In a pay-it-forward kind of way, this organization, Time Banks, is tracking people’s volunteer activities and translating them, time dollar for time dollar, into even more community service.

Under the motto, strengthening communities through reciprocity, this group states that for every hour you spend doing something for someone in your community, you earn one Time Dollar. Then you have a Time Dollar to spend on having someone do something for you.

You know when you are not in even exchange with someone. They ask you to do something, which you willingly do, not so much in the hopes of getting back, but in the hopes of doing something good for someone else. At some point, however, you get ‘giver’s burnout’ if you aren’t on the receiving end.

I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than in sustaining the community in which I live. You can do something great for yours today by supporting a local business. Shop at that corner gift card store instead of the mega-one at the mall. Ask your local repairman to service your car, not the chain store downtown.

 Show a little solidarity today. Pay it forward with kindness and a smile. It will be the best time you’ve spent all year.