ATTITUDINAL GRATITUDE

November 8, 2006

BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian

Gratitude is an attitude of happiness. Gratitude will enable you to experience the best things in your life. Gratitude is one of the basic things we need to experience, in order to feel happy. Gratitude is the trailblazer to happiness. Do you want to be happy? Be grateful! You just can't be unhappy if you're grateful!

How do you access that attitude of gratitude? You can do it by finding something to be grateful for, it could be anything. It may possibly be a loved one or something about your health such as the fact that you can see, or anything else that comes into your mind. Think about how fortunate you are to have all this in your life. You can also be grateful for the many negative things that you don't have. Some of these things may include a life of poverty, illness and so many other unfortunate life events.

Instead of thinking about the things you don't have, you can be grateful for the good things you do have and you will feel happier and wealthier. Being grateful adds value to your life! You have an opportunity to get yourself into a happier state of mind. If you want to feel good and make a difference, then get into the Holiday Spirit by being part of the Thanksgiving Basket Brigade.

Would you like to help? You can volunteer your time on Saturday, November 18th, at 9:00 A.M. our mission will be to put together and deliver 300 complete Thanksgiving dinners directly to families in need. Meet us at Innovative Measurement Solutions (IMS) Inc. 70 Robinson Blvd., Orange, CT 06477 (203) 795-9047. Since 1994, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, more than 75 volunteers have been putting their time, energies and dollars together into delivering baskets with all the fixings to those in need in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport, CT areas.

We work with several agencies to find families in need of assistance. These agencies include CCCC (Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis), Yale Child Study Center, Cornerstone, Bella Vista, and The Kennedy Center. The Connecticut Basket Brigade was inspired from the larger international efforts of The Basket Brigade organization created by The Anthony Robbins Foundation in San Diego, CA. The baskets include a turkey, and a complete Thanksgiving family dinner, with many other healthful and useful items.

Giving and sharing is a large part of happiness. You can share in the gift of happiness this Thanksgiving, by sending a 100% tax-deductible check to Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis. In the memo section of your check please write "Thanksgiving," or "Basket Brigade," so the donation will go toward food for the needy. A donation of $250 feeds 10 families, $125 feeds 5 families, and $25 feeds 1 family. Any donation will help tremendously! Every dollar you donate will go to buying the items delivered on November 18th. Send your check to CCCC, 131 Dwight Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Their phone # is (203) 624-2600.

Thanking you in advance, for sending in a donation or volunteering your time, or doing both. I have been participating in this event for years, and it makes me feel great all year! Do something for yourself by doing something nice for someone else. If you want happiness, give happiness to someone, and you will have it. I trust you will elevate yourself to a higher altitude, and profit from an attitude of gratitude. I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. I look forward to seeing you there!

Our next Happiness Club meeting is on November 16, from 7:00-9:00 P.M. The presentation is called: "Simple Steps to Health & Happiness," by Dr. Veronica Waks. Dr. Waks believes that most illnesses are the body's reaction to a stressful, toxic environment and unwise lifestyle choices. The meeting will be held in the Memorial Room, at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road. There is no charge for the meeting and everyone's welcome!