Monkey See, Monkey Do. We hear this many times growing up. That’s how we form habits and the everyday actions we do, right? Through learning; watching; listening. That’s why the apple does not tend to fall far from the tree. We are around our parents and family most when growing up so we tend to act as they do and form similar opinions that they have.

I see this as a domino effect when one person does something or says something, others tend to follow. It also helps boost confidence. It’s easier to say or act in a way that others are doing, hence the popularity of peer pressure. However, the domino effect can be used in more ways.

For example, passing on the good. If someone pays for your coffee, you could feel the urge to do the same for someone else, creating a domino effect of good actions.

I recently attended mass a couple weekends ago and the message given was “to pass on the good.” An anonymous donation of thousands of dollars was donated to this specific church, however, the donator wished for it not to be given directly to the parish fees.

Instead, the “ghost” wished for it to be put into cash amounts of $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills, placed in envelopes, and given to everyone in attendance at two of the mass times. They wished for it to not be put back into the donations basket, nor for it to be used on something personal or set into your own account, but to be used for good.

Whether it be taking it to a charity, using it to give a meal to someone who is homeless, or something small like buying someone else’s order behind you.

After you have passed on your “good” they asked for stories to be sent back about how you did so. The domino effect stretched further than they thought it would as people from Nashville, Dallas, Los Angeles, Kansas City and a few other cities had all been a part of this motion.

It opened my eyes to realizing that I may not realize who my actions are all effecting, but it truly is happening and I am influencing a domino effect every day. I don’t know about those of you reading this but that blows my mind and only motivates me to be the best I can be. There are always eyes watching and actions always influenced by other actions.