Origin of TheGday Promise

The Gday Promise: Have a Good Day and Help Someone Else Have a Good Day

Last July, my son Bengt and I rode across Iowa with Team YouBetcha in RAGBRAI—the famous and slightly masochistic bike ride that brings thousands together to pedal across the state. This year, we've decided to dive in again, recruiting my daughter Karenna, her friend Austin, and his dad to join the adventure.

RAGBRAI is always full of memorable encounters. We met Marcia Miller, the legendary gold-medal pie winner, and ran into some cyclists with jerseys that read, “Mistakes Were Made.” Initially puzzled, I finally asked one of their members about the meaning behind their team name. He handed me a bracelet and made me promise to make a mistake that day.

That night, a wonderful family generously hosted us on their farm, complete with a refreshing pool. "Old Tony," our larger-than-life teammate, sat down on a piece of furniture that held blankets, promptly breaking it into pieces. Laughing, I awarded Tony the bracelet—he had fulfilled the promise perfectly.

When we began brainstorming ideas for our own bracelets, I remembered that fun exchange. However, our promise had a different twist: commit to having a good day yourself and, in the process, help someone else have a good day too.

Recently, my daughter returned from Taiwan with matching UNC sweatshirts for herself and Raul. At the NCAA store in Taiwan, they got a free Harvard hat, which she passed along to my son. He wasn't interested, feeling it didn't align with how he saw himself—Harvard carried a certain stigma in his mind. Halden handed the hat to me.

Looking at it, I suddenly remembered that my dad had earned his Ph.D. Curious, I found his dissertation on my bookshelf, noting it was published in March of 1966. Shortly after, he received a full professorship at Augustana College, and by the following winter of 1967, I was born. Wearing this Harvard hat suddenly took on new meaning: it honored my dad’s academic journey and legacy.

To me, this encapsulates what the Gday Promise is all about: committing ourselves first to have a good day, then using that positivity to uplift someone else. It's a beautiful metaphor for our mission—supporting people with disabilities and our community to find joy and purpose daily.

Now it's your turn—share your good day story with us!

With growth and gratitude, Eric Levin