Paying it Forward at a Starbucks Stand
I made a stop at the QFC grocery store in Redmond Ridge Saturday night. I was on my way home from teaching a “Wealthy, Worthy and Wise” workshop and I needed a few groceries. It had been a long day with an early start, and besides the groceries, I was also in the market for a shot of caffeine.
Starbucks mocha
I stopped by the in-store Starbucks stand and ordered a mocha from the friendly young male barista. After writing on the cup and ringing my drink into the register, he started telling me a story before allowing me to pay for my drink.
“This morning, our store’s assistant manager decided to pay for his drink and also the drink of the person following him,” he explained. “The next person did the same, and people have continued it all day long, paying for the next person’s drink.”
Sure to let me know that there was no obligation, he added, “So your drink has already been paid for. If you’d like to contribute to the next person’s drink, you can.”
My first reaction was surprise at hearing the words, “Your drink has already been paid for.” It felt like I had won a little scratch card prize or something. My money was already out of my purse, and it seemed natural to “pay it forward” and contribute to the next.
The barista paid the cash register out of money collected in a brown paper bag, then put my money into that same bag. Then he looked particularly pleased, and announced to me, “You’re the 100th person to ‘pay it forward’ today!”
I loved that he was keeping track. I loved that he recognized that something out of the ordinary, no matter how small, was happening. I loved being part of it.
I took my mocha and started pushing my cart around the store, collecting the items I needed. The mocha tasted sweeter than usual – but it had nothing to do with the sugar content. I had a feeling of gratitude for the person, the unknown “mystery person” who had bought this mocha for me. I sent a silent blessing out to the next person who would arrive to find their drink “already paid for.”
Only two hours before, I had explained to my workshop participants about “The G.R.A.T.I.T.U.D.E. Formula.” The “G” and the “R” stand for “Giving and Receiving.” We had talked about the flow of giving and receiving. How both are valuable, and how you cannot have one without the other.
And then it hit me:
I had not “bought” a mocha at all. I had purchased nothing. I had simply received a gift, and given one in return.
Thanksgiving came early this year to the Starbucks stand at the Redmond Ridge QFC. A small generous act had turned into a day-long mini-celebration of giving and receiving.
And for that, I am grateful.
Kate,
What a wonderful story, and such perfect timing. I am sure all 100+ people will carry their gratitude with them for a lot longer than the coffee lasted. 🙂
“Be the Change”
Best wishes,
Lesley
Hi Lesley! You are welcome. And thank YOU for that YUMMY essential oils blend! You are a gifted alchemist.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kate
Kate,
This is just beautiful!! What a wonderful Gift from the Universe for you to witness and enjoy. I’m thinking of starting the same thing today! Every day is Thanksgiving for me!
Love,
Karen
Yes, everyday is Thanksgiving, for any of us who choose it! Maybe I’ll write a post about that…
A friend informed me that a lot of Starbucks do this around Thanksgiving. The “record” that she knows of is over 2500 “pay it forwards”!
I am grateful for you.
Love,
Kate
What a wonderful story about the power of giving and receiving. The amazing thing about this is that each person was faced with the same choice. To accept the gift and let it end with them or to pay it forward and all 100 chose to pay it forward and give the next person the opportunity to experience the same feeling of gratitude they were feeling in that moment of decision. What a miraculous gift!
Love, Mary Joy
Thanks Mary Joy. I felt the same way. (And I wonder how far it went beyond me, or if it ended at closing that night.)
We are constantly faced with little decisions like that, and we do not see how far they can reach, how many can be be affected by our actions. The third person of the day could have decided not to pay it forward, and 97 other people would not have experienced it!
Kate
Kate, I hopped over here from Biznik. What a treat to read this story!
Lynn
Thanks Lynn!
Kate:
I’d heard about this “event” — how great to read about it from a “source”. AND, I loved your conclusion… about receiving and giving.
And, btw, thanks for reading my article and giving me your comments! I look forward to meeting you around Biznik…
Dave
Thanks the comments Dave. (Where’s YOUR website? Didn’t see one linked here or at Biznik.)
What you do sounds fun; a great synergetic combination. I look forward to meeting you at an event!
I love stories like this. I actually do this every Christmas – I go through a Starbucks drive up or some other coffee place drive up and pay for my drink and then tell the cashier that I want to pay for the person behind me. I just tell the cashier to tell the person that I said “Merry Christmas”.