Dear Happy Friends,
Welcome to our very first official Happ-E-Newsletter for March 1, 2001. This is a bimonthly newsletter that will be sent to you twice a month. The purpose it to remind you to be happy. We will let you know about our meetings and send you a copy of the Be Happy Zone Articles published twice a month in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Today's article WHAT IS THE HAPPINESS CLUB? is an excellent explanation about the Happiness Club for you and your family and your friends. Everyone has asked these questions, now they are here for you to read for yourself. Hope you enjoy it, give us your feed back, pass it on to friends.
I was driving on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut and just noticed a robin. I looked over and saw at least 15 robins on the side of the road. I never saw so many before. I think spring is here at last. At least that is what the birds seem to be saying.
Be Smart! Stay Happy!
Hope to see you soon!
Lionel
Join us for our next HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING
March 15, 2001 ALL YOU NEED IS...HAPPINESS
"When we look into the long avenue of the future, and see the good there is for each one of us to do, we realize, after all, what a beautiful thing it is to work, and to live, and to be happy." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Presentation by Lionel Ketchian and Tom Finelli
Date: March 15, 2001
Place: Fairfield Public Library
(In the Memorial Room, seating limited to 50, for this meeting only.)
Address: 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06430
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Open to the Public and Admission is Free
Call Lionel Ketchian (203) 258-7777 or E-mail: PrintLRK@aol.com
http://www.happinessclub.com/
Directions to the Fairfield Public Library
from New York - I- 95, Exit 21, Mill Plain Road, Right at bottom of ramp. Under railroad overpass. Left at light (Rt. 1), 1/2 mile on right
from New Haven - I- 95, Exit 22, North Benson Road. Left at bottom of ramp. Under railroad overpass. Right at light (Rt. 1), 1/2 mile on left
February 28, 2001
BE HAPPY ZONE, By Lionel Ketchian
WHAT IS THE HAPPINESS CLUB?
How many people love their job, their relationships? How many people are really happy in their life? My observations have lead me to believe that very few people can say they are happy with their life.
I found out that as much as I tried to change things and events outside of me, they could not change enough for me to feel happy on the inside. Ten years ago that changed and I have been happy 100% of the time. Sure things are not perfect, but I do the best I can with those things (called life) to change them, and being happy takes care of the rest.
The decision to become a happy person has not only benefited me, but many of the readers of my articles, and people who come to the Happiness Club. You can be miserable or you can be happy, the reasons do not matter, the results do. When you are happy everything works better. Your problems either get resolved or they no longer have a negative affect on you.
In a discussion I was having with Tom Finelli, our web site creator and manager, we were talking about what the Happiness Club is and what it does for people. These are some of the things we came up with and wanted to share with our readers.
What is the Happiness Club? It is an organization with the mission to promote the benefits of being happy through meetings, newsletters, and an informative web site, to the people in our community, and around the world.
What is the cost? We do not have dues or any other charges. All it will cost you is the time you spend to go to a meeting and learn about happiness instead of watching television for the evening. It may cost you your unhappiness. What is unhappiness costing you?
What is the benefit? This is a rational, common sense way to accept a positive view of life and deal with the things we cannot change. Directing your energy to the things that are in your choice and control will make you a happier person. Happiness is the best self-improvement plan to be a better and friendlier person. It benefits your relationships and the world you live in. It has been proven that being happy also benefits your health.
What can you get out of it? You can get happy! It also provides you with the opportunity to socialize and meet new people, and form friendships. You can have a wonderful time, smile, and laugh a lot! Nice people do so much for everyone around them, they need to become happy within themselves so they can continue to give to others. It's about time we spend more time connecting with one another face to face.
Who comes to the Happiness Club? Some of the people who come are happy and would like to meet others and become even happier; while others are looking for happiness. People from all walks of life and different backgrounds attend. We have people that are single, married, divorced, and widowed. We have people of all ages, with a range of age 20 to 90. It is not a singles group, but a good place to meet new friends. We have a mixture of women and men. We seem to have more women than men, but lately more men are coming. Many people come alone, but some bring friends. Three generations, a grandmother, mother, and daughter have come to meetings. Last meeting we had a wonderful couple that were married 50 years.
What is a meeting like? The club presents strategies to live your life to the fullest. Lionel and Tom and others that have learned about happiness present ways to be happy each month. We have discussions during every meeting. You have a chance to learn from others and express your viewpoint if you choose. The meetings are educational, and everyone takes something home with them to use in their life in order to be a happier person.
What is on the www.happinessclub.com? It is our web site with a large list of books to read on happiness, a free subscription to our bimonthly Happ-E-Newsletter. It also includes information on upcoming meetings, seminars, and events. The web site also provides information on the history of the club, comments from people, a variety of articles, information about people on the team, and inspirational quotes.
How do I get a free subscription to the Happ-E-Newsletter? Just send an e-mail to happinessclub@aol.com requesting the newsletter.
Why is unhappiness a problem? When you are unhappy you are at the effect of the negative things in your life. You allow them to have power over you. Being unhappy produces negative affects in your life. You experience the unfairness of life in a state of confusion, you take loss to an unhealthy level, you hurt, you suffer, you worry, you become fearful, you become helpless, and you are unhappy with your life.
What is Happiness? Our definition of happiness is an inner state of well being which enables you to profit from your highest: thoughts, wisdom, intelligence, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values in your life.
Why have a Happiness Club? When you're happy you can increase your endurance for dealing with life's problems. Happiness allows you to make decisions easier, you access the wisdom within you, and you become more loving, and experience peacefulness. Your entire attitude becomes one of greater strength. You become powerful and positive. People notice the change and it begins to positively affect others. Imagine happiness spreading like the common cold. It can! You can make it happen by learning to be happy. You can change the world by taking control of yourself.
Where has the club been? We started January 2000. The Happiness Club has been written up in hundreds of newspapers. We have been written about in magazines, we have appeared on television and have done live radio talk shows. Exactly one year ago, on February 29, Leap Year Day, the Happiness Club appeared on the front page of The Connecticut Post.
What do the people involved in the club get out of it? They get happiness. We make no money doing it. We get to see old friends and meet new friends. We do it to help people overcome some really tough times. We do it because we care about ourselves and others. We do it because we want people's lives to be better.
When do you have meetings? We have free meetings every month on Thursdays. Our next meeting is March 15, 2001, from 7:00-8:30 P.M. The topic is "All you need is Happiness!" Meetings are held at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road.
Where can I learn more about Happiness? Come to our meetings, read books, attend a course given only twice a year at Sacred Heart University. An upcoming course called "Personal Power and Success Through Happiness," at the Fairfield Campus of Sacred Heart University, will be held every Tuesday beginning March 20 to April 10 from 7:30 - 9:30 P.M. Call Gloria at SHU 365-7587 for registration.
Why be happy? Why Not?! Life is short...Be Happy!
Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club. He can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The Web site is www.HappinessClub.com