I hope you are well and happy! So far our winter in Connecticut has been mild. Hope it continues the same way. I am sending you a warm smile. I hope you share it with someone else. Pass it along to as many people as you can.

Happ-E-Thought:) Do not know who wrote this, but it is sitting over my desk, and it is very appropriate.

The true wonder of it is...
...that even in the coldest,
darkest night of winter,
the seed is already born...
...to carry on into the light
and warmth of a new day.

Happ-E-Purpose:) To remind you to make the "Happiness Decision." You now have the next meeting date, more happiness information, and a copy of the Be Happy Zone Articles which are published twice a month in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Read today's article called: GOOD BOOKS!

Happ-E-Mail:) This is a great e-mail from Stephen M. Perle, D.C., Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences at University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic in Bridgeport, CT. A friend sent it to him and he is sharing it with us.

Fable for Today's Stress

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something
amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he
would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the
edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!

Shake it off and take a step up!
Remember the five simple rules to be happy
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Happ-E-Meeting:) We just had our 2nd year anniversary at our Happiness Club meeting this past January 10th. What a great meeting it was. Lisa Simms gave everyone a wonderful presentation on "Happiness for Yourself." Next James Comst told us about his two week sensational happiness trip. You had to be there, join us for our next meeting.

Happ-E-Mail:) Would you believe I just got a brochure from the Omega Institute. They are presenting a weekend conference called: The Heart of Happiness. That's funny, because that is the name of our next meeting in February. I am glad that happiness is catching on. If you are interested in the conference in April 12-12, 2002 you can call 800-944-1001 or www.eomega.org for information. Many wonderful speakers will be there like Caroline Myss and Don Miguel Ruiz, two of my favorites. Check out the Good Book article and you'll see what I mean.

Happ-E-Mail:) Thank you very much, for the warm welcome that you gave to me, on Thursday night. It was my first Happiness Club meeting, and will not be the last one! Everyone was very warm and welcoming, and I learned a lot of useful information that I am already applying in my day-to-day life. In peace and happiness, a new member.

Happ-E-Help:) Thank you very much to all of you that helped my daughter, Kim.
She completed the 26.2 mile Walt Disney World Marathon on January 6, 2002. She made a committed to raise $3,000 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Out of the 18,000 participants that ran in this marathon more than 5,000 people ran to raise money for the Leukemia Society. Thank You Again!

Happ-E-Book:) I just updated 301 books on our web site. One of those books that I recommend is called: Climb your Stairway to Heaven, The 9 habits of maximum happiness, by David Leonhardt. It is truly a wonderful book, full of insights by an author and his wife discovering and living the principles of happiness in their lives. Read the first chapter free on line at: www.leonhardtonline.com.

Happ-E-Mail:) Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing your caring words and thoughts. Please let us hear from you, spread your happiness, that is the surest way of Being Happy!

Happ-E-Mail:) Could I ask for your help to spread the word on happiness. If you've learned just one thing about happiness from us it is to be a pal. All you need to do is tell 10 people about our newsletter. It's completely free for the subscription.
Send us your list of people you want to get the newsletter by hitting reply, or you can enter their e-mail addresses for them or they can do it themselves at:
http://www.HappinessClub.com.
I really appreciate your help. We need to show people the benefits of happiness! SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU!
Lionel :)

P.S. You have my personal guarantee that I'll never sell our subscriber's e-mail addresses to anyone, anytime!

Happ-E-Meeting:) Join us for our next meeting! The HAPPINESS CLUB will present: "THE HEART OF HAPPINESS" by Lionel Ketchian. Don't miss this valuable meeting, and meet wonderful people using the benefits of happiness in their lives.

Topic:) "THE HEART OF HAPPINESS"
Date:) February 7, 2002
Time:) 7:00 - 8:45P.M.
Place:) Fairfield Public Library
In the:) Rotary Room
Address:) 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06430

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 make a left at light (Post Rd.), 1/2 mile on right at the corner.
From New Haven - I- 95, Exit 22, North Benson Road. Left at bottom of ramp. Under railroad overpass make a right at light (Post Rd.), 1/2 mile on left at the corner.

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
January 16, 2002

GOOD BOOKS!
By Lionel Ketchian

Good books are like good friends... they are always there for you! I have just spent much of the weekend updating the books listed on our www.HappinessClub.com website. I thought I had a fairly comprehensive list. Then I added more books that I have read lately. I just counted the list and came up with 301 books. These books are the best books ever published on happiness and living your life.

Some of books were just published this year. I like to keep myself updated on the latest books on the subject. Some of the books are actually quite old. All the books have lessons for us to learn. I think that there are two ways that we can learn. One way is from our own pain, the second from other's pain. The purpose of pain is to instruct us in learning a lesson, so we can avoid continually harming ourselves. We learn quickly to remove our hand from the hot stove. The pain is the lesson for remembering to be cautious so we do not make the same mistakes again.

In matters dealing with pain, there is an even better way to learn without ever knowing the pain. That way deals with the pain other people have experienced. You know when your parents would tell you not to put your hand on the hot stove, but you did it anyway because you wanted to see for yourself. Which one do you think was better? Both ways are available to you. The experience that others have encountered in overcoming their own pain is usually what makes them a lot smarter.

I think good authors who write books on happiness provide us with two wonderful things. They offer us friendship and direction. Great books are written because people care. The direction they offer you is made up of the experiences they have encountered.

Allow me to introduce you to some of the best. I like the King James Version of the Bible. I love the book; Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach. The Happiness Purpose, by Edward De Bono is amazing and one of the earlier books on happiness. You learn a great deal from; The Feeling Good Handbook, by David D. Burns, M.D., he is a genius. Four of the best books Richard Carlson, Ph.D. has ever written are, Don't Sweat The Small Stuff...And It's All Small Stuff, Shortcut Through Therapy, You Can Be Happy No Matter What, and You Can Feel Good Again. Be sure you read them

More good books are Choose To Be Happy, by Swami Chetanananda. I know with a name like his it sounds funny, but he really explains why happiness is a spiritual path to enlightenment. The book, Awareness, by Anthony DeMello who was a Priest, is a fantastic achievement for the work he did on happiness. How We Choose to Be Happy, by Rick Foster & Greg Hicks is a recent book and one that is important. No list is complete without the book, Man's Search For Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl, M.D. This is a must read to understand the meaning of happiness.

Albert Ellis, Ph.D., wrote more than 70 books; How to Make Yourself Happy and Remarkably Less Disturbable, is one of his best. Choice Theory, by William Glasser, M.D. is one of the most remarkable books on choosing happiness. Daniel Goleman, Ph.D. has introduced us to Emotional Intelligence, and understanding that IQ is not everything. Read The Art of Worldly Wisdom, by Baltasar Gracian, it's an oldie but a goodie

I must include: How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have, by John Gray, Ph.D. This is Gray's best book on happiness. Teach Only Love, by Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D. is a classic. Happiness Is A Choice, by Barry Neil Kaulfman, is a must read because he is a pioneer in the field of happiness. Food for Thought, by Lionel R. Ketchian is a personal recommendation. Prescriptions for Happiness, by Ken Keyes, Jr., as well as all his books are full of insight. Ken was on my Radio show in 1994, he has since past away. You would learn quite a bit from The Art Of Happiness, A Handbook for Living, by The Dalai Lama.

Read a copy of A Manual For Living - Epictetus, by Sharon Lebell, any material on Epictetus is fantastic. He lived in 300 A.D., and his words are just as true today. The Skill Of Happiness, by Jim Leonard is a good one for meditation. Climb your Stairway to Heaven, The 9 habits of maximum happiness, by David Leonhardt is a wonderful book, full of insight by an author and his wife discovering and living these principles of happiness in their lives. Read the first chapter free on line at: www.leonhardtonline.com.
Read The Choice or The Greatest Salesman In The World, by Og Mandino. He is one of my favorite authors, and I had the privilege of having him on my radio show in 1994, he has since past away as well.

And for the final books I recommend: Being Happy!, by Andrew Matthews,
this is a must read for learning to be happy. The Pursuit Of Happiness, by David G. Myers, Ph.D. is one you will keep hearing about. Why People Don't heal and How They Can, by Carolyn Myss, Ph.D. is a great book by a really wonderful human being that I have had the privilege to meet. I grew up reading The Power of Positive Thinking, by Rev. Norman Vincent Peale. I cannot say enough about Unlimited Power, by Anthony Robbins. I re-read his book more times than any other book I have. In fact I had Tony on my radio show and he signed my book because it was so dog-eared and had yellow highlighting on almost every page.

A latest New York Times bestseller is The Four Agreements, A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz; and The Mastery Of Love, A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship, by Don Miguel Ruiz. Both books are excellent. I was very impressed with Finding Joy, A Practical Spiritual Guide To Happiness, by Dannel I. Schwartz, who is a Rabbi and great happiness teacher. I love Dr. Bernie Siegel for the work he has done in Love, Medicine & Miracles. He has done so much to change the way people think about illness and happiness.

Finally I encourage you to read; In the Spirit of Happiness, by The Monks Of New Skete. They are Monks that live in New York State, raise German Shepherds and understand what religion says about happiness. My list would not be complete without Life Was Never Meant to Be a Struggle, by Stuart Wilde.

These books and authors are some of my best friends, and they can be yours as well. Check the collection of books listed on the happiness web site. The 301 books listed on the web are only part of the 1200 books that I've read in my library. First a book sits on your shelf, then sits in your mind, and finally fits in your heart. Taking home a good book is similar to inviting a friend into your home. Put some in your library today!

How do you learn to use the gift of happiness you possess? Come to a Happiness Club meeting. Our next meeting is February 7, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. The topic is "The Heart of Happiness," and will be held in the Rotary Room, at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road. There is no charge for the meeting.

Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club. He can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The Web site is www.HappinessClub.com

Put on your happy face and share a smile -- just forward this Newsletter to your friends. They will thank you. It's FREE, and easy to subscribe. Just send your e-mail to subscribe at: Happinessclub@aol.com, or subscribe online at: http://www.HappinessClub.com

Spread some happiness, send some to your friends!
Lionel

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