"Broke a world record by taking part in "world's longest Pay It Backward coffee line.""
How I did it: I found out about the event on Facebook.
http://www.dailychallenge.org/events/payitbackward/
Everyone set out to do a little act of kindness and gain good karma by buying a coffee for the person behind them in line. And all the profits from the coffee went to the sick kids hospital! Everyone wins!
The previous world record was 490 people at a Starbucks in Seattle in 2007. I was number 218. The line had seriously slowed down by the time I was done, and I thought they wouldn’t get any more. People were zooming by the coffee shop and didn’t really want to hear what the organizers had to say after their opening line of “buy coffee for the person behind you in line.” I suggested they say “the person in front of you in line buys a coffee.” I hope that helped get some more people. By the end of the day the organizers counted 602 people! It was just an atmosphere of kindness. People in Toronto rarely talk to randoms on the street, but I got to chit chat with people behind me in line. The guy I bought the coffee for was a nice dude. And the part that really struck me, and restored my faith in humanity, was Kevin, the man in front of me who bought me my tea. His pants were a little dirty, but he was fairly clean so I thought nothing of it. He bought my tea, put the change in the donation box for Sick Kids hospital. Then at the counter with sugar and milk, he passed me a lid for my cup.After the thank yous, I walked a little down Queen St. and saw him sitting in front of an abandoned store, begging for money. Kevin is homeless. He has nothing but still found the time and will in his heart to do something kind for me. What a great guy. My own misfortune came just yesterday (I was laid off from my job). But it was no excuse not to help, so I returned his gesture and gave him some money in his collection cup. If it wasn’t so cold outside today and I didn’t have to photocopy resume, I would’ve stayed for a chat. His gesture warmed my heart. It showed me that even people who have nothing and are facing tough times can still have goodness in their own hearts.I will never forget his striking blue eyes, grey hair, covered by his loose hoodie and his wondering-whether-it’s-ok-to-smile face.
Lessons & tips: Try for a "most people doing X" record. Events where people get together to do something are easier to organize than learning a weird skill like juggling the longest or having the most piercings.
Resources: Facebook.
Keep your ear to the ground about any events, or organize one yourself!
Apr 04, 09:33PM PDT
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