Paying It Forward — Surprising, Rewarding + It Makes You Feel Good

I've always heard about 'pay it forward,' but I have never experienced it. That is, until this week! It happened while at lunch with a co-worker while we were at Salsarita's on Troup Highway in Tyler.

While making the decision on what I wanted to have for lunch, I noticed a couple of ladies behind the prep guys and the cashier who were wearing different shirts than the rest of the staff.

What made them stand out was the text, their shirts simply said "#CUDOGOOD." I asked Chase, my co-worker, what that could mean because he is big into social media, and he didn't know either.

We went about our business, ordered our food and carried on our conversation. He was before me in line and when we got to the register he paid and went on. When I went to pay the cashier, that's when I unknowingly experienced my first pay it forward!

I went to pay the cashier for my lunch and while I was handing her my money, she said it was taken care of and handed me my receipt along with a round sticker (I thought it was someone's business card at first). I replied, "Taken care of?" She said yes, by these two ladies and pointed to them off to her right.

I looked at them, thanked them and not realizing what really was happening until I got to the drink station and read the sticker I had received. I was moving pretty quickly because Salsarita's was busy and it was lunch time! The sticker said "#CUDOGOOD Accept the challenge to pay it forward" along with a web address. Had I realized this when I received it, I would have kept the trend going and paid for the person behind me. So I felt a little guilty that I messed up the chain.

I went back to these ladies to find out where they were from and to thank them again. I spoke to Suzette and she and Hayley were from Cooperative Teachers Credit Union. Suzette told me they were out buying random lunches for people. I did not mention to her who I was or where I was from and thanked her again for her and her company's generosity.

In the spirit of generosity and giving to someone unknowingly I have and will continue to be a part of the pay it forward challenge anonymously!