Welcome to 2005 and lets make it a great year. Let us all change the things we can and know the things we cannot change and not let them negatively affect us. There's is an old Irish toast that states, "In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want." May we all live in friendship and never in want. With the news of the Tsunami in the world and the devastation it has brought, it makes me think about what we can learn from it. A few lessons that we may be able to learn is that life is short and we never know how short it will be for any of us. We need to be kind to one another no matter what because we need each other and we are interconnected. We need to appreciate this moment and each person in our life right now because it could be the last time we get to tell them how much they mean to us.

It is always in our power to love, laugh, be happy, be kind, be generous and genuine no matter what happens to us in life. Even when we have nothing to give we can always give our smile, our love and our best wishes from our heart. It is in this way of giving that we become the richest person in the world.

I am pleased to report that Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Club International, with its over 2,500 chapters world-wide, is creating a new organization called The World Happiness Society. The five other co-founders of this promising enterprise are Dr. Carole Brown, Dr. Pradeep Vedam, George Ortega, Aymee Coget, and myself.

"Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at." - Wolfgang von Goethe
Happiness Empowerment to You! LIVE RICHLY...PRACTICE HAPPINESS!

Sending Love, and Happiness to you,
Lionel Ketchian

Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Giving you our Happiness Club Meeting dates, bringing you The Happiness TV Show, on television and on the Internet, the newest happiness information, and your latest copy of the Be Happy Zone Article's that are published every other Wednesday in the Fairfield Citizen-News. At the end of this newsletter you can read the latest article called: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Laughter is a powerful way to tap positive emotions." - Norman Cousins

Think Smart, Look Smart, Be Smart...Be Happy! - Lionel Ketchian

Happ-E-Letter :) I received this letter in the mail yesterday. It was written on Christmas Day and mailed to me. This is part of the letter:

Dear Lionel,

You cannot imagine the importance of your message of today. It re-encourages me to continue and not to give up my efforts in favor of world happiness. I want to have Ministries of Happiness created in all governments. I am working on a reform of the United Nations for it's 60th anniversary. I would very much like to receive ideas from you. Let us give a prominent place to happiness in the world organization.

- Dr. Robert Muller,

Former United Nations Assistant Secretary General

Cofounder and Former Chancellor of the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica

Recipient of 2002 World Citizenship Award awarded by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's.

Happ-E-Quote :) "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Happ-E-Mail :) Dr. Robert Muller was an old friend from way back when I started writing and doing this work. Thanks for the memories! Dr. Bernie Siegel

Happ-E-Quote :) "Challenge is the core and the mainspring of all human activity. If there's an ocean, we cross it; if there's a disease, we cure it; if there's a wrong, we right it; if there's a record, we break it; and finally, if there's a mountain, we climb it." - James Ramesy Ullman

Happ-E-Mail :) I just love attending the meetings there is so much sharing, warmth and all of the smiles are just wonderful. The Holiday Party was fun, I enjoyed myself and it was nice to meet new people and converse with them. Thank you once again for being such a good role model. You have the most wonderful animated face when you speak of happiness, it just flows through your whole being. I will continue too join the wonderful people, I will keep smiling. I am learning that I can look at events that happen in a different light, I can accept things the way I see them and not have to take all the other stuff that someone chooses to put out there. It is theirs and they may deal with it. Wishing you peace, love, blessings and happiness this Christmas season. May your New Year be filled with more happiness than even you can imagine. Lots of Love and Happiness, Mary

Happ-E-Quote :) "We can do no great things…only small things with great love." - Mother Teresa

Happ-E-Mail :) I have been lucky enough to have been reading the happiness newsletters for a long time now and feel good every time I do. I love everything about it, except for the fact that I can't attend any meetings as I live in Australia. Is there any hope of seeing them begin here or is it purely in the United States? I look forward to your reply, regards. Monica Holley

Happ-E-Quote :) "The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want." - Ben Stein

Happ-E-Mail :) Thank you for helping me find happiness. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Maria Bartram

Happ-E-Quote :) "If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world." - Thomas Merton

Happ-E-Mail :) Enjoyed your Christmas gathering earlier in the month. Hope you are enjoying the holidays with good cheer. YOU are the best!!! You are one in a gazillion for all you do. GOD BLESS YOU today and always xoxo and lots of happiness and good health to you and your family for 2005. Anne Fasanella

Happ-E-Quote :) "The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others." - Vincent Van Gogh

Happ-E-Mail :) Hi Lionel, The New York (Tony Robbins) Powerteam has a site up now

Have a Happiness Holiday! Make your life a magical adventure, Rich Kuepper, President

Happ-E-Quote :) "I've come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy." - Anthony Robbins

Happ-E-Mail :) Happy Holidays! Although I haven't been able to attend the wonderful Happiness meetings the last few months, I have certainly enjoyed the newsletters! I do plan to attend in the new year! Thanks again for such a grand contribution to our world! With much gratitude and many good wishes for the new year, Alison Buchanan

Happ-E-Quote :) "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." - Dale Carnegie

Happ-E-Mail :) Dear Mr. Ketchian: I am a New York Times reporter doing a story on the happiness movement. If you have a moment, could you possibly give me a call when you get this message? Thanks so much, M.F.

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

Happ-E-Mail :) Greetings, Lionel! It’s been 10 years since I stopped my public teaching (The Successful Living Program on WICC Radio which ended December 31, 1994). Those ten years have seen your public work continue and include the development of your "happiness" organization including the web site, the club and newsletter.

Now to my point. What a newsletter! The content, as always, is valuable and rare. But you pack in more than 5000 words, 5500 this month, with not a single underline, bold sub-heading or bulleted list. It’s an organizational puzzle, difficult to read for that reason. I think you’ll agree that the content deserves better, don’t you think?

Specifics. If I had the time I’d volunteer to edit it for you, Lionel. But I think you have the skills and other resources. And you can do a lot of the fixing yourself by simply breaking up the mass of writing with some identifying headings that separate one section from another. For example, I know that I, for one, would read the newsletter more often if it were easier to find the New Material and skip the stuff that’s been there before, the Boilerplate, if you will. That’s just one simple way to reorganize the letter and make the thing more readable, attractive and, most importantly, helpful to your readers. Keep up the Good Work you're doing. Sincerely, Carl Rodia

Happ-E-Quote :) "An effort made for the happiness of others lifts [us] above ourselves." - Lydia M. Child (1802-1880) Writer

Happ-E-Mail :) Hi, I just happened to stumble onto your web site and love it. I would be delighted to be included in your free Happ-E-Newsletter. I wish we had such a club in Ottawa, Canada. Thanks, Marilyn :)

Happ-E-Quote :) "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." - Arthur Rubenstein

Happ-E-Mail :) As a personal friend and admirer of Rabbi Pliskin, author of "Gateway to Happiness" and 17 other books on personal well-being, I was very excited to come across your article entitled, "The Happiness Television Show" dated December 3, 2003, in which you describe how he influenced George Ortega.

Over the years, Rabbi Pliskin has been fine-tuning a unique system that empowers those he coaches to establish continual positive inner states, which, in turn, become translated into consistently positive actions and a transformed, happy and fulfilling life. He has, in fact, influenced thousands of people over the years through his books, seminars, audio CD's and one-on-one personal consultations. Rabbi Pliskin practices what he preaches. He is a true living dynamic expression of his teachings. I recommend that you invite him to be interviewed on your TV show on the topic of Happiness. Also please subscribe me to your news letter. Sincerely, Eliezar Nevies.

Happ-E-Reply :) Dear Eliezar, Your e-mail is a gift from God to me. I really mean it. When another friend, Julian Kalmar told me about this book, I decided I must read it. I am not Jewish and I am now reading Rabbi Zelig Pliskin's, book the "Gateway to Happiness." I have almost 400 books on happiness on my web site and I have read over 1,500 books regarding the subject. I have found "Gateway to Happiness" to be the very best book on happiness I have ever read. I consider it a Bible of Happiness. I also want you to know that I have truly fallen in love with Rabbi Pliskin. I have finally found a book I can learn more from than I have in a very long time.

As a friend of Rabbi Pliskin please let him know that I will contact him very shortly. I also want to say thank you Eliezar for contacting me. You are also a friend of mine by association. I know that the principles in "Gateway to Happiness" can and will change the world for those who seek change. Thank you for being a bringer of peace and love, for that is what happiness is. Sending Love, and Happiness to you, Lionel

Happ-E-Quote :) "One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed." - Bernard M. Baruch

Happ-E-Quote :) "You will discover that you have two hands. One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others. - Audrey Hepburn

Happ-E-Mail :) Happiness lies within. It's a gift no one can give to you but yourself! Don't ever be too busy to enjoy your children. They grow up too fast. Never underestimate the power of a compliment or a smile. From Lisa Simms

Happ-E-Quote:) "We all need to decide whether to "play it safe" in life and worry about the downside, or instead take a chance, by being who we really are and living the life our heart desires. Which choice are you making?" - Charlie Badenhop

Happ-E-Mail :) Another vintage Happy Newsletter; a tour de force! You are becoming a real clearing house for the truly happy to connect. That's got to make you feel good. You've touched on acceptance in the Happy Newsletter before. To me, acceptance is how happy people deal with life's tough stuff. Happy people have been accused of either being callous, indifferent or just oblivious when it comes to dealing with things like world suffering, disease, and cruelty. Of course, that's not true, but I believe that acceptance is the prime tool that we need to use for life's pain. And acceptance doesn't mean not doing anything; far from it. Acceptance doesn't mean liking world suffering and disease. Acceptance just means that we don't get caught up in energy draining and ineffective hand wringing and wailing over life's tragedies. We first must accept what is before we can work effectively to remedy it. Acceptance frees our minds to think clearly about what we can do. Acceptance allows us to let in the problem without it paralyzing us. It also connects us to the world and to those less fortunate than we are. It allows us to fully feel the pain others feel rather than retreat into our own, isolated happiness or unhappiness. Enjoy what's happening and you be sure to be happy. Dr. Bob Nozik

Happ-E-Quote :) "Ten enemies cannot do a man the harm that he does to himself." - Yiddish Proverb

Happ-E-Mail :) While child-sitting on Sunday night, I went to answer the door and did not see the new step in their new marble foyer. I was planning to attend the Happiness Club meeting tonight for the festivities...but rest is what I need. I thank God that the fall I took only produced 3 fractured ribs and nothing else. I have a good attitude and whenever the pain hits...I offer it up for the service men who are in worse pain. It gives me lots of time to catnap if I find the right position and I know my attitude is helping me to feel less pain every day...believing this is the key...I pass it on for what it is worth. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!! It seems not many people have the courage to say this today...what"s going on in this world!????? PEACE BE WITH YOU! jOAN E. kLEINKNECHT

Happ-E-Quote :) "A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs --jolted by every pebble in the road." - Henry Ward Beecher

Happ-E-Quote :) "Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God." - Karl Barth

Happ-E-Mail :) Enjoyed the Happiness Newsletter as always. You and I share warm wishes of peace and happiness all year long. Now all we have to do is to get all the others to do the same. JOHN

Happ-E-Quote :) "We can do more good by being good, than in any other way." - Rowland Hill

HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING :) Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a "How to Make it a Happy New Year!" We all look forward to seeing you. Come on down, meet some great people, get connected, and share the joy! Please bring a food dish or snack or drink to share with all.

Meet :) "How to Make it a Happy New Year!"

Date :) Thursday, January 20, 2005

2005 UPCOMING HAPPINESS CLUB MEETINGS DATES :)
Thursday, February 17, 2005

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Directions to Fairfield Sullivan Independence Town Hall
725 Old Post Road (corner of Beach Road) Fairfield, CT 06824
I 95 Southbound Exit 22: Left onto North Benson Road, then cross Post Road/Route 1 and continue one block to stop sign. Take a right onto Old Post Road and continue one block to stop sign. Town Hall is across the street on the left and Independence Hall is down the driveway from Town Hall.
I 95 Northbound Exit 22: Right onto Round Hill Road, then cross Post Road/Route 1 and
continue one block to stop sign. Town Hall is across the street on the right and Independence Hall is down the driveway from Town Hall.

Happ-E-Quote :) "My life is in the hands of any fool who makes me lose my temper." - Joseph Hunter

The next meeting of the Canada Happiness Club will be THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2005. THE HAPPINESS CLUB OF NIAGARA IS DELIGHTED TO PRESENT: DAVID ROURKE WHO WILL DEMONSTRATE: EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE (EFT). OFTEN CALLED "ACUPUNCTURE FOR THE EMOTIONS," E.F.T IS A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU CAN LEARN IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. LEARN A UNIQUE EXERCISE THAT CALMS YOU SO THAT YOU CAN THINK MORE CLEARLY ABOUT ANYTHING! Client comments: "If I weren't sitting here experiencing this, I wouldn't believe it!" "This is amazing! I am so calm!"

The time if from 700 - 8:30 PM. It will be held at: The Normandy Resource Centre (The Legion), 111, Church Street, St. Catharines, Ontario. This facility is fully accessible. Admission is A smile and as always is free. Cheers! Jane

Happ-E-Quote :) "Learning is discovering that something is possible." - Fritz Perls (1893-1970) Psychoanalyst

BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian
December 31, 2004

I am going to do more than just wish you a Happy New Year! I am going to bring you happiness. Yes, I will bring it to you but you know that you must take it for yourself to have it. Once you have happiness you can give it away to create more of it. But realize that you can't give away what you do not have. Happiness is the most important thing to have and the greatest thing to give.

I would like you to know that great and happy things are happening right now as we go into the New Year together. I have so much to tell you about! Happiness is happening all over the world. You can see it on the cover of many magazines. They know it is the one thing that people really want, so they try their best to bring you articles about happiness in their publications.

The most important part of happiness is you. I have been meeting more people then ever before. The Internet has been a blessing in bringing like-minded people together to spread happiness throughout the world. The wonderful friends I have made have enriched my life and taught me even more about happiness. We have expanded our Happiness Club to Canada thanks to Jane Bradley. Bob Nozik, MD, is the author of the book Happy 4 Life: Here's How to Do It, and he is in charge of the California Happiness Club. We would love to create more clubs around the world.

I will be telling you about some really good books on happiness. I have found the best book ever written about happiness. The book is called Gateway to Happiness, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. I will share more about this book with you soon. I will also have a psychologist's view of what the Happiness Club meetings are like and what he has to say about them and about me.

I will be talking about a country that not only believes in happiness, but also considers it to be as important as their economy. We will have a beautiful slide show presentation by the famous photographer and explorer Daryl Hawk. He has traveled extensively and this past November he spent the entire month in the country of Butan. It is considered the last Shangri-La. The people are very friendly and good-natured and enjoy great health and well-being. The government of the country has realized that instead of a Gross National Product index they have a Gross National Happiness index. At our May Happiness Club meeting Daryl will share one of the greatest experiences he ever had with you.

On June 11, 2004, PBS in Connecticut had a large group of Happiness Club members live on the air for an hour & a half special presentation. PBS aired an interview with Dr. Bernie Siegel and myself from The Happiness Show. It is called Health & Happiness, Conversations with Bernie. Dr. Siegel and I will appeared on the PBS program live to promote the newly released DVD featuring conversations between Bernie and I. This was an important opportunity to learn more of life's lessons from one of the most compassionate doctors that has ever lived.

Your mail, e-mail, comments and thoughts have made me realize how very important my work in happiness really is. I received a card for the holidays with a three-page letter in it telling me that this column, our newsletters and our website have prevented this individual from committing suicide. This is how important happiness actually is. Unhappiness is a real problem in the world and it is my intention to do everything I possibly can to educate people about the value, the benefits and the power of happiness.

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be on Thursday, January 20, from 7:00 - 9:00. The presentation will be "How to Have A Happy New Year!" It will be held at the Sullivan Independence Hall, Fairfield. Admission is free; everyone is welcome. Looking forward to seeing you. Come on down, meet some great people, get connected, and have a very Happy New Year!

Our mailing list and your name is never sold, traded, or given to anyone outside of our organization. You can smile about that!

REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS: To be removed from this Happ-E-Newsletter reply with "Remove" in the subject line.

"Don't let go of the vine." - John Weissmuller, from the film, Tarzan.
Life is full of opportunities. Go For It! Carpe diem!

© Copyright 2005, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.