Pay it forward with kindness after you’ve been a recipient

I’m willing to bet that when people perform random acts of kindness, they’re not so random. It comes from the heart’s desire to do something kind for people. I also think it’s a matter of paying it forward. I know that when others do something kind for me, it ignites within me the desire to do even more for others.

My heart has always wanted to serve others and extend kindness because that’s how I was raised, but my body didn’t allow that to happen too often. Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) prohibited me from performing physical acts of kindness for others because I was sick, isolated, and frequently homebound. Since my double-lung transplant, though, I’ve had more capacity to help others as my health has improved. I now get to help in a more tangible way.

My favorite thing in the whole world is to do something kind for someone without them knowing it. Whether it’s closing a stranger’s gas tank at the grocery store parking lot, or taking my neighbor’s garbage to the dumpster, there’s something about it that makes my heart smile.

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Examples of kindness in my life

Throughout my journey with CF, I’ve been on the receiving end of kindness more times than I can count. I have the kindest family and friends who have done so much for me. They’ve shown up in all health circumstances and provided for me on every level. They’ve selflessly cared for me and shown love during my darkest seasons.

Medical professionals have demonstrated kindness, too, especially while I was in the hospital. Those memories are always fresh in my mind. When I was stuck in the hospital for the holidays, for instance, a nurse brought me a pink tree that lit up. I still have it. Another time, a nurse massaged my back, which was sore from coughing so hard. These are just a few of the many examples I’ve experienced.

The day I received my double-lung transplant, my family beckoned the world of social media to do a random act of kindness in honor of my donor. Because that person said yes to organ donation, it just made sense to pay it forward and have others join the revolution.

After I regained consciousness, my heart was warmed by reading through all the ways that people were helping others. At my hospital, they even created a program to pay it forward and donate money to others at the cafeteria who couldn’t afford a meal. Medical professionals told me that several hospital staff members wore shirts that read “pay it forward,” too. I’m still in awe of this memory seven years later.

Pay it forward

The thing is, I know what it’s like to feel forgotten. When I was extremely sick before my transplant, life continued on for everyone around me while my life stood still. Living in the hospital during that season of life often left me feeling isolated and disconnected from the outside world. As a result, I had many tearful moments that nobody knew about.

I know that I’m not alone in those experiences. We never know what someone is dealing with behind the scenes.

That’s how I know that the simple act of thinking of someone else can change their whole day and bring a smile to their face. We as humans have an innate need to be seen and cared for. When we can provide that for others, it’s a profound gift to both parties.

It also reminds us how good it feels to do something kind for others, and it reinforces the action muscle to do it more often. You could ease a person’s loneliness by reaching out to them. Or you could be the reason that someone doesn’t give up, just by offering a word of encouragement. We all have the choice to be kind to everyone that we encounter.

That power has a ripple effect. If I do something for someone and they in turn do something for someone else and that continues on, imagine how that would shift the whole dynamic of human interaction.

As we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17, I’m curious if you’ve been on the receiving end of a random act of kindness. And in what ways do you pay it forward? I want to know, so share with me in the comments section.

Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.