*Applause and crowd mayhem*
Right here, we are going to witness the most anticipated contest in blogsphere history. For the Blog Idol Finalist of the world……
LLLLLet’s Get Ready to Ruuumble!
Fighting out of the green corner with 33 entries in the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce to you the word….GOod!
And out of the yellow, with 1, 860,000,000 entries in the Google search engine. Put your hands together for the often used adjective of the wooords……Great!
*Ding, ding ding!*
Not too long ago, I took a mini vacation to Vegas. I hadn’t been there in over three decades — my last visit being at the age of 12 for a church meeting. Yeah, I know. A church meeting in Vegas…what a waste! Anyway, it was great to see Caesars Palace still standing (I cried), but I wasn’t thrilled to see the strain this vacation was putting on my pocketbook (I panicked!). $13.00 for a half of glass of cheap wine?! Oh, heck no! Where is a flask when you need one?
My dwindling funds forced me to visit the restaurant close to my ‘off the Strip’ hotel. It’s a name most of us are familiar with — Applebee’s. While waiting for the hostess to unlock the door for business, I noticed a clingy in their window. It read, “Great Food. Good Friends.” Hm. That slogan struck me and brought on a barrage of thoughts and feelings. Great food and Good friends — is that what I’m looking for? What are the words ‘Good’ and ‘Great’, anyway and do they really make a difference in what I’m getting?
In reference to friendship, Good is defined by Dictionary.com as ‘close, intimate and warm.’ For me, all of these are acceptable attributes when seeking a friend. They are even acceptable in a mate of which I’m an expert at looking for. 
Dictionary.com’s definition of Great is of being ‘wonderful, first-rate and very good. Wait. Great is very good? That means it’s of higher quality — it’s closer, more intimate and warmer than just a goodfriend. So, is eating at Applebee’s with their Great food, but only Good friends doing myself an injustice?
All of this, of course, is taking it to the extreme. To get good friends at any restaurant is a god-send. Combine that with great food and you’ve got a recipe for a memorable experience. But, I wrote this to bring up a valuable point…
We often settle for what is brought before us. Hold on a minute and let me turn that around — I often settle without seeking and reaching for greatness. It is evident in the men I’ve chosen through my life and in the hoop-tie I call my car. ‘Settling’ screams at me in the wine I drink (remember the cheap wine in Vegas?) and accepting the half-baked job my teenage son does with the dishes. Accepting good over great when there was clearly a choice had become habit for me until I saw that clingy in the window. It changed me. I will no longer accept good over great. I will demand first-rate when possible and know that I am worth every effort it took to make it that way.
How about you? Are you accepting whatever is being handed to you even though you know you deserve better? If so, then join me in creating a new slogan that reads ‘Great Friends. Great People.’ No longer will we be satisfied with the crumbs of the day…Bring On The Prime Rib!
Sitting there in Applebee’s pondering their slogan, I soon found them to be just as they had stated. Their food was great and those who worked there would make good friends. I went back a second time to find their slogan still held true.
Now that I’m back home, I’m anxious to visit one here to try it out. I wonder if the same clingy will be in their window. If not, I’m leaving.
Told ya I’ve changed…..
All round to our 4 new flowers founders - Your founders badges are being prepared right as we tip-tap away!
