Sahara of Heart is Hot - trackable hearts and their stories

My business is solely based on the concept of Pay Love Forward through trackable recycled glass hearts. Each heart is engraved with its own personal number. The idea is to purchase a heart and pay that love forward to someone (give them the heart). The recipient logs in the website and can share a story of the heart and what it means to them.

Then again the heart is passed forward to the next person…and the chain of connection begins. People can literally track and follow their hearts as they travel globally on the site, both visually through maps and the stories shared with each passing.

You can learn more at www.HeartisHot.com

Debi in Houston, TX - child with lifelong illness

Lisa H.- with credit cards, cash, and random receipts and papers

A few years ago, I was getting out of a taxi and I found a wallet on the back seat, stuffed with credit cards, cash, and random receipts and papers. I took it home with me, and tried looking up the name on the driver’s license, but the person was unlisted. I know how desperate I would feel if I lost my wallet, so I called the local police station and they told me that I would have to drop off the wallet myself and that it would go into their lost-and-found log; they do not reach out to residents regarding found wallets. After looking inside, I noticed a boarding pass from a recent flight on Continental Airlines with a OnePass Frequent Flier number on it. I logged onto the Continental Airlines website and typed in the number; the person’s preferred means for contact showed up with an email address. I emailed the woman and she met me at work with a bouquet of flowers. With a little sleuthing, I tracked her down and made her very happy.

Lisa

Janice H, Denver - one of the best days of his life

 I surprised my dance instructor with a “Surprise Appreciation Party”, inviting his students to come celebrate how much we love this special man.  His wife brought him to the party under false pretenses to ensure the element of surprise.  We turned my home into a nightclub with a dance floor, DJ, lights, and lots to eat and drink.  He was definitely surprised and told me it was one of the best days of his life.  He felt so loved………which is exactly how he makes his students feel.
I am planning “Surprise Appreciation Party #2″!  Boy, will he be surprised that I was able to pull it off twice.  It is the last thing he is expecting.  Wait till he sees what I have planned!

By the way, my dance instructor is a US Open Champion several times over and has won over 100 titles.  Personally, he has added to my life in more ways than teaching dance.   He’s the best and I love him!

Diana B, New York - with a swipe of my metro card

Love your site and what you are doing!!!…I am a huge fan of “paying it forward” (or R.A.K—random acts of kindness)

Two things I am doing right now:

I give people a free train ride with a swipe of my metro card…..the favorite moments are when a mother is running thru with her kids, the train is in the station AND her card is out of rides….and

         then I tell her I can swipe my card for her….it’s like she won the lottery!! The faces of relief and gratitude are priceless….

After watching a show on Oprah (fall ‘05) on “paying it forward”…….I decided I had to do it….(when Oprah talks I listen!)…….So first I thought of what I wanted to do…..I wanted to help children that are sick or terminally ill.

                   *I chose Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. *I work at a Hotel in NYC so I decided to donate all my sick pay days from that year. *Then I asked co-workers at the Hotel to join in
                        collecting money, toys,books and pajamas. *Then I asked book companies to donate books for the children. * Then we picked a day (2 days after Christmas) where we would go to the Hospital
                        and hand out the toys–raffle off gifts on each floor–provide a buffet for family members on each floor—and also donate over 6 hours of free massages for all the nurses and hard working staff!!Yeah!
                         This past Dec ‘08 was our 3rd year of our Pay It Forward fundraiser for the children, staff and family members of The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore! And we have many more to come!

Linda - 1000 mitzvahs

Hi Janelle,

A friend of mine just sent me a link for your request of In Line Behind Me Stories. I have recently come public with a project I have been working on for two years called 1000 mitzvahs. It started as a way to honor my father’s memory after he died by doing 1000 acts of kindness (a mitzvah is a Jewish word for that) Anyway, I was told by many people that this was so inspiring and that others would want to do more too if they learned what I was doing.

I think you are discovering that same thing with your In Line Behind Me concept. I love it. I really believe that we are beginning to touch the world with our small actions. The time is so right for the world to be touched by all of these stories of how small actions make a difference.

Anyway, I have to go back through my blog and find a couple of good stories to share on your site and I will do that as soon as I can. In the meantime, I would love to link to you if possible. Feel free to visit my wordpress blog at: www.1000mitzvahs.org.

Congrats on your work.

Linda

Helping the world one mitzvah at a time.
Visit my blog: www.1000mitzvahs.org

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Gandhi

Tonia, Sacramento - gruff gentleman asked if I was having “one of those fancy coffee drinks”

Several weeks ago, I was in line at the local Java City and an older, rather gruff gentleman in line in front of me turned around and asked if I would be ordering “one of those fancy coffee drinks.” I indicated that on that particular day I was craving a cup of tea, but that I did enjoy the fancy coffees occasionally. He handed me a “buy 10 get 1 free” punchcard, already fully punched and said to enjoy my next one on him. I believe the barista said his name was Walt (which was also my Grandpa’s name) - he was clearly a regular. You know, I hung onto that card for a couple of weeks just because it made me feel good to know that people still do that kind of thing for one another. That one gesture has brightened several days beyond the one I got the fancy coffee on. So thanks, Walt!!!

B. Lynn Goodwin, California - I was honored that she loved the book

The evening’s guest speaker sat next to me at an Alzheimer’s support group. She asked to look at my book, which is called You Want Me to Do What? Journaling for Caregivers. I showed it to her and she said she had to have it to use with her groups, but she didn’t have any money. She asked if she could send it to me, so I gave her the book and put my PO box number on the back of a business card.

I have no problem with the fact that I did not receive her check. I still might some day, but that is not the point. I was honored that she loved the book and wanted to share it with the caregivers she works with. Wherever she is, I hope this woman, who ministers to caregivers, is spreading the word that journaling helps.

Cass F., Doylestown, PA - found out it would not work

Just yesterday a gentleman in Downingtown, PA, WaWa purchased a coffee for me. I was in front of him in line and my car was filling with gas using the WaWa card and I found out it would not work while it was still being used. The clerk suspended the purchase. Meanwhile, the kind gentleman paid $1.33 for me as an apology for almost running me over earlier in the store.

NK, Iowa - On a snowy day

On a snowy day, a guy in an HVAC van rear-ended me, putting a little bump in my fender. Well, I normally drive a sports car, but because of the weather, I was driving our old Nissan. He got out and apologized and gave me his name and number. I said, no big deal. I could have gotten some money from insurance but decided it would be better to assume that he would pay it forward.