The Kindness of Strangers -- Let's Pay It Forward

I love to give presents.  When I'm in a dark place in my mind or need cheering up, sending cards or mailing out presents immediately makes me happy.  I often forget birthdays -- the "Happy Belated Birthday" cards were made just for me -- but I've always thought gifts given just for the heck of it and sent at unexpected times were more fun.  Everyone expects a birthday present, but not everyone expects a January the 22nd present.


Over the past couple of months, I've received a number of lovely gifts in the mail -- cards, beads, what-not.  I haven't blogged about them because to me, it would smack of bragging.  I've already had a few comments about the beads I get for Cup of Bead Soup (yes, I do pay, they're not free) so I didn't want to throw fuel on the fire by crowing over gifts I don't think I deserve anyway.


But today I got an idea, and I want to share it with you.


It started when I commented on Facebook that I loved this necklace made by Birgitta Lejonklous.  

Isn't it lovely? Anyway, I made the comment in her photo album, favorited it in Etsy, and went on my way.


Then one day, I get a package in the mail, which in and of itself isn't that strange of an occurrence, but THIS particular package came from Sweden.  My son loved all the colorful stamps on it.  I couldn't remember ordering anything from Sweden, so was mystified.  When I opened it, the heart necklace was inside, with a note from Birgitta that someone had purchased it for me as a surprise.


Holy smoke.


Not only that, Birgitta had added to the present by gifting me with some of her own handmade ceramic pendants and a couple of strands of beads.

Double holy smoke.

There are two reasons for my sharing this with you.


I've tried to figure out who sent me the necklace by querying on Facebook, but alas, I have no idea and so can't thank them properly.  So Reason #1 -- if you're reading, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.  I'm touched and amazed and ... well, wow.  Thank you.


Reason #2.  I'm going to Pay It Forward.

I appreciate my readers so very, very much.  You have no idea how amazing it feels to know that what I write is actually read.  The comments and personal emails I get are like friendly conversations on the phone or chats across the table with coffee (and pie).  Even the not-so-nice comments and emails have been welcome, because I learn something from them, believe it or not.

So here's what you do.  Until the end of the day tomorrow (that is, whenever I head to bed tomorrow, February 12th), leave a comment with your email address.  I'll contact you for your mailing address, and sometime in the next few weeks, you'll receive something from me.  It may be a card.  It may be beads.  It may be something else.  There's no telling.  

But here's the catch. You MUST Pay It Forward as well.

Next time you're in line at Starbucks, pay for the person behind you.  When you're at the post office, turn around and tell the person next to you how wonderful they look today.  Send a beautiful card to a friend you email all the time but haven't snail-mailed in forever.

Paying It Forward can turn a lousy day into a brilliant day.  It doesn't have to be huge (but it can be).  It can be anonymous ... those can be tons of fun.  My goal today is to have each person who reads this do one PIF this week -- and get ready for a treat.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off.  She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.