When you are unhappy, you are choosing the worst possible state imaginable. Being unhappy exposes you to being defenseless! Being unhappy makes you lose your power, and you have allowed yourself to become unprotected. You begin to feel helpless and hopeless. When you feel unhappy, you are feeling unshielded and unsafe. You have allowed yourself to become vulnerable.

This feeling of vulnerability makes you feel tense and irritable. You become nervous and guarded. You become overly sensitive to every little thing that happens. Once you allow yourself to choose to be unhappy, you are susceptible to the worst things happening to you. Vulnerability is the cause of many of our problems.

When you consider that I am a happy person, you might say to yourself, so what? I agree with you that it does not sound like any big deal. Now, let's consider another person for a moment. Let's consider a teenager who is happy. Again you might think, so what? Well, let's consider for a moment that this person is not unhappy. You still say, okay, so he or she is not unhappy, so what? Well, the fact that you and I are not unhappy, or that the teenager is not unhappy is an extremely big deal. Why? It is an incredible thing because when people are unhappy they want to hurt others, to feel better about themselves.

Unhappy people think about harming other people. In fact they not only think about it, they are more likely to act out their feelings and attack others. Unhappiness causes people to want to negatively harm other people. Happy people on the other hand want to share their happiness with others. They want to be friendly and in turn help others become happier. It is a natural effect of a happy person to want others to be happy as well. Whereas, an unhappy person feels vulnerable and will react by having thoughts of harming others. The happy person does not have feelings of vulnerability and does not think of harming others.

Oscar Wilde made an excellent point when he said, "When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy." The world is safer with happy people. We need to begin educating people in schools and in groups to the positive effects of being happy. By being happy, we create a safer world. We need to become aware of the deadly effects of unhappiness and the feeling of vulnerability that accompanies it. By not choosing to be unhappy we can learn to behave better, because we will not be having the experience of feeling vulnerable.

Bertrand Russell said, "Mankind has become so much one family that we cannot insure our own prosperity except by insuring that of everyone else. If you wish to be happy yourself, you must resign yourself to seeing others also happy . . . Contempt for happiness is usually contempt for other people’s happiness, and is an elegant disguise for hatred of the human race." The fact is that when you are unhappy everybody loses. When you are happy everybody wins. Happiness is a win/win situation. Only a happy person could want happiness for others. You have to have happiness to be able to give it away.

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation by international documentary photographer Daryl Hawk who will present a slide show and lecture entitled: "The Last Shangri-La." Mr. Hawk will share his nonstop, day-to-day adventures, experiences, discoveries, and valuable lessons learned on this incredibly spiritual journey through this last Shangri-La, in which the national motto is "gross national happiness."

This past November Mr. Hawk spent a month alone traversing from west to east through the mythical and medieval kingdom of Bhutan. Bhutan is hidden, high away in the Himalayas. Photographs of dramatic and rarely seen landscapes, stunning Buddhist monasteries and fortresses, ancient secret religious ceremonies and festivals, the King’s birthday celebration and the lifestyles of the people who inhabit this kingdom will all be highlighted in this presentation.

The meeting is Thursday, September 15, from 7:00 - 8:45 p.m. at the newly renovated Fairfield Public Library, in the new Rotary Room at 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Admission is free; everyone is welcome. For further information, check the web site or call Lionel Ketchian at 203 258-7777.

BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian

Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News, September 14, 2005

Life is complicated, happiness is simple!

Happiness Empowerment to You! LIVE RICHLY...PRACTICE HAPPINESS!

Sharing Love, Peace and Happiness with you,
Lionel Ketchian

Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Giving you our Happiness Club Meeting dates, The Happiness 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 beginning of this newsletter you can read the latest article called: Don't Be Vulnerable!

"What is so important that it has the power to make us unhappy?" - Eckhart Tolle

Think Smart, Look Smart, Be Smart...Be Happy!

When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inward and examine ourselves. - Confucius

I read about your organization in the Bottom Line Health and found it to be just what I am in need of. Thank you, Ruth
Happ-E-Quote :)

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light. -Albert Schweitzer

Dear Lionel: Thank you for your beautiful words and meaningful message of happiness and love for our dear elders. I love the idea of the "Be Happy Zone" sign. Can I circulate this idea among all elder centers? Sunday we are celebrating Grandparent's Day and hopefully one of our elder community centers will have a Bench of Dreams in their community. I dream for all grandparent's in every corner of this beautiful planet Earth to think happiness, breathe happiness, feel and share happiness in every way possible and every day.

Thank you for all you do planting seeds of happiness everywhere you go with your mind, your dancing fingers in the keyboard and with your kind spirit. Best wishes, Peace be with you! Kathy

I just read your article in "Bottom Line Health" and was very impressed. Thank you, Lynn

To wish to progress is the largest part of progress. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 B.C.-65 A.D.) Philosopher and statesman

I am planning my October trip to see the Fairfield Happiness Club. I will be arriving at Boston's Logan Airport, Wednesday, October 19th at about 4:30 PM. I've rented a car and plan to drive right to Fairfield, CT that evening. I'm planning on going to the Happiness Club meeting on Thursday evening October 20th, so I'll be staying in Fairfield Wednesday and Thursday nights. Be healthy and happy, With love, happiness, and best wishes!

Dr. Bob Nozik

Happ-E-Quote :)

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? - Abraham Lincoln

As Snoopy, the cartoon character, says, "to live is to dance --- and to dance is to live."

How often people are so sad and angry that loved ones die and lousy things happen in this world. I was apart of this group, especially for years after my mother's death, that occurred as a result of an accident at her home. I have been so fortunate, with God's loving guidance. Add the help and wisdom of a young Rector, named Matthew Calkins, a remarkable woman named Ann Januski, who has been my mentor for years, a man called Lionel Ketchian, a living 'joy magnet', and my biblical faith. I have been taught to 'truly dance and live'. I am so blessed with gratitude for all I have been given with gifts from God, and after a long daily life course involving a 'FAITH WALK', I am learning to have a mind that "is open to everything and attached to nothing". Embrace the moment. Let God become my graceful partner in all I do! --- beyond the stresses, shyness, and isolation into community and joy. The One who calls us to dance, delivers us from our past into the power of now, the power of connectedness, the power of all is possible.

Anne Fasanella, September 12, 2005
( 4th anniversary of my mother's death)

"If a flower blooms once, it goes on blooming somewhere forever. It blooms on for whoever has seen it blooming." - William H. Armstrong

I just wanted to say thanks for all of the help you have provided me, through email & newsletters. I am grateful that I met you and that we have become friends. I don't know if you realize how much you have helped me. You have made a difference in my life and I know you will continue to do so. My divorce is wrapping up and Sept. 22, is the divorce date. I have been thinking about people who have made a difference in my life. You have made a difference in more ways then one. You have helped me through some of the worst times in my life and I appreciate it. I hope you are doing well and hope one day I will see you again. Until then, Peace, love and happiness, David

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." - Buddha

Watch "The Happiness Show," every Monday night, at 9:30 - 10:00 PM. Your co-hosts are Lionel Ketchian and George Ortega. The TV show is broadcast in six towns on Cablevision of Connecticut channel 77. It airs in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Milford, Orange, Stratford and Woodbridge. Watch "The Happiness Show," every Thursday night from 9:00 - 9:30 PM on Cablevision in White Plains, New York on channel 76.

We are proud to present, at no charge, over one hundred 28 minute episodes we've taped so far in streaming audio (for 28.8 Kbps+), streaming video (for 56 Kbps+), and Select episodes in broadband streaming video (for DSL, cable, wireless and satellite) Internet connections.

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation called:

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation by international documentary photographer Daryl Hawk who will present a slide show and lecture entitled: "The Last Shangri-La." Hawk will share his nonstop, day-to-day adventures, experiences, discoveries, and valuable lessons he learned on this incredibly spiritual journey through this last Shangri-La in which the national motto is "gross national happiness." This past November Mr. Hawk spent a month alone traversing from west to east thought the mythical and medieval kingdom of Bhutan, which is hidden, high away in the Himalayas. Photographs of dramatic and rarely ever seen before landscapes, stunning Buddhist monasteries and fortresses, ancient secret religious ceremonies and festivals, the King’s birthday celebration and the lifestyles of the people who inhabit this kingdom will all be highlighted in this presentation.

Date :) Thursday, September 15, 2005

Time :) 7:00 - 8:45 P.M.
Place :) Fairfield Public Library, in the new Rotary Room

Address :) 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824

Admission is free; everyone is welcome.

Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

Directions to Fairfield Public Library
1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824

(diagonally across the street from the movie theatre)

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.

I-95 Southbound Exit 22:

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-Quote :)

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." - Lou Holtz

Please RSVP because it helps Aymee & Bob prepare.

Meetings are free, hope to see you! Thank you!

Happily, Aymee

You are responsible for the world that you live in. - August Wilson

Jane Bradley, founder and recently retired president of the Happiness Club of Niagara, has been re-designated The Canadian Ambassador Of Happiness.

Jane is unable to a maintain monthly meeting schedule but can be reached at

Cheers! Jane

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Happiness is one of the most important things in your life. Happiness is an inner state of well being. A state of well being that enables you to profit from your highest: thoughts, wisdom, intelligence, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values in your life. Happiness does wonders for your soul. Practice "Premeditated Happiness." Happiness is an issue of power. We give our power to others for many reasons, and we think that they will make us happy. The truth is that we have given others power over ourselves. We can take our power back in order to be happy again. Now is the time to learn to use happiness in dealing with challenges and difficult people in your life so you can develop the strength to prevail. 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!

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

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

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

"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.