In a world often driven by self-interest where everyone only cares about themselves, only a few cares about others' welfare and want to see them smiling all the time. The simple act of paying it forward can spark a chain of kindness that transforms lives. One of the beauties of life lies in the act of doing good to others, one where when you benefit from something, you extend such reciprocity to another, not necessarily the same person who extended a generous hand to you.
Recently, I felt an overwhelming excitement and a deep sense of fulfilment as I decided to return the kindness I had received by helping someone in advance, an act known as paying it forward. Though it hasn't been materialised yet, my decision comes from the deepest part of my heart.
I moved into this apartment in January this year and for the first 3 months, I was surprised as to why they hadn't asked for the rent. I also had gone to meet the pastor who brought me in several times reminding him of my rent which most times, I would stylishly tell him I almost spent it because I did not want to squander the money on something else thereby putting me under unnecessary pressure when it's time to pay. The pastor would smile and advise me to keep it safe and continue living and enjoying myself — sincerely, this pastor and his family have been wonderful and loving people since I moved in.
For me not to spend the money, I pushed it into my savings app where I was receiving daily interest. It was later I got to find out that the previous tenant didn't use up his rent before he relocated and the rent was supposed to be due in June. And when the month of June came, I was told to pay my rent which I paid for a year as intended right from the beginning. With the previous tenant's permission and generosity, I lived freely for 6 months without paying and I saw this as a grace to me and also from a pure soul who didn't bother to collect the rent for the remaining months.
As a norm, in most parts of my country here, once a tenant doesn't use his rent before he relocates to another, he would ask for a refund from the house owner or fix someone to occupy while he collects his refund upon the house owner's agreement. But I enjoyed 6 months rent free and I considered it a big favour to me. Initially, I am supposed to pay for the remaining 6 months I would be using because I plan to move out after the completion of my National Youth Service Corps which would be ending by October.
One thing about me is that I don't like putting myself under pressure whatsoever because I am hoping for a job immediately after my service ends. I plan to move out by December but sometimes, what we might expect may not happen immediately as we envisaged, so, I decided to pay the complete one year rent so no one would be putting pressure on me to leave since my rent is due. I just want to leave at my convenience.
I met with the pastor to discuss the new development because he had expected that I only pay for the remaining 6 months, but after listening to my plans and circumstances surrounding it, he agreed with me upon understanding that I decided to pay for a year for the reason that no pressure should be put on me at the end of the day. He thought I would be requesting for a refund if peradventure I left before my rent was due by next year June/July but I told him since I have enjoyed someone else's rent for 6 months, why not I pay it forward too? Someone else who would occupy this apartment should enjoy what I benefited from, right? That's something I had intended to do and also a way to show kindness to someone else for what has been done to me.
The world would be a better place if everyone agreed in unity and decided to reciprocate the good deeds done to them, not necessarily to the same fellow who renders such favour but to someone else and the cycle continues that way. There is a need to show kindness to every person because we all need it. We all need to see other people's happiness through our "paying it forward" action and knowing that our lives will surely be fulfilled when we do so.
I am so happy to do this and will forever keep exercising this act of kindness wherever I may be because the truth is, it pays to extend one's generosity to the next neighbour.
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