It’s always nice to come across stories online that make you feel better instead of worse. Sometimes good news is hard to find, but there are other organizations like ours that aim to make you smile.

Life Vest Inside is one of those. It’s a non-profit that’s “on a mission to inspire, empower and educate people of all backgrounds to lead a life of kindness!” They focus on “empowerment and helping people see just how awesome they truly are.” And just like us, they believe that inspirational media helps people connect to good news that helps restore their faith in humanity.

The power of kindness

No doubt you’ve heard the phrase “pay it forward.” Well, Life Vest decided to make a video illustrating just what that would look like if all those good deeds happened one after another. And since the video was uploaded in August of 2011, it’s been viewed a whopping 37 million+ times!

Many commenters mentioned that they watched it in school – and the lesson seems to have stuck with them because it sounds like they mentioned it to others. As one viewer put it:

“Everyone in the comments either
-searched for this
-their teacher showed it in elementry
-was recommended this video after watching other kindness videos
-likes the song
-is obsessed with the video”

Help those who fall

It all begins with the group of kids skateboarding down a sidewalk when a boy falls behind and then takes a spill onto the pavement. After he looks up in defeat, a construction worker nearby decides to help him up and dust him off.

This sets into motion a slew of good deeds as each person who is helped goes on to help another.

Pay it forward

At first, the boy can’t believe someone would help him like that and looks at the man in surprise, but then it clicks – helping people makes you feel good. So when he encounters an older woman struggling to carry her groceries, he decides to lend a hand.

She’s thankful for the assistance, of course. But even more importantly, that simple act of kindness gives her the desire to reach out and help someone.

Kindness begets kindness

When the older woman sees a younger woman struggling to find change for the parking meter, she instinctively knows what she wants to do. So she pays forward the kindness shown to her by simply handing over some chance so the woman can stop struggling.

And just like the people before, the woman in need is caught off guard by the random act. In fact, she seems a little confused – until once again, it clicks.

So when she sees a man walking out of a fancy store drop some paperwork, she picks it up and taps him on the shoulder to give it back.

He too is surprised – not only because we so rarely interact on the street but because someone took the time to do something nice for him.

And he too goes on to do a favor for a fellow human.

It all comes full circle

And it goes on and on until the good deed comes full circle. A waitress who received an act of kindness sees the original construction worker laboring in the heat and decides to fill up a water glass for him so he can have a refreshing break.

What’s interesting is that as the giver of kindness in the past, he seems even more open to receiving the kind gesture. And that gives the video a few different meanings that only reveal themselves when you watch and think about it as a whole.

So be sure to scroll down below to see the “kindness boomerang” in action for yourself.

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Source: YouTube – Life Vest Inside, Thrive Global