Passing it on or paying it forward

Passing it on or paying it forward.

Crazy ideas sometimes grow legs and run far beyond our expectations if the universe wishes to support it.  Passing it on takes courage, perseverance, persistence, time and toil.  It is an act of leaping faith into the area angels fear to tread.  Fiscal reward may not occurr though the opportunity to expand oneself and witness people transform is the  treasure of passing it on.

I am here today thanks to the kindness of those that offered shelter, educated and cared for my ancestors.  Kingsley Fairbridge was a Philanthropist who paid it forward for children, like my Nana who was in a Children’s home in London. He created a farm school with cottages in  Pinjarra, Western Australia to enable under privileged children to have opportunities in a new country.  They travelled by boat in their Cub and Brownie uniforms arriving in Fremantle.  House parents cared for the children though some abused this privilege.  My Nana was fortunate, during the depression she won a scholarship to finish high school and moved to Perth to work as a domestic so she could fund her studies in teaching.

Nana passed on skills to the children she taught and her grandchildren in cooking and sewing  enabling us to be self resilient.  Dad would build a vegetable patch in every house we lived in; that sustained us with fresh produce.  Mum was like a NASA scientist working fervently on projects: her children with the patience to know that she was laying foundations in values that would live on.

Experiencing a day in someone else’s life brings us perspective and appreciation for the paths others tread.  Recently I participated in the Community Wheelchair challenge for Wheelchair Sports W.A. Association Inc whereby I was wheelchair bound for 24 hours to  fundraise and raise awareness of wheelchair bound athletes experiences.  Simple crossing to the park opposite my house was a major mission with limited ramp access and uneven paths.  Crossing the road to get to the local shops was a threat to my life with 4 lanes of traffic to cross.  Please see http://give.everydayhero.com/au/susanjane-morison for further details. Paying it forward by donating to what you are passionate about is a way of confirming your values and living on.

Mortality is the reminder that we are finite and the actions / deeds we take now can pay it forward for the future generations.  Like our pioneers we are laying paths for others to follow or not.  Sometimes despite our intentions our actions don’t happen as we may wish, there is learning in this.  It is better to enter the arena  to be marred by sweat, blood and dust as T. Roosevelt wrote  than to never attempt and sit in waiting on the sideline (see http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsosbonnespeech.html).

There are critics and self doubt to battle with and  there is a  reward  waiting for those with the tenacity to go boldy!