December 18, 2007This Week in the World: People “Paid It Forward” at Starbucks
Did you read about the chain of people tho paid for the coffee for the cars behind them last week? It started with a Tai Chi master who wanted to “change the consciousness” of the hostile customer behind him. Apparently, it worked so well, the good will was passed on all day.
The man who started it said, “I wanted to take something negative and turn it into something positive.”
That’s actually the point of SpeakStrong. Of course there are times to set boundaries and say - “This doesn’t work for me,” but even that is best done with a sense of kindness. It’s a verbal “Pay it forward” philosophy.
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Meryl,
Thank you for highlighting the “Pay it Forward” incident at Starbucks. However, I was wondering if there were 2 separate incidents: one happened 5 miles from my home in Greensburg, PA, and it was a woman who started the almost 100 car ‘kindness chain’. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the customer has done this kindness in the past as well.
Just want to give credit where credit is due!
Thanks.
Comment by V Beck — December 19, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Apparently it’s not all that uncommon. Some people suggested it was a PR move by Starbucks - I’m sure they made sure the press heard about it!
Comment by merylrunion — December 19, 2007 @ 9:38 pm