Hello My Dear Friend,
I welcome you with these thought provoking words of William James, who lived from 1842 to 1910, he was an American philosopher and psychologist. He said:
"How to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness is in fact, for most people, at all times, the secret motive for all they do."

And if happiness is a motive as William says, I want you to practice "Premeditated Happiness." Happiness is one of the most important things in your life. Happiness does wonders for your soul. I want you to know that reading this newsletter will not just make your life better; it will make the world a better place because you have decided to be happy!

"Don't wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom." - Jim Rohn

Have a sparkling day!
SMILE, HAPPINESS BECOMES YOU!
Sending Love, and Happiness to you,
Lionel

Happ-E-Quote:) "A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it." - Alexandre Dumas:

Happ-E-Purpose:) Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Letting you know about our meeting dates, giving you more happiness information, and the latest copy of the Be Happy Zone Article that's published twice a month in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Read today's article called: AWARENESS.

Happ-E-Quote:) "Each of us has a spark of life inside us, and our highest endeavor ought to be to set off that spark in one another." - Kenny Ausubel

Happy Mail:) Thank you to Don Barnett for creating "Movie Meetings." If you live in Southern Connecticut and would like to get together with some happy people and go to the movies on Tuesday evenings than e-mail Don at Knicks777@aol.com
and he will be in touch with you for upcoming Movie Meetings.

Happ-E-Quote:) "The man who cannot believe in himself cannot believe in anything else." - Roy L. Smith

Happ-E-Mail:) I've only been to one meeting but I am so HAPPY to be getting the newsletters. Thank you for all your good energy! - Samantha

Happ-E-Quote:) "I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom." - George S. Patton

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-News:) USA Today, 5-23-02 Article on "It pays ($200,000) to be so optimistic. This is an article honoring the advances in "positive psychology," by University professors studying happiness.

Suzanne Segerstrom, received $100,000, she is a University of Kentucky psychologist said: "Contrary to the popular image, optimists aren't Pollyanna's headed downhill to disappointment. They're more like "the little engine that could," huffing and puffing their way uphill. In the long term, these laboring optimists enjoy the last laugh: They could have a better shot than pessimists at reaching a high goal and celebrating with good health once they've arrived."

Sonja Lyubomirsky, received $50,000, she is with the University of California-Riverside, said: "Happier folks enjoy a more durable sense of self and aren't as buffeted by outside events."


Kennon Sheldon, received $30,000, he is with the University of Missouri and has looked at goals and motivations that lead to happiness. "The more you pursue goals of popularity, riches and beauty, the less happy you are." Sheldon says, "The more you pursue intimacy, community or personal growth, the happier you are."
That's because "what people think of you or what you see in the mirror may not be durable," unlike the goals linked to happiness.

Laura Kubzansky, received $20,000, she is with the Harvard University School of Public Health found that "optimism cuts the chances of developing heart disease and slows the rate of lung-function decline as people age."

Happ-E-Mail:) Got this from Lynette Turner. She just got back from presenting a talk to the TOPS group in Stratford, CT.

Wow--I had a great time. What a wonderful group of women (and one man). About 20 people were there. I told them how I came to be a member of the Happiness Club, I talked about what we do at the meetings (I gave them the Happiness Club website address); sang the Peace and Harmony song, talked about a number of things I do to be a happy person, talked about the four points in The Four Agreements book, shared with them about my friend who recently passed on, and sang the Angels Speak song. It really was fun. Thanks so much for asking me to do it.

Happ-E-Message:) I received this wonderful message about Lynette's talk from Ann Marie with the TOPS organization. Thanks Lynette for bring happiness to so others.

"Lynette was an absolute joy. Everyone enjoyed her presentation. She sings beautifully, her remarks were inspiring. It couldn't have gone better. The feedback was extremely positive and thank you so much for referring her to us." - Ann Marie

Happ-E-Quote:) "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." - Phillips Brooks

Happ-E-Mail:) A friend of mine sent me a few of the Be Happy Zone articles, which I enjoyed a great deal and would like to receive your Happy Newsletters. Thanks, Barb

Happ-E-Quote:) "People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success." - Norman Vincent Peale

Happ-E-Mail:) Your newsletter as usual is great with a wonderful message from the heart. I referred someone to your website yesterday and she was very interested. So glad you have this club going to meet the needs of so many people looking for happiness. Your formula works, and I just wanted to say thanks to a friend. Looking forward to seeing you next month. God Bless, Marianne

Happ-E-Run:) Relay For Life! The American Cancer Society is inviting you to join them in their annual Relay For Life of Fairfield, Starting at 7:00 PM on Saturday, June 8th, at Fairfield High School. For information call Jean Cummings at 203 563-0740 (press 3 and ext 239) or e-mail: jean.cummings@cancer.org.

Happ-E-Quote:) "Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly." - St. Francis De Sales

Happ-E-Mail:) And this just in from our friend Joanne Petitti. I get this daily reminder and I saw this great quote in it, so I am passing it on to you. Enjoy!! Today's Quote: "Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination." - Roy M. Goodman

Happ-E-Quote:) "The most influential person who will talk to you all day is you, so you should be very careful about what you say to you!" - Zig Ziglar

Happ-E-Meeting:) Join us for our next Happiness Club meeting Wednesday, June 19, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. The topic is "Happy Power." The presentation will be by Lionel Ketchian and Marianne T. Schorer. Ms. Schorer is a Certified Professional Behavioral and Values Analyst, master Practiitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Ericksonian Hypnosis Practitioner.

Don't miss this valuable meeting, and meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Please make a note this meeting is on a Wednesday not on Thursday like we usually have.

Happ-E-Quote:) "Most persons would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Topic:) "Happy Power"
Date:) Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Time:) 7:00 - 8:45 P.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.

Happ-E-Thoughts:) "Worry is interest paid on trouble before it falls due." - William Ralph Inge

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
May 22, 2002

AWARENESS
By Lionel Ketchian

I have a plaque on my desk that I have had for many years. My parents got it for me when they were still alive. It is a picture of the sun coming up with the words "Only that day dawns to which we are awake." These are the words once uttered by Henry David Thoreau.

You know, I have thought about these words for years wondering what Thoreau really meant by them. I felt that he was using the word awake to mean aware. Well, I looked up the word awareness and found out that one of its meanings is the word awake. This is what the dictionary says about the word. AWAKE implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert. It gives the following statement as an example: A country always awake to the threat of invasion.

It looks like I am right about the two words having the same meaning. I think that awareness is one of the most important things you can use to direct your life. It means that you need to be attentive to everything in and around your life. It is often when you are not conscious of things that you experience problems that you may have been able to avoid.

I think awareness is the ability to focus on what is happening within and around you. The more aware you are of yourself and your surroundings the better off you are and the safer you will be. I received information about a course that was given to police and military personnel. It was about how to avoid being the victim of a violent crime. One of the first lessons was that a lack of awareness was the number one reason people were attacked. It indicated that you MUST know where you are and what's going on around you. As the dictionary suggests being aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

People are attacked because they send out a signal to others that they are not in control of themselves and their surroundings. I am not going to go into all the things you can do to protect yourself in this article. The important thing for you to know is that when you act like you are aware of what is going on around you, then you're better off regarding your own safety. You're also better off regarding the fact that you will enjoy your life that much more.

Albert Einstein said: "A human being is part of the whole, called by us 'Universe,' a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

Awareness gives you an appreciation for what is going on in your life. You are more in touch with what is happening and your relationship to it. It is a form of being more perceptive to the things in your life. If your not aware of something you will not notice it, so you will never have the chance to appreciate it. It is appreciation that gives special meaning and beauty to your life.

At times, I may drop something out of my hand. When I am aware, I find myself catching it before it hits the floor. Sometimes I knock something over on my desk and catch it as it rolls off the desk. I have found that I do it without thinking about doing it. If I have to think about it, the object is already on the floor. I have analyzed this and found that thinking I can catch it interferes with just catching it without thinking. It is using awareness instead of thought.

Another thing that interferes with catching something falling is when you realize you are thinking: Oh, no! I don't want that to fall and break! Thinking about what you don't want will never get you what you do want, it gets in your way. Let that be the lesson of the day. You don't get what you want, by not wanting it. Most people go through life expressing what they don't want in their life. You need to express what you do want.

"Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing - no-one to blame," says Erica Jong. Her words imply that when you stop blaming others for things, you become responsible for your life and everything in it. It may not always be your fault that things are happening, but it is your responsibility. When you become accountable for yourself, a wonderful thing happens - less bad stuff happens to you.

When you are focussed on the moment, without distraction, you will find that your comprehension of things is greatly improved. By being aware, your perception of things is enhanced. Awareness is your ability to focus in the moment. It is your ability to concentrate. Awareness is like using a magnifying glass to focus your attention. When you are unaware you are compelled to be unconscious. In that state of mind it is not wonder why people can be insensible and unfeeling.

Mindfulness is another form of awareness. People meditate for the very purpose of sharpening their awareness. When you concentrate and focus on the moment you are taking charge of yourself and your life. "Only that day dawns to which your are awake." Wake up and see the roses, smell the coffee, hear the birds singing. Be aware, awake, alert and alive. If you're not aware in this present moment than you're "out of it!" You're not present; you're not here, right now! You're missing out on the greatest gift of all: Your present!

We would like you to be aware of our next Happiness Club meeting so you can join us on Thursday, June 19, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. The topic is "Happy Power," and will be held in the Rotary Room, at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road. There is no charge 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.

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