If a Reddit thread can be held as an indicator of mass sentiment, then holiday season acts of kindness are spreading rapidly through the country.

On Monday, a kindness-themed thread began with a post from user marfalight, who received his $2 Starbucks coffee for free after the person ahead of him in the drive-thru picked up the tab.

When the barista said the kind act was the eighth to occur in a row, marfalight decided to extend the favor to the following car. He paid for the $15 order and noticed the positive effects of performing a good deed.

"I just couldn't stop smiling," he wrote, and encouraged others on Reddit to share similar experiences. "Just thinking about a possible 'pandemic' of kindness leaves me breathless."

Below are some of best “pay it forward” stories that came, uh, forward, during the discussion.

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  • Feel-Good Day At Court

    According to a post by TopSoulMan, about three years ago, he showed up in court to fight a speeding ticket -- politely. "I just [said] 'Yes, Your Honor' and 'No, Your Honor' until the cows come home," he wrote. "He tells me there is nothing he can do." But when he went to the counter to pay the fine, <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c76wu1x">the judge had waived the ticket</a>, which he said inspired him to do something nice. "I tipped the next person I saw $20 on a $3 bill."

  • A Holiday Tradition Of Kindness

    User Laeryken explained how his family <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c76wyl6">makes a tradition</a> of paying it forward: <blockquote>My family does stuff like this every year. Sometimes it's meals at restaurants for a family, other times it's paying for coffee or movie tickets for the person behind you. It's amazing when it starts a chain reaction like that. Another thing that I highly recommend is going to a 24/hr place for dessert late on Christmas Eve. We usually go to Denny's. Order dessert and drop a really big tip on the server. We usually give a big tip to the busboy, too.</blockquote>

  • Splish Splash

    One day, Databalz showed up to the local car wash and decided to pay more than what was owed: "I paid 30 feeling generous and told the cashier that the next car should get full clean interior with a wax wash." Two weeks later, Databalz went for another wash -- only to learn the extra money was <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c76wxce"><em>still</em> being paid forward</a>.

  • Couponers Unite

    User ezArnold, who worked retail in college, shared a story from a memorable holiday season that would have otherwise been unenjoyable and chaotic: "One of the customers who had finished with their transaction asked if they were <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c76x914">allowed to hold on to their coupon</a> they just used," wrote ezArnold. "I replied that they were, and the customer turned around and handed it to the person behind her." Each customer continued to pay it forward for approximately 45 minutes. "The people who had received it looked really thankful," ezArnold said.

  • Sweet Girl's Patience Pays Off

    A mom who couldn't afford to buy the presents on her daughter's wish list received an act of kindness from another shopper. "I don't really need any of them mommy," a young girl said while <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c76xz4d?context=3">holiday shopping with her cash-strapped mother</a>, according to a comment by jasminesk, who was working at the store. "The mom looked completely heartbroken, and also so grateful for a daughter who wasn't throwing a tantrum," jasminesk wrote. "This ADORABLE, ancient man who was in the store asked me to get the mom's name and phone number and tell her we were having a raffle, so I did." "He then paid for every single item on the little girl's list."

  • Take A Quarter

    "I am a college student and <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c771if9">finding quarters for doing laundry is always a pain</a>," wrote blackcoffee_91. "So every time I wash a load I leave some quarters in the washer so the next guy who comes along gets a free load." "I know it's a really really small thing (only 75 cents) but maybe someone's day is made a little better because of the convenience."

  • Casting Off Kindness

    "Just the other day I went down to our local fishing hole with two friends and a casting net," TomahawkDrop wrote. "We got a couple shrimp, but <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c76xsdr?context=3">were obviously struggling</a>." He said a nearby group, who had plenty of gear and were successfully catching crabs, stopped to help. They "gave us their lines, bait, net, and even their beer, and let us go to town," BennyHarassi said. When thanked for their hospitality, <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c776998">which resulted in 20 crabs to bring home</a>, one group member replied, "just paying it forward."

  • Drinks On Me

    During a night out with friends, RPh_JF17 witnessed several patrons at a local bar pay it forward. It began when he struck up a conversation at the bar with a man who offered to pick up his tab. RPh_JF17 replied that he was paying for a large group, so couldn't accept such a generous favor. <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/13stgf/the_car_ahead_of_me_paid_for_my_coffee_this/c76wrz3?context=3">But the man was undeterred</a>. Then, several people who overheard the exchange continued to pay for the groups ahead of them -- so many times, he said, that the bartenders had trouble keeping up. "About 12 different people have bought drinks for other people/groups now at that time all because of the simple generosity that was first shown," RPh_JF17 wrote.