"You can always find reasons to work. There will always be one more thing to do. But when people don't take time out, they stop being productive. They stop being happy and that affects the morale of everyone around them." - Carisa Bianchi. She is the advertising genius behind the Energizer Bunny campaign.

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!

"Be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought." - Henry David Thoreau

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: PEACE & SERENITY IN 2003

Think Smart, Be Smart! Be Happy!
Lionel

Happ-E-Quote:) "Our ways of thinking make our happiness or unhappiness, our success or nonsuccess. We can, by effort, change our ways of thinking." - H. Emilie Cady (1848-1941) She was a homeopathic physician who believed in treating the whole person.

Happ-E-Mail:) Do you mind if I reproduce your happiness poem on my site? I'm not sure when, but I want to let a bit of poetry seep in (and if I rely on my own "talent" I may scare too many people away!). Keep sending out those positive vibes. Kick-start your day with "Your Daily Dose of Happiness" David Leonhardt, The Happy Guy
http://www.TheHappyGuy.com

Happ-E-Quote:) "The kindest thing you can do for the people you care about is to become a happy, joyous person." - Brian Tracy

Happ-E-Mail:) My feelings are the same as yours about our meeting and conversations about your presentation. I am very interested in pursuing the subject of "happiness." Your "Key To Happiness" program here at Middlesex Community College, yesterday has given me the opportunity to share some of these good thoughts about happiness with others here at the college. Thanks, Don Augusta

Happ-E-Quote:) "As for joy, you cannot separate joy from truth. There is no joy in ignoring or denying truth. The rejection of truth is the rejection of joy. And by embracing truth, even truth that is difficult and unpleasant, we are made ready to really embrace joy." - Randy Alcorn

Happ-E-Mail:) Hi Lionel! It was so nice to meet you! I thought it was a great talk! I actually found myself telling people twice late yesterday afternoon to quit complaining and just be "happy." It really does make sense. And, it is very true that if someone comes to you in a bad mood or complaining about something, that can change your whole day! Then, you start thinking like them! I wish everyone here could have attended. Maybe we can do it again sometime. Thanks Lionel; I will stay happy! Micki :) Middlesex Community College, CT.

Happ-E-Quote:) "Courage begins with the decision to face the ultimate truth about existence: the dirty little secret that we are free. It requires an understanding of free will at the archetypal level -- an understanding that we are free to define who we are at every moment. We are not what society and randomness have made us; we are what we have chosen to be from the depth of our being. We are product of our will. We are self-made in the deepest sense." - Peter Koestenbaum

Happ-E-Mail:) Barbara Cartsounis feels that we are spreading Happiness Enrichment as well as Happiness Empowerment!

Happ-E-Quote:) The Power of Attitude "Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive person causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst...a spark that creates extraordinary results." - Successories, Inc.

Happ-E-Mail:) I am thrilled to have discovered the Happiness Club thru a friend last week. I immediately subscribed to your newsletter and loved your January 1st e-mail. Thank you so much for being such a positive force in the world. You are an inspiration to me. I am a positive person and believe that it is the only way "to do a day"! I look forward to meeting you and other positive people at your January 16 meeting. All the best to you in 2003. Sincerely, Laura Eiman

Happ-E-Quote:) "First say to yourself what you would be, then do what you have to do." - Epictetus

HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING:) It was wonderful meeting so many of you at our Holiday Party. I look forward to meeting you at our next meeting which will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2003, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Sullivan Independence Hall. 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.

Betsey Beaven, a Homeopathic Educator, Lecturer, and Consultant will be making a presentation about Melissa Zollo's The Power of Imagination Makes Your Dreams Come True with Present Memory to the Happiness Club. Today's Daily Inspiration is: It is up to you to recognize the Power of Thought. You can shift your thinking towards solutions rather than problems, right now! Click here: Present Memory for spiritual growth, personal success and relaxation.

Meet:) "A Happy New Year" by Lionel Ketchian
& The Power of Imagination by Betsey Beaven
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
Room:) Come in the from the back and it is downstairs.
Park:) Plenty of free parking in the back.

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

Directions:
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.

Drive past the Fairfield Public Library as usual and keep going down the Old Post Road to the stop sign. Make a left to Old Field Road (YMCA on the right). Make a right on Town Hall Green Road as soon as you pass St. Pauls Church. At stop sign go right and follow signs to John J. Sullivan Independence Hall. The building is on your right hand side. Drive up and go to the back of the building and park in the back. Come in the back door and the meeting will be held downstairs on your right.

Happ-E-Quote:) "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song." - Maya Angelou

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
January 3, 2003

PEACE & SERENITY IN 2003
By Lionel Ketchian

Meditation is a powerful way to let go of unnecessary baggage and make the trip through life a lighter one. Most people are hung up on the right and wrong of meditating. It is better to begin any way you choose and perfect your style once you are doing it.

Proper meditation contains three important aspects. One of them is the way you arrange your body. When I meditate I sit in a chair or sofa with my back supported. My feet are flat on the floor with my legs straight or in a cross-legged fashion. Make sure that you are wearing loose fitting clothing, with nothing too tight. The second aspect of meditation is the way you control your breathing. In order to have a clear mind proper breathing is necessary. Sitting correctly is important in order for you to breathe well.

An important way to begin is by taking a deep breath. This enables you to begin to relax and loosen up your body as well as your mind. Your breathing should extend all the way down to your lower stomach area. You should feel your stomach moving, rising and falling as you breathe. You can place your hand on this area to make sure that it is moving. Take slow and deep breaths. You can breather in through your nose and out through your mouth.

The third and the most important aspect is what you do with your mind. I close my eyes, relax and let go of thoughts on my mind. You probably have heard of people repeating mantras. That is a word repeated with the breath so that you can stop the mind from thinking. I use a no-mind method that is very simple. I let go of the thoughts that I have had all day. Things on my mind, like the problems of the day, the anger and worries that life has a way of giving us. I let go of all this unnecessary stuff.

So far it sounds simple doesn't it. Well, it is very simple -- as simple as can be. The problem is that it is not easy. It is complete simplicity, and it is one of the hardest things to do. Yes, doing nothing is hard. In our culture, not doing something seems to mean doing nothing. It's not the same thing. Not doing, or meditating is far from doing nothing. It is eliminating the unnecessary stuff of the mind.

You probably have thousands of thoughts a day. The problem is that ninety-five percent of these are the same thoughts day in and day out. They may involve fear, worry, anger, and self-destructive thoughts. Do we ever really feel at peace within ourselves? How can we be with these self-destructive thoughts? Especially when it's the same destructive thoughts throughout each day.

Meditation can be a tool to allow the mind to release those negative thoughts. Let me give you an example of how important it can be. What if you couldn't go to the bathroom for a whole day to relieve yourself? How would you feel? What if you could not go for an entire week? Does it sound as if things would be a little hard to deal with? Meditation is a very good way of relieving yourself from those unneeded thoughts. You will actually feel relieved getting those thoughts out of your head. Thinking is a great thing, but when thinking creates anger, fear, and worry it becomes a problem. You do not need to be your own worst enemy.

I have found that meditating was helpful when I did not have time to get enough sleep. It allowed me to feel better than I would have on less sleep. Sometimes when I feel the day was especially demanding or oppressive, meditation has been a tremendous benefit in releasing the emotion invested in the problem. By just releasing the negative thoughts I have found, I can just let go of them and I don't have to do anything about it. It is amazing what a relief that is. Even when you must do something about a problem, meditating allows you to create some space between you and the problem. Sometimes that is all we need to do to allow ourselves the chance for our mind to come up with creative solutions.

Let's look at the details of the state of meditation. Close your eyes and imagine looking out at the horizon line at the beach. Everything is clear and nothing is in sight to distract you from your meditation. Along comes a thought, and you are off and running after it. Then, you remember why you were meditating in the first place. Go back to the horizon line and imagine the thought that distracted you as a ship passing along. Do not think about it, just watch it sail out of sight. Observe it with no judgment. You may realize that it is not that easy to keep your mind on what you intended. The idea of meditation is to be in control of your mind and not to let your mind control you. When you control something, that means you can stop it at any moment you choose. If that is true, then why can't you stop the chatter in your mind?

Meditation is even good for business people between meetings. When you feel as if things are piling up, just take a few minutes and meditate between meetings to freshen up your mental state. When it comes to meditation...just begin. Some of the other benefits are a healthier existence, less stress, and the ability to focus and concentrate on just one thing at a time.

Our next Happiness Club meeting is January 16, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The topic is "A Happy New Year," and will be held at the Sullivan Independence Hall, located at 725 Old Post Road, in the room downstairs. There is no charge for the meeting.

Learning and growing is one of the highest objectives of human life. Meditation can be an important tool in expediting this process. It can put us in the right state and contemplation can increase our understanding of life. The more we understand the more we feel a part of everything.

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.

Happ-E-Mail:) This is a wonderful article. I think it is so great to get this out to our society. I feel there are so many people that don't have the tools to make real changes in their lives and this is a great intro to meditation. I currently use two wonderful techniques that are not what you described, but are wonderful ways to accelerate the inner unfoldment. I copied a couple of sections that I really agree with, there are many others as well, these just stood out.

Meditation is a powerful way to let go of unnecessary baggage!
* I think this is the first major step that can take lifetimes, before we realize our pure God essence. Of course we do get wonderful glimpses along the way, I think that is what keeps me going!

Well, it is very simple -- as simple as can be. The problem is that it is not easy. It is complete simplicity, and it is one of the hardest things to do.
* Amen to that! How about 10 hours of simple meditation a day! What a wonderful experience though.

Do we ever really feel at peace within ourselves? How can we be with these self-destructive thoughts?
* This is a great realization! Until we recognize this, change is not possible. Too often people try to mask these thoughts or falsely seek peace in external things and that never works!

Have a wonderful day! It is fun having our paths cross. Wishing you peace and love. - Matt A.

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