“We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day Just you and me”

from We are the World, lyrics by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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Three giants in the entertainment industry died this week…Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. All three had a huge impact on society in their own way and will be remembered for that which they wove into the lives of millions of people all over the world.

You know you don’t have to be an entertainment giant to make a difference in the world and leave it a better place. One person performing an act of kindness or a good deed done on behalf of another will result in more of the same, and so on. We can not underestimate the far reaching infinite effect on the world of just one person making the choice and doing something good. So if you are looking of ways to make a difference this weekend (or any other day in the future for that matter) and affect the lives of others in a positive way, check out the new All for Good website.

All for Good lets you browse activities and find events based on your location or interests. It is the “Craigslist for Service” created by a volunteer group of individuals from the technology, marketing and public sectors who were inspired by the call of President Obama to engage more Americans in service. All for Good makes finding a good deed project in your community easy as pie. Check it out here, or go to www.allforgood.org.

Remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so you good dog always wins!

SHOW YOUR SMILE

Daniel Gardner received over 280 video replies from YouTubers in response to his “Show your Smile” video within 11 months after he uploaded it. The following video, Youtube smiles!, is a compilation of 100 of those 280 different smiles.   It features Amber Van Vleet’s song “Sunray Smile”,  has received over 2.2 million views since its debut in October, 2008, and is sure to make you, well…..smile!

Remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. – Thomas Jefferson

And remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

Father’s Day is Sunday.  It’s been celebrated since June of 1910.  Why June?  Because Sonora Smart Dodd, the woman who is credited with originating the holiday, wanted to honor the man who raised her after her mother died, and his birthday was in June.

Sonora was in church, listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, knowing that her Father deserved such a glowing endorsement.  He, in the eyes of his daughter, was a loving, courageous, and selfless man who had made sure his daughter was well cared-for and well-raised after the passing of his wife.

It’s not known when the concept of giving Dads ties, barbeque tools and golf gadgets as gifts began, but the third Sunday in June has been the official Father’s Day in America since 1972 when then-President Richard Nixon penned it into law.  Fifty-two other countries observe Father’s Day on the same day, and many other countries celebrate Fathers, but on a different day.

The Feed Your Good Dog Council is all about celebrating the wonderful people in your life, and hope you can spend time with your Dad this weekend.  If so, instead of a tie or gadget this year, try to let him know what a positive impact he’s had on your life so far.

And remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins.

Tomorrow, a little girl turns 3 years old.  That’s not remarkable – it happens to children every day, all over the world.  What is remarkable about this little girl is her Mom and the community program which made her success possible.

Leslyanne Lopez graduated high school eleven days ago in Indiana.  It was something that she thought would never happen for her when she found herself pregnant in her freshman year.  Against the odds, she did graduate from high school and she’s about to start classes in graphic design at Ivy Tech Community College in Ft. Wayne.

Leslyanne was able to raise her child and continue her education with the help of the ECHO program.  ECHO, which stands for Education Creates Hope and Opportunity, made it possible for Leslyann to spend the past four years going to school, holding down a job, participating in counseling and parenting classes, and being a mother to her daughter, all at the same time.

ECHO is a partnership between the Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities and is in schools in Ft. Wayne and the surrounding counties in Indiana.  The program aims to help teen girls beat the incredible statistics that come with teen pregnancy.

With ECHO’s help, Leslyanne found quality daycare for her daughter, help with nutrition, vitamins and wellness check-ups and especially with goal-setting and motivation.  ECHO helped her understand that achieving her goal of graduation and college was within her reach as long as she understood what needed to be done each day and did it.  In that simple way, each day of her life led her closer to her goal of being able to give her daughter the best life possible.

So tomorrow, Leslyanne will give her daughter Amara a third birthday party.  And every day, she gives her a wonderful role model to follow.  Happy birthday Amara, and keep up the good work, Leslyanne & ECHO!

And remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal.  -  Elbert Hubbard

And remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins.

Sunday is Flag Day in the United States.  It’s not one of the more recognized holidays, like Memorial Day or the 4th of July, but it gets a bit of attention.  It celebrates the adoption of the thirteen red and white stripes, the field of blue and the white stars on the blue as the official banner of the United States.  Flag Day started on June 14, 1777 and has been observed, one way or another, since then.  Typically, parades mark the day as the beginning of National Flag Week.

Flags often inspire a warm, patriotic feeling.  They encourage a sense of belonging and a sense of community.  No matter which flag you were born under or which flag you swear allegiance to, chances are the sight of that flag makes you feel good. Take some time this weekend to really look at your flag, and to reflect on the positive things your “flag family” has brought into your life.

Flags have often been dividing factors in wartime.  This weekend, celebrate the unity that each flag symbolizes.

And remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

Two young ladies living away from their families decided that instead of missing their Moms on Mother’s Day, they would spread some Mother’s Day love this year.  They made a video of their encounters, set it to Supertramp’s “Give A Little Bit” and the result is heart-warming.

Next time you come to a place in your life where you might feel sad, remember these two, and how they not only fed their good dog, but spread love and smiles while doing it.  They are a lovely example of taking responsibility for improving humanity by spreading love and smiles to people they didn’t even know.  In so doing, they not only improved their own mood, they improved the world around them.  Remember… Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.”

Madame Marie Curie

Remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!