Wednesday Wide Smile

January 13, 2010 by Rose Caplan

13 year-old Emily Kirsche heard of the great work being done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help children with cancer. She also heard that the hospital relies on donations to keep the work going. So soon after becoming aware of this, she started a fundraising effort. Half way through last October Emily started raising money for St. Jude by asking friends and family for spare change. In no time, she had collected $200.

Emily decided to step it up and reach out to her surrounding community. In a fundraising letter to a potential donor she wrote: I would like to start an organization called ‘Give A Dollar, Save A Life’. I was wondering if you would be able to help me with this by encouraging students to bring in just a dollar (or more if they wish) to help raise money to save the lives of children battling cancer? St. Jude Hospital is a nonprofit organization that treats children with cancer who can’t afford operations. They also have a research program that is trying to find a cure for cancer. It takes a great deal of money for the hospital to do these things. They rely entirely on donations to operate and I would like to be a part of that with your help. Even if only 50 dollars was raised, that would be tremendous.

Due to policies in place, the donor was unable to help. Emily understood and quickly came up with another plan. With the help of her family, she decided to throw a holiday party. By December’s end she had raised over $600. 100% of which will go to help children battling life threatening cancer now, and for research to help those in the future.

Emily sent the money she raised to St Jude’s, and ended her letter to them with this: This has been an amazing experience for me and I have learned so much from it. I will definitely continue to raise more and more money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital each year. I thank you for taking time to read this letter and I hope I have helped.

We think Emily’s effort will help indeed! Congratulations, Emily, on a job well done! You recognized a need and took action to help find a way to fill it. And, as evidenced by your letters, did it with grace and humility! Feed Your Good Dog looks forward to hearing of your future service efforts.

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

January 6, 2010 by Rose Caplan

Start 2010 by making a conscious effort to bring a smile to your partner’s face. Here are ten easy and effective ways to cause that special someone in your life to smile wide this Wednesday:

Wear a nice outfit just for them.
Light a candle at dinnertime.
Make their coffee this morning.
Leave a post-it note with a sweet message on their steering wheel.
Pull out their favorite photo album of pictures of you both and reminisce together.
Put on a favorite song and share a dance. It’s amazing how much closer that 3 or 4 minutes can bring you.
Turn down their side of the bed.
Let them tell you about their day and their dreams, and really listen.
IM just to say “hi” on your lunch break.
Ask their opinion.

Source: OnSimplicity.net 37 Easy Ways to Say “I Love You”, March 12, 2009

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

September 2, 2009 by Rose Caplan

The following two short stories from A Magazine for People and Possiilities, Victoria M Hay, Publisher, demonstrate how a random kind word or gesture can turn someone’s world right side up.

First up is an 18-year old teenager, Brittany Eckert, who needed to hear something positive about teenagers from an adult. And, then, a mom who needed to be reminded of the treasure she had in her 2-year old daughter. This one will definitely receive a prop from any mom who has been on a mandatory shopping trip with her toddler after a long day. Both stories remind us of the power of a kind word or gesture spoken “on the fly”. Enjoy!

From Brittany Eckert

Dear Readers:

This is really little, but it made my day. I am an 18 year old and lately I have been hearing more and more stories on the news about “how awful today’s teenagers are.” Its always sad to hear what people say about the category of humans that you fit into.

I went to pick up some supplies for school one afternoon and I simply held the door open for a frail-looking elderly woman. To my delight she was extremely grateful and said things like “thank you so much!”, and “you teenagers are so sweet these days.” She quickly put a big smile on my face and I told some friends at school. They thought it was really neat.

Isn’t it wonderful how sometimes, the littlest things can touch you in the perfect way? It’s just a thought, but to me an act of kindness is a gift to you, as well as the person you give it to.

From A Mother and Child

Dear Readers:

One day I was shopping with my child after work to pick up supplies needed for an employee celebration. I was exhausted and wanted to get in and out quickly. My child was tired and cranky and wanted out of the shopping cart. She was grabbing for every item we passed. I was losing my patience and temper when an elderly woman came over to us. She took my child’s hand, and said “what a lovely child.” My little girl was quiet immediately. The woman looked at me. She had an angelic smile and then again said, “they are so wonderful at this age.” At once I felt peaceful and in control of the situation. After she walked away, I found a snack that pleased me and my little one and we had a pleasant shopping trip. That one moment of someone reminding me what a treasure I had turned my whole attitude around and made my shopping trip so much easier.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins! visit with us on follow us on

Wednesday Wide Smile

July 15, 2009 by Rose Caplan

More and more businesses are feeling the effects of the continued changes in our economy, and they are adapting as a result. When a company must adapt so must its employees. Few people easily accept change. Some will respond positively and some won’t. Following illustrates what happens when positive action prevails:

Our company has been having some hard times and morale is starting to waiver. A group of employees wanted to put together an employee sponsored picnic at the premises and asked others for a few dollars in contributions.

This idea was met with mixed reactions: Why do we have to ante up, why isn’t the company paying for this? What about management, how much are they putting in? My hours have been cut already, why do I have to do more?

The management team itself was divided, almost 50/50, on whether to go ahead. They decided to listen to the positive people who were glad to participate in some fun and teamwork without company sponsorship, and approved the picnic.

The picnic was a huge success. The process created teamwork. It brought employees together who wouldn’t normally work together and created a bond that wouldn’t otherwise exist. A positive energy was created among employees from the get together that has carried forward into our daily routine with a resulting boost in morale, and thus productivity.

This company’s management team chose to take action and give power to those employees who brought positive solutions to the table and saw the picnic as a way to create fun and teamwork. These actions embody Vincent Lombardi’s immortal thoughts on team: The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.

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

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