KBR People Paying it Forward
People Paying it Forward
What does it mean to pay it forward?
What does it mean to pay it forward?
Though the expression — “paying it forward” — is relatively new, the concept is far older and was even the subject of ancient Greek plays.
The idea is that the recipient of a good deed or act of kindness, rather than simply accepting or repaying that deed, chooses to do something kind for someone else and keeps the goodwill moving.
Ralph Waldo Emerson put forth his own version of the concept in his 1841 essay, “Compensation.”
“In the order of nature we cannot render benefits to those from whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, cent for cent, to somebody.”
But it was Lily Hardy Hammond in her 1914 novel “In the Garden of Delight” who coined the phrase as we know it: “You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.”
At KBR, connection through our team-of-teams culture and our focus on integrity are engrained in our values. Paying it forward is inherent to who we are. You can see it in our people’s active community engagement, both through our employee resource groups and through their own personal outreach, as well as numerous fundraising and charitable events KBR people host throughout the year.
We recently asked KBR employees to join a conversation on Yammer to share their thoughts on paying it forward and about how they pay it forward in other people’s lives.
Here are a few of the examples of inspiring personal reflections and stories that were shared. The common theme in paying it forward is that, often, it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.
POSTS
“I recently paid it forward in my local supermarket when I overheard a lady in front of me explain to the cashier that she could not afford her food if it went over £40. In that moment I realized the privilege that I have. I offered to pay for her food, wanting nothing back in return, so she didn’t have to worry about choosing food over another necessity.” – Sophie Ashmore
“Donating to animal shelters, as animal rescue is close to my heart. Also donating to women’s shelters to help women in need.” – Christina Creedy
“In Judaism, paying it forward is the standard, known as “mitzvah” — one “good deed” brings another good deed, no matter how small. It’s an act of kindness without expecting anything in return. I try to remember this every day, especially at work! If I can help my colleague get something accomplished, particularly if they are overwhelmed, I am happy to jump in and help.” – Rachel Lytle
“My family likes to pay it forward by donating food, clothing and toys to local shelters. The smallest donation of these items that many take for granted can change someone's life and bring a smile to so many faces. We especially make sure to do so during the holiday season when so many people need a reminder that they do have someone who cares about them.” – Karina Venegas
“Paying it forward comes in a variety of forms. I think we have all heard the Starbucks pay it forward stories of paying for the person behind you, and in turn, they pay for the next order, and so on. My favorite way to pay it forward is to share knowledge and skills, not just within the workplace, but with those who are eager and willing to learn. After years (all the way to college) of being a softball pitcher, I ended up giving pitching lessons to younger players and it truly felt like a calling and something I had to do. Being a coach while also being able to demonstrate sportsmanship and a positive competitive edge makes paying it forward so worth it as a new generation takes on the field.” – Holly Bailey
“Pay it forward has been part of my life for the majority of my adult life. I have seen the power of it in action, and some may call it the domino effect. It really blows your mind when you begin paying attention to it. Sometimes it's just your words that trigger this effect, not necessarily your actions. I've seen the word “hello” trigger smiles and those good feelies we get in our bellies. Just watch a bank teller, airline ticket agent, your cashier at the grocery store; when they say “hello” the person's mood changes. When it's your actions that trigger the event, those belly feelies are thousand times stronger!”
– Rania Linderman
“Paying it forward to me has always been about putting positive energy into the world. We are amazing, special people with the ability to lift someone’s spirits with our positive energy. I try to live my life by that motto. I always see signs that say, “Be kind,” which I agree with. But feel they are vague. Being positive is a little more direct. When the chips are down and the world looks grey it’s not the easiest of mottos to follow, but I promise it’s worth every effort. My life has changed drastically by my choice to be positive. I like to believe that positive energy is caught by people. And as they engulf themselves in it, they spread it.” – Tania Okab Stivers
“We donate to local adoption agencies. Every year during Christmas, I ask my kids to choose the cards from a giving tree. They enjoy shopping for these items as if these gifts were for themselves. They love the excitement but also know that the recipients will be blessed.” – Hugo Guel
“One of the ways others have paid it forward for me is through mentorship. It's been incredibly helpful to connect with other women who are a few steps ahead of me in their careers. I always appreciate their insights, encouragement and just time spent with me more than they know!” – Caitlin Gardner
“When I was in elementary school, I remember having to stay in the classroom with a couple other kids while the rest of the class went on an exciting, out-of-town field trip that had a fairly hefty price tag our families couldn't afford. One of my friend's parents found out about it, and the next time there was a school or church field trip, they chipped in to make sure we were able to go. Her parents' generosity stuck with me, and when I was older, another friend was a principal at a low-income elementary school. She said that the school received mostly free and reduced lunch and had school supplies, jackets, shoes, and other essentials donated on a regular basis. She said the thing they struggled with was funding to allow the kids to take field trips to local museums and attractions and to do fun activities, so several of us started a donation fund to pay for these trips. Now that I have kids of my own, I ask their teachers if the classroom needs extra money to cover field trip fees for students. I sometimes just send in an extra $10 or $20 in an envelope with a note asking them to use it for this purpose. It's not much at all in the grand scheme of things, but my friend's parents made a lasting impression on me with their thoughtfulness and generosity, and this is a small way to pay their kindness forward.” – Danielle Moran
