Wills Park- A Busy Place on Sunday Morning

Linda and I were out for our Sunday morning stroll today, and realized how fortunate we are to live within walking distance of Wills Park, a beautiful green space! As we walked down Rucker Road, we decided to include a stop at the Alpharetta Community Garden to check out the changes from summer to fall crops. The gardens were lush and plots were packed with ripe tomatoes and peppers. A new rail fence has been installed around the garden. Hard to believe that just a few months ago this gorgeous, food-producing spot was just another piece of plain ole' grass! Way to go green, Alpharetta!

As we walked around the path in the park, we came upon a canine agility show in the big arena. All shapes and sizes of dogs and their handlers were getting ready to compete. Then, as we headed back toward Greenmont, we noticed that Rucker Road had been blocked off for something. That something turned out to be the IronKids Triathalon! We cheered the elementary-aged bike riders as they rounded the corner to pedal back toward the finish line. Before we got home, we came across a yard sale and a road-side vegetable stand. I think I heard some baseball game announcing in the background, and, of course, the tennis courts were alive with players, too!

It was all great activity, though- one of the many reasons we love it here. Even though we live in one of the largest cities in the United States, there is a lot of small town feel left in Alpharetta.

So, Make Your Day a Great One! Look around your yard and neighborhood and find a few things that you are grateful for! We are truly blessed to live and work in such a beautiful, active, caring community.

I am grateful for Wills Park, a huge, diverse green space in the heart of Alpharetta- a place I won't take for granted anymore.

Make It A Great Week! Take time to visit Wills Park!

Steve

Compliments Make Your Day a Great One!

In last Friday's post, we encouraged everyone to practice doing some complimenting.

Many of you sent us e-mails saying that you were going to give it a try.

One of our readers, Penny, wrote to tell us that she happened to read the post just before going to a local networking meeting. So, she decided to give it a try and asked everyone at the meeting to practice some complimenting right then and there! Sounds like it was a big success and got Friday off to a great start for everyone.



Thanks, Penny, for sharing the idea, helping to make our world a better place, and for writing to let us know about it! You really "Made Our Day a Great One!"



Steve & Linda

The Compliment Guys

Thanks, Atlanta Journal Constitution, for this uplifting article this past week. We thought it was a perfect fit for "The Day Is What You Make It"!

The Compliment Guys, two Purdue University students, gained web fame by praising fellow students every Wednesday. Well, they have taken their show on the road, and lucky for us, they found themselves in Atlanta a few days ago. Carrying their hand-lettered sign ("Free Compliments"), they spread cheer in Centennial Olympic Park, complimenting complete strangers who happened by. Wouldn't it just Make Your Day a Great One, if someone complimented you on your shirt, your purse, or maybe your big smile?

The students, along with representatives of Kodak, who has outfitted a bus for their travel, are on a 10-city tour they are calling the "Bright Side" tour. "We're encouraging everyone to look on the bright side of life," said spokeswoman Dwayna Haley. Videos of the students gained many hits on YouTube.

Who knows? Maybe this "spontaneous complimenting" thing will catch on! There will be Random Acts of Complimenting going on all over the place!

It's Friday, so let's have FUN! we double-dog-dare-you to give out as many compliments as you can today. Then, write us a note about it! Ok, Ready, Set, COMPLIMENT!!

Steve & Linda

Look Who's on the Cover

Ok, Do I get to brag a little here? It's not everyday you get on the cover of a magazine. They did a great job with it. Click on the title to take you to the article. I guess they made my day great!

Oh, one other thing. I am reading a great book that really fits in with my style of living. It' called "The Energy Bus" by Jon Gordon.

Steve

Bloom Where You Are Planted- sort of!

I've always loved the little saying, "Bloom Where You Are Planted". To one who has "bloomed" in quite a few different places and situations over the years, I have tried to take this advice to heart, and I think I've been pretty successful, if happiness is the measure of that success.

Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers, so funky and fun, but Steve doesn't love them quite as much, favoring a little more orderly look in the front yard. So, this year, in an attempt at a more formal look in our landscape, I didn't plant any sunflowers along my little corner fence.

Well, as you can see, this "volunteer" sunflower from last year's crop, is REALLY blooming where it- wasn't exactly planted! I think it's so funny- and just a little bit of a poke of fun at all the other roses, zinnias and other more "acceptable" front yard plantings. This giant plant has to be at least 15 feet tall with a beautiful bronze blossom at the very tippy-top! The stalk is strong and straight with big, wide leaves jutting out all the way up.

My independent, non-conformist streak is really enjoying this giant "fun" flower! Sometimes I stand inside the door and watch neighborhood children pointing up at the big, green stalk, as their parents just shake their heads. "You never know what that Linda is going to be planting in her garden"!

So, what's my point? Only this: Sometimes, we just have to "bloom where we are planted", and we'll be big, and strong, and beautiful, like my one and only sunflower! We can make plans and plans and plans, but sometimes things don't work out quite as we planned. So, the best thing to do then is to "bloom where we are planted"! In fact, sometimes that works out even better!

Don't forget- Be like my Sunflower and Make Your Day a Great One!

Linda

It has been way too long!

Ok, It has been way too long since I have blogged on here. I have just recieved the first look of our new The Day Is What You Make It! logo.

Here is what it looks like.

Let me know what you think!

Steve

A Chance to Make Telly's Day Great

Here's a chance to make someone else's day GREAT while enjoying a great time with friends!

My good friend and colleague, Telly Olympiadis, was seriously injured in an ATV accident last November. Telly, a self-employed contractor and handyman, was hospitalized for several weeks, and he has been wheelchair-bound in his home since then.


Telly's friends have organized a benefit concert, coming up on Saturday evening, February 28th at Trilogy in Marietta featuring live music by THREE great bands from 8:30 pm-12:30 am

http://www.trilogydining.net/ 4930 Davidson Road, Suite 200, Marietta GA 30068

8:30- Fox Trot November
9:30- Kevin Spencer
10:30- The Mixx
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Dinner is available at Trilogy.

Admission is FREE, and donations for Telly and his family will be accepted at the door.

Mike Cohen, who is heading up the event, books bands and said that one of these three is ready to sign a recording deal!

Bring your friends and join us for music, fun and a chance to help a young family!

There's nothing like good friends and good music, all for a good cause, to......

make your day a GREAT ONE!

Hope we'll see you all there!

Linda & Steve

Cruisin' the Caribbean Makes a Great Day

Cruisin........., the Caribbean we're cruisin.............,

Ahh, it was wonderful! Steve and I sailed out of San Juan on a huge, beautiful ship called "Adventure of the Seas", and it certainly was a fun adventure! The trip was even more special for us, since we were part of the Jim Brickman VIP Fan Club members, about 200 strong- or should I say HAPPY! As we made many new friends and met loyal Brickman fans from all over the country, we realized that this group has a very high happiness component- just the kind of people we like to hang around with! There didn't seem to be a negative person in the whole bunch.

Coincidentally, Jim mentioned during his concerts that he tries to impart positive, happy messages in his music! This combination made for a fun-filled, inspirational week, that's for sure! There were concerts, a song-writing class with Jim and Ellen, "Brikki-okke", Gourmet cooking class with Chef Jamie, Wine-tasting sessions- on TOP of all the other activities AND spectacular ports of call to visit.

This very special get-away was a surprise Christmas present from Steve, but I think I surprised him right back with an impromptu, original song during the Karaoke session!

Ironically, while on the trip, I received e-mail news that a former colleague and friend had died very suddenly of a heart attack. A seemingly very healthy, younger man who was devoted to his young family, taken from them in an instant. It was hard to grasp, but it made me appreciate even more this wonderful, special time that Steve and I had together.

So, don't pass up a chance today to tell your loved ones how you feel. And, try to carve out some time to get away from it all sometime soon. You'll be so glad you did!

And, oh, don't forget......... The Day is What You Make It, So Make Yours a Great One!

Linda