Pay It Forward on the Road

Traveling presents so many opportunities for learning....especially with children. While they in a completely new environment, learning new cultures and geography, they are also presented with the chance to expand their horizons.

This summer, while on our Bigger Than Texas Road Trip, I want my children to learn about the areas they are visiting. That's easy. But I also want them to grow within, making an impact and leaving a positive impression where ever they go. Hmm, that may take a bit more work.

So before we left on our trip, I sat down with my older two (12 & 10) and discussed the concept of "paying it forward" on our upcoming trip. We have served in our community through scouts, church, and even spent a whole day over the Christmas break "spreading joy" with only $10 (we impacted over 43 people that day!).

It is easy and rewarding to give back in your own community, where you are comfortable with your own surroundings. But serving other while on vacation? That was a new concept for my kids. And that is why discussing it ahead of time and brain-storming ideas helped them realize that it really doesn't take a lot of effort to make a difference in someone's life.

My favorite idea that we came up with is to simply "be happy". The impact of a smile and pleasant conversation to a stranger is immeasurable. It's the core principle behind paying it forward. Think about how you feel when someone flashes you a genuine smile - makes you want to smile back, doesn't it?

So here are a few ideas my children came up with of how we are going to make a difference while on the road this summer:

Ideas to Pay It Forward - Road Tripping Style

Offer to take photos for other people
Hold the door open for someone
Pick up trash when you see it
Pay a compliment to someone
Write a great review on Yelp! of a restaurant or attraction we really enjoyed
Leave a really BIG tip in a really SMALL town diner
Let someone cut in line in front of you at Disneyland
Give up your parking space to someone else
Stop and offer to help someone with car trouble
Give someone else your ride tickets/ fastpasses
Pay for someone else’s parking, entry fee, toll, coffee, etc.
Try to eat and shop at locally-owned businesses
Write a handwritten thank you card to someone at a place you visited
Leave your book you finished in a coffee shop with a note to "read it forward"
If there’s an accident or potential hazard on the road, report it
If you arrive at an intersection at the same time as someone else, let them go first
Wave a Thank You to someone who does something nice for you
Return a stray shopping cart to the parking lot spot

If you have a few hours and the time to plan

Donate food or clothing to a local shelter
Volunteer at a shelter
Plant a tree
Donate pet food or towels to a local animal shelter
Go to Serve.gov to find serving opportunities in the areas you will be in

I have these grandiose visions of the ripple effect of us paying it forward - how each little kind deed will inspire the recipient to do something good for someone else and so on and so on. But I need to be realistic. Honestly, if we impact just one person and that makes a small difference in the day they are having, awesome. I think it is just as important to teach my children to be kind and giving, no matter where they are.

I am excited to be working with State Farm Insurance this summer while on our road trip. It's their theme of "Like a Good Neighbor" that went hand-in-hand with teaching my children to be a "good neighbor", even on vacation. For them, being a good neighbor is about good customer service. But it is so much more than than - it's a philosophy we all can learn from.

I hope you are inspired to be more of a good neighbor at home and when you are traveling - take some of these ideas with you the next time you go on vacation and see the impact paying it forward can make.

I am working with State Farm Insurance this summer in a series of sponsored posts. All opinions are strictly my own and not endorsed.