“Giving back” or “paying it forward” – is there a difference?
I have heard both terms. Here is how I define them.
Giving back means you have personally benefitted. For example, a nonprofit organization has helped you in some way and later you are able to help them with a monetary donation, volunteering your time, or donating items that are needed.
Paying it forward means you find a need and choose to help. For example, in a drive-up line, you pay for the order of the person behind you. Or you may not have been personally affected by something a nonprofit is doing (e.g. helping the homeless), but you believe in their mission and choose to help them.
I don’t think it really matters what the act of giving is called, because to me the final result is basically the same: helping someone else which is showing kindness which is giving value to another person.
How do you define “giving back” and “paying it forward”?