"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." - Thich Nhat Hanh

I want you to practice "Premeditated Happiness." Happiness is one of the most important things in your life. Happiness does wonders for your soul. You should 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!

"Choices are the hinges of destiny." - Edwin Markham

Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Letting you know about our meeting dates, giving you happiness information, and the latest copy of the Be Happy Zone Article that is published every other Wednesday in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Read the latest article called: Tragedy or Strategy?

Think Smart, Be Smart! Be Happy!
Lionel

Happ-E-Quote:) "Don't hurry, don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So be sure to stop and smell the flowers." - Walter Hagen (1892-1969) He was an American golfer who won 2 US Opens and 4 British Opens, as well as 5 PGA Championships.

Happ-E-Mail:) That was a very touching article about Thanksgiving and the Basket Brigade. I think everyone should know about this wonderful experience. My boyfriend, Peter thanked me after we delivered the last basket for introducing this experience to him. See you soon. Love and Happiness, Joanne

Happ-E-Quote:) _Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.   - Albert Schweitzer

Happ-E-Web Site:) Our Happinessclub.com is a site to see, take a look:) Click here: www.happinessclub.com. We are still in the process of updating our web site. If you like this newsletter, then spread the word, and share it with your friends and colleagues.

Happ-E-Mail:) Haven't been on the site for years. Was and still am a big fan since the forming of the Happiness Club. Love the site. SMILE! =o) - Paige

(Happ-E-Quote:) _We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill

Age old happiness:) For Aristotle, ethics and politics both study practical knowledge, that is, knowledge that enables people to act properly and live happily.
Aristotle argued that the goal of human beings is happiness, and that we achieve happiness when we fulfill our function. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what our function is. The function of a thing is what it alone can do, or what it can do best. For example, the function of the eye is to see, and the function of a knife is to cut. Aristotle declared that a human being is "the rational animal" whose function is to reason. Thus, according to Aristotle, a happy life for human beings is a life governed by reason.

(Happ-E-Quote:) "You cannot tailor make your situation in life, but you can tailor make your attitudes to fit those situations." - Zig Ziglar

HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING:) It was wonderful meeting so many of you at our Holiday Party and I look forward to meeting you at our next one. Our next meeting will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2003, from 7:00 - 8:45 PM at Sullivan Independence Hall - Downstairs in the back. Just around the corner from the Library. 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield. Meet some new friends and get yourself in a happy mood for the New Year. Admission is free.

Meet:) "A Happy New Year"
Date:) Thursday, January 16, 2003
Time:) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place:) Sullivan Independence Hall - Downstairs in the back.
Just around the corner from the Library.
Address:) 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824

Open to the public and admission is free. http://www.happinessclub.com
Call Lionel Ketchian (203) 258-7777 or E-mail: PrintLRK@aol.com

Happ-E-Quote:) "They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing." -Hindu proverb

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
December 4, 2002

Tragedy or Strategy?
By Lionel Ketchian

Life hands you a bad deal. Will you make it a tragedy or will you have a strategy to deal with it? If you don't have a way to deal with life's adversities then you will create a tragedy from it. Remember, it's not what happens, but your response to it. I have been talking about happiness and the decision making process for years now. It is a very empowering way to deal with the unpleasant things that life may have in store for you.

Recently, a reader sent me a wonderful quote by Ralph Marston that really express the idea of the Happiness Decision. "True happiness does not demand anything at all from you. There is nothing that you must first go out and acquire before you can be happy. Happiness is yours when you decide to live with it. Though the superficial symbols and appearances of happiness may be out of reach, happiness itself never is. Do you want to truly be happy, or would you rather just look like you're happy? Lots of people go to plenty of effort to surround themselves with the appearance of happiness, but that is a sadly empty pursuit, even when it is successful. The genuine happiness that comes from the heart does not cost anything -- it pays. The decision to be happy and thankful for where you are can do far more to move you ahead than any resentment or discontent. There is nothing outside of you that forces you to be happy and nothing that prevents you from being happy. If you'd like the positive power of happiness it is always there for you to live."

I want to present you with the Happiness Decision to use in your life. This simple decision to be happy can be the most effective strategy for running your life, once you have made it. I, _____ ________ do solemnly Decide to adopt the Happiness Decision by BEING HAPPY NOW. Rather than react to my problems I will use Happiness to respond to them forsaking all negative thoughts. Regardless of circumstances, IN ALL WAYS I WILL Choose Happiness for the rest of MY LIFE. Signed _________________ Date ____________.

Now that you have made the Happiness Decision you will want to understand how it works for you. You must now choose happiness over everything else in life. You must choose it even when something happens that you don't like. Stay happy and do whatever you can to change it. If you stay happy you will have more power, energy, resources, and wisdom to make the changes you want to see. You will be able to do all this without losing your peace of mind and remain happy while working on the changes you want.

By Being Happy you automatically stay focused in the present moment. You can't be happy and worry about the past. Remember now is now, and then is then. Don't become a prisoner of the past. You must stay in the present in order to be happy. So you just got rid of the huge burden of thinking about the past. You also have no need to focus on the future because that is how fear is created. Fear is your perceived inability to cope with something that you think may happen. You will be able to cope with anything, once you have adopted the Happiness Decision as your strategy. Stay in the present and make the best choices you can right now. These are the things that will positively affect your future.

It turns out that being happy means you must stay in a grateful state of mind, or else you would not be happy. Consequently happiness gets you in touch with what you have rather than making you think about what you don't have, or what you think you must have. While we are at it, I must mention that you might as well practice forgiveness. You can't be happy while you are carrying a grudge. It you're happy you won't need to carry a grudge. Do you know how heavy a grudge can be? Let me tell you that it can weigh an awful lot especially when you carry your grudge for years. It is downright back breaking. Lighten up and get rid of your unnecessary weight. See how happiness makes you run faster, feel lighter and look younger.

Being happy makes you powerful. Happiness is power. When you say someone makes you unhappy it is because you have given that someone your power. Take it back -- don't give your power away. Your power belongs with you. It's been said that you can either be right or you can be happy. I always say take being happy. Let them think they are right, just tell them you're happy. I just saw a magnet with the message: The only good thing about being wrong is the happiness it brings to others. It is now on my refrigerator.

When you have made the Happiness Decision, you will have tapped into a powerful strategy for living life. Live your life with happiness. Being unhappy is not worth the price you pay. Unhappiness has no payoff. Life is short -- Be Happy and you will have power. This is the power you need over yourself not the power we try to get by trying to control others. You have power when you have control within yourself. Strategy or tragedy -- you choose!

Our next Happiness Club meeting is on Thursday, December 12, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. We are having a "Happy Holiday Party" and you are invited to join us. We will have music, deserts, coffee and soft drinks, fun and friends like you. It will take place in the Rotary Room, at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road. There is no charge for the meeting. Celebrate life, come on down and share the joy!

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

Reprinted with permission by the Fairfield Citizen-News

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© Copyright 2002, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.