s about kindness and faith.  It’s about making a difference in the world.  Sure, you are only one, but you are one.  You cannot do everything, but you can do something.  Smile and enjoy the fact that you have the ability to make a difference – one you’ll likely remember forever. “

So go ahead and make the words, “How can I help?” part of your everyday vocabulary.  Start today… choose one of these

60 selfless ways to pay it forward.

1. Hold the door open for the person behind you.
2. Introduce yourself.  Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.
3. Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need.  Your old is someone else’s new.
4. Write a positive Yelp review about a local business you like.

Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.    click here for more

Make sure to Pay It Forward!

Jen