My first thought when I woke up this morning was, “It’s a good day. It’s a Good Friday. It’s time to think of Only The Good.”
We are living in some pretty negative times, aren’t we? You can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on the television without hearing more bad news about the economy, the war, the stock market, the political candidates. I think that many of us are living in a state of fear (though I’m in the state of Texas).
Fear feeds upon itself. It’s like a contagious virus. I’m tired of adding to it. I want to start another kind of “virus.”
You see, I think that optimism can be contagious, too. If we consciously try to look at the good in the world around us, it will become easier to see. My friend, Marcia, knows that. She used to post Only The Good posts, and encouraged us to do it, too. Only a handful of people joined in, I think because it was random. I had several of those Only The Good posts, and am ashamed I didn’t do more.
Now, I’m not “Goody Two Shoes” or anything, in fact, I’m known to be quite snarky. But, I’ve decided that one day a week (arbitrarily I have chosen Friday) I will post something about which I only see the good. At least, I’ll try to only see the good! I know that I need the exercise in optimism. I’d love it if you wanted to join me.
What to post? Use your imagination! You can post a picture, or just tell us good news for the day. You can say one good thing about the political candidate you oppose (well, maybe not). You could post about a favorite charity … so we can get the opportunity to do good. You can share a joke or your Aunt Nelda’s kick butt recipe for Bacon Brownies. I don’t care.
But, if you decide to join in, come to my Friday post and leave a comment with a link to your Only The Good Post. I’m not using Mr. Linky, because I have a magic plug-in that will put your name and link on the post when you comment.
I have two photos (and more on my Posterous page) for this week, and a story with it, of course:
On Sherman Drive in Denton, behind the CVS pharmacy, there is a wooden fence that hides the loading docks of the pharmacy from view. It would be quite an eyesore. However, someone (I don’t know who) decided to decorate that fence with artwork. Down the length of the fence, for about a block, there is a row of paintings on canvas. People also started hanging shoes on the fence…Lord knows why. It’s funky, and fun. Amazingly, the artwork survives the weather, and I only saw two that had been damaged by vandals. Maybe even young hoodlums can recognize beauty of this whimsy.
I didn’t put my favorite on this page. There is a portrait of a woman who looks as if she is peeking out from behind the fence. Anyway, I thought that it was pretty cool that someone beautified our city, and I wish I could find them and thank them for making me smile.
Join me?
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OH, I love this idea. I’m so in! I’ll come back when I have my own “Only The Good” post up, but in the meantime, I wanted to comment on yours. I love that fence! what a great idea. And the shoes? Well, we all know how I feel about shoes, don’t we?
Karinas last blog post..Battle of the Bulge – This one is MINE!
The best pics are over at the posterous account! Oh, yeah, I love that fence. AND, I love that you want to join me! Thanks, girl. Let’s see if we can infect everybody!
What a very cool fence – I love that people are turning junk into jewels using what they’ve got right around them.
Here’s my only the good for today – my brownies (blondies actually) were slightly underdone, but if you ask me the undercooked goo in the middle tastes even better than the properly cooked bits – I’ve been scooping up those gooey middle bits myself in the name of “saving the good stuff for the guests”
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Robins last blog post..Thematic Photographic – Blur
There, all said, post up.
I LOVE this fence, I can’t wait to see it!
Marcias last blog post..Good is Multiplying
I’m back to tell you I did it, mine is up here: http://tinyurl.com/6m6p5l
Karinas last blog post..Welcome to PleasantVille – Population…Expanding
Whoot! Can’t wait to check out the links you gave! Thank you again!!
I’m on board… though I’m not sure I’ve captured the essence of the task, it is how I want to spread the good this week!
Kathleens last blog post..Good for Friday
Yes, ma’am you captured the essence. I can’t wait to learn more about Macuwita sni! Thank you, Kathleen!
Oh that is a very cool fence! I like it. I must admit that the street art always seems to hold appeal. It’s a downright shame if/when it’s ever violated.
Derek Wongs last blog post..Half Marathon
I was pleased and surprised to note that only two paintings had any damage. Each had one hole poked in it (and really that could have been hail or something). No spray paint or anything! It’s been there a long time, but usually I just drive past. I parked four blocks away and walked down there to snap the pics. I wish I could have gotten some distance between myself and the fence, so I could have gotten better shots—but I would have been road kill.
That is a great idea! I’ll try drafting up an “only the good” post next week as I blew my chance for this week.
Talinas last blog post..Some odd thoughts and call for your 2 cents!
Cool, Talina. Next week will be fine! I didn’t give you much notice, did I? I’ll do better from now on.
From your non-blogging buddy:
I hung laundry outside today in the sunshine – that makes a Gooooooooood Friday!!!
That is a good Friday. Here’s to many more!
Oh, that fence is amazing! How cool and clever is that??
Your only the good idea is wonderful. I’ll have to see if I remember that for next Friday. Or for whenever, for that matter. Thinking of the good is always a great way to turn your day around.
Kaceys last blog post..Forgot to Pack
So, join me in the project???
I don’t have a blog, but I do try to see the good in whatever – every day. And, I give you credit for that. I read the post when you joined awhile ago, and I keep it in mind all the time now. It helps me put things in perspective and not worry so much about the small things. I am always starting out sentences with “At Least”.
So I want to thank you for spreading the word, because it definitely helped my life!
Stephanie, darlin’ give yourself credit for being able to look for the good. People can tell you that you should, but it’s you who have to seek it. I’m glad, though, if anything I said pointed you in that direction. Marcia was the first to do this, and by following her example I’ve discovered how much easier it is to find the good by practice
There are some days we really have to practice!!
Hey I learned abt this from reading Jeni’s posts, I watched a movie ths Fri, loved it so much tht came back and wrote abt that, completely forgot abt Only the Good Friday post, so am planning to do it Mon n tag it OTGFP, wd tht do to be in ur ’spread the good community’? lemme know. othwise wd stick to Fri only. thx, o n loved the shoes-they are not random,but make a wave pattern-the wave of life crashing at the fence perhaps
Trishas last blog post..Why You Should See Dostana2008
Hey Trisha…sorry for the delayed response. I got sick for a few days. You can post any time you would like. I would love to have you join in. Fridays are the day I had hoped to make the “norm” though. I like the “waves crashing on the fence” thought.