How do we treat others? Do we step out of our comfort zone to reach out? Do we actually live by the "Golden Rule" or is it just something we say to make ourselves feel better? Do we make a difference in someone's life? Have you made a difference in just one person's life today?

Doing "one good thing" for someone else usually requires us to step out of our comfort zone. After a while, stepping out of that comfort zone becomes habit, and becomes a way of life. Nathan Steen decided as a teenager that he would make sure that he always did several good deeds a day for others.

Written in a venue similar to Nicholas Sparks, this is a story, among other things, about how our actions effect others. One good thing turns into one good thing into another good thing, and so the ripple continues. Although the story was predictable, the means to get there was an interesting journey. Negative situations can be defining factors in how we live our lives. We can choose to let the negativity consume us and become bitter, or we can find the good in any situation and make our life better. "The best we can do is to do our best."

An inspirational and thought provoking book. How can one person help so many people? One person at a time.

The story takes place in Harmony and is narrated by a Quaker pastor. His roots are there and when he came home he found joy. He talks about the people of Harmony and the everyday happenings. For those that enjoyed visits to Mitford with Jan Karon, they will enjoy checking in with the people of Harmony.

I like this premise--identifying the tiny things that make us so very happy. In these trying times, the success of this book (& accompanying website) show how we are all craving the identification of good things. I think the word awesome is so misused but I use it myself, so who am I kidding? It seems like I gravitate toward the entries about sleeping. There was one about waking up and still realizing you have more time to sleep (I love that). There was one about how good it feels to slip into fresh sheets--oh, yeah! And then there was one about how amazing it is to flip your pillow and have a whole new feeling of relaxation. Oh, yes, the little things--they ARE wonderful. Thanks, Wisconsin Public Radio, for interviewing the author!

Clay is a marine who did three tours in Iraq. He finds a photo of a fellow marine posing with his sister @ a county fair. Clay decides to track down this woman whose name is Beth. He is never able to find the fellow marine who originally owned the photo. The photo becomes somewhat of a lucky charm for Clay and he feels that it has saved his life. This belief is intensified by another marine named Victor. Clay eventually finds Beth and falls in love with her, her son, and her grandmother. The ex-husband of Beth is mostly evil. The story culminates with conflict between Clay and the ex. The plot is pretty strong but the writing is weak. I found too much use of prepositions and adverbs and would have enjoyed the book more if the writing had been edited and tightened up.