Celebrating National Pay it Forward Day

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DoubleTree by Hilton. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a family we are big into paying it forward.

I remember learning early in life that even small kind acts can really impact someone’s day. A teacher I had in high school told us a story about someone who was having a really bad day and was feeling very sad… and then a stranger held the door for her and wished her a better day and she said that it changed their life right there in the moment. It wasn’t something expensive or that took tons of time to create, it was a random little act of kindness that had a huge impact. Now these little acts of kindness have completely changed how we view strangers. After me telling my daughters this same story, we now look for ways to help others. We add money to expired parking meters. We buy police officers their coffees and we definitely hold doors open for everyone we can. We hope that our little acts of kindness have a big impact… and that the recipient will pass it forward! We don’t just do random acts of kindness at home, we do it wherever we are and it is especially fun to do it in places that we haven’t been before in new ways.

DoubleTree by Hilton feels the same way and has started a Nice Travels movement.

They are driving random acts of kindness to prove that “niceness” is contagious. I love this because kindness really does spread! Doing something kind and leaving a positive impression has a ripple effect – it doesn’t just produce a smile, but the desire to make someone else smile too.  DoubleTree by Hilton is known for their warmth and comfort, and they know that the best way to have a positive travel experience is to put out what you want to get back, because Nice Travels.

I think Nice Travels is going to be my new motto!

To show and celebrate that “niceness” does travel, Doubletree by Hilton will identify, share and reward niceness through innovative, real-time social listening; a new interactive #NiceTravels online photo mosaic; and online and on-the-ground giveaways – starting 4/28 in New York City with 20,000 free cookies. 

Cookies will be handed out in pairs of two – encouraging passersby to keep one and share one with someone else as an act of kindness. How fun will it be to have a cookie and give a cookie. Plus, have you had those cookies? We LOVE them! Those are actually my hands holding some of those famous cookies before my family ate them all! Don’t worry, I was able to have one too!

Here is how you can get in on the fun: Snap a picture capturing the everyday kindness that you encounter and share it across Instagram and Twitter using #NiceTravels and #ContestEntry or directly at NiceTravels.com, for the chance to win prizes like a free one-night stay or a tin of cookies! All of the photos shared come together online at NiceTravels.com to form an interactive mosaic in the form of a cookie, because niceness starts with a warm chocolate chip cookie at DoubleTree by Hilton. Then you can search within the mosaic to find your own #NiceTravels photos and catch a glimpse of the acts of kindness that they may have inspired. The awesome contest is open through May 25, 2016. 

How do you encourage paying it forward in your life and with your family?