We Accidently Started a 7-hour Pay-It-Forward Chain

When I asked you to take on random acts of kindness and/or bake focaccia art in June, I had no idea it would leave me sobbing at my desk at 11pm, reading through your stories. I was touched by every single message you sent — all 96 pages of them.

And when I tell you I wish I could share them all, well… maybe someday I will.

But for now, it’s your monthly sample platter of the joy you found and the badges you earned, including a 7-hour pay-it-forward chain that I still can’t believe really happened.

So keep the stories coming! I love them so much.

Now let’s dive in, shall we?

For our members who took on the Edible Canvas Badge, the challenge was to turn a loaf of home-baked focaccia into a work of art. But the goal was really to turn you all into playful beginners with permission to get brave and weird.

And get weird you did!

Nina almost let perfectionism talk her out of this one. She did it anyway — focaccia in the oven, her girlfriend cooking beside her — and used the moment to celebrate Pride as a member of the LGBTQ+ family, too.

“I wanted it to be perfect and had to let that go... My best is always enough.”

Danica got dough that flat-out refused to rise and a design she calls “abominable.”

“It was a disaster, but in a good way? ... perfect perfect isn’t always the goal. Oh and I burned it 😬”

Shoshauna picked this challenge knowing full well that eating isn’t simple for her — between medication side-effects and ARFID, it’s something she works at every day.

“I did it though. Maybe not as extravagant as I planned, but I made edible art and ate it!”

Small badge. Enormous win.

Erin has wanted to make focaccia for years and never worked up the nerve. This month she just went for it. Twice!

“I LOVE FOCACCIA. My first try ended up a bit dense... so I tried again, and it got a bit better!”

Not a flawless debut. A start. Turns out that was the whole point.

For members who took on Ripple Effect in June, the goal was random acts of kindness. And, well… these stories speak for themselves.

Jessica has spent the last few years carrying a loss most of us can only imagine — and she’s chosen to meet it by giving more, not less. In June, she took her niece to her first concert. She sent cards to grieving coworkers. She chased a hawk away from ducklings, just because she couldn’t help herself.

“I used to think grief would make me smaller. Instead, it’s made me softer... even the smallest acts of kindness can create a ripple effect far beyond what we can see.”

Lindsay paid the cheer fees for her sorority sister’s daughter. A small, private thing. Then a handwritten thank-you note arrived. She said:

“You would have thought I gave her the moon... Brought me so much joy.”

Sarah stopped using self-checkout for a whole month. Instead, every time she shopped, she asked the person ringing her up the same question — “Do you have a favorite animal?”

“Every single person lit up. Every. Single. One.”

Cally from Australia is a CFO, and June is her busiest month of the year. She wasn’t sure she’d manage the challenge at all — then a friend mentioned seventeen little jars from her floristry business that nobody wanted.

“That turned into 17 arrangements being dropped off to my grandmother’s nursing home, onto their dining tables.”

Busiest month of her year, and she still found a way to brighten so many lives.

And there were so many more ripples, all month long. More than I could ever cover here, but every one as meaningful in magnitude.

One of my favorites?

Allison went to Starbucks at 8am and paid for her own coffee, plus the car behind her in line. When she went back at 3pm to get a drink for her daughter, she learned the car in front of her had already paid for her.

Seven hours later and the chain was still running!

Simply amazing.

Thank you for showing up in June, and for putting goodness out into the world or on your own table. It’s clear you’ve brightened so many lives.

But we’re not done yet!

Just as these challenges come to a close, another month opens…

Joy Finders in July is all about caring for your body and celebrating your bestie. Our Vag Badge and Other Half challenges are running now and it’s not too late to join us.

To earn your first badge, sign up here:

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