It's been a beautiful, inspiring week, watching the lists of those whose kos-lives would be improved by lifetime subscriptions, watching those names crossed off and added to a subbed list. Hearty thanks to all the givers, including those who are maintaining those diaries.
The expressions of gratitude, sometimes as a single comment and sometimes as whole diaries, have ranged from glee to tears. Receivers have noted their increased load speed, the clean look of no ads, even the comment that Daily Kos saved my life, from MinistryofTruth.
Truly, some people are on the list because their current financial circumstances could not bear the cost. Others have noted that they could afford their own subs, but choosing that would mean choosing NOT to give to Toys for Tots, local shelters, or other causes we hold dear. Really it doesn't matter to me why, I'm just glad we as a community are willing to step up and help those who need help.
I was able to provide a gift for a friend. When he emailed me to thank me, he noted how he plans to pay it forward. Another receiver commented that he is a student and hopes to pay it forward once he graduates and gets a job.
So how to pay it forward? First, it doesn't take money. It takes thought and notice. It takes doing your "good deed for the day." We all know ways to help, whether it's volunteering within an organization or helping a neighbor. You can do these things in your physical community.
In this virtual community, if you have been a lurker, step up and comment more often, engage more often, choose a topic you hold dear and write a diary.
If you are gifted with a lifetime subscription and your fortunes improve next year, buy an annual sub for someone who could use the help. We all know 12 months can make a huge difference in anyone's life.
Thanks to all involved with this process, as givers, receivers, diarists, list-keepers, list-adders... We do this together. We pay it forward together. We work together to make our virtual community, our world community, a better place.