Happ-E-Newsletter for May 1, 2006

Welcome My Dearest Friend!

Let's have a Happiness Club reunion! If you have attended before, don't miss the next meeting, you're in for a special treat!

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING :)

Our next Happiness Club meeting will is a presentation called:

"Happiness Surprise For You!"

You will greet a famous personality.

Write down the date and don't miss this meeting to find out who it is!

Date :) Thursday, May 18, 2006

Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.

Place :) At the Fairfield Public Library, in the Memorial Room

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

Everyone is welcome; admission is free.

Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

Future meetings at the Fairfield Library will be:

Thursday, June 15, Thursday, July 20, 2006.

Directions to Fairfield Public Library

1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824

(diagonally across the street from the movie theatre)

I-95 Northbound Exit 21:

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.

CAN YOU TRUST WHAT YOU SEE?

Count the "F's" in the following text:

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE-

SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIF-

IC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE

EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...

How many do you see? - 3?

You are wrong because there are 6! I am not kidding you. Read it again, this is not a joke.

The reasoning behind it will really amaze you. It seems the brain cannot process "OF." Is this incredible or what? Go back and look again! Anyone who counts three "F's" is normal, and four is quite rare. You can try it with your friends and see how they do.

At our last Happiness Club meeting I printed these words in large black type on a white board. We had about 30 people at the meeting who saw 3 F's in the above work. One person said they saw 4 F's. I told them there were 6 - F's and they still did not see. I had to show them the three F's that were in the word "OF." Thirty people were truly amazed. They asked how it was possible to miss seeing the F's. I told them that our brain couldn't process the word "OF."

Don't you think it is amazing that we can't see the letter "F,"? Here it is right out in plain sight, right before your very eyes in black and white and yet you can't see it. Think about this for a moment. If you can't see something that is plainly in front of you than you actually don't see everything you think you are looking for.

Psychology calls this phenomenon a "schetoma," or a blind spot. If we have a blind spot when we look for something we will have trouble recognizing it when we see it. Lets say for example that you are asked to go to the kitchen, open the cabinet above the stove and get the bowl of sugar on the second shelf. So you go to the kitchen, open the cabinet above the stove and look at the second shelf so you can find the bowl of sugar. You look for it and finally after a minute you give up and say, "I looked for it and it was not there." In the meantime someone comes along and points to the sugar bowl sitting on the second shelf right in front of your eyes. How come you did not see it? You were looking for it, it was there, you set your eyes on it and yet you could not locate it.

Now imagine for a moment that you are unhappy and you can't see how you can be happy. Maybe the real reason for being unhappy is that you have a schetoma, or a blind spot to happiness. It is possible that you are not seeing the good reasons for you to be happy and that you have become thoroughly blind to being happy. Are we blind to happiness as a society? It may be true that being happy may require us to "see," with the eyes of happiness. In other words, we may need to know we can see happiness, in order to really see what has been there all along.

Are we going to continue to be blind to our happiness? Life is very short and happiness is very important. It is time to really SEE what happiness can do for us. Even if you can't see happiness, just start using happiness and then you will see it for yourself. Maybe the problem is that we see only unhappiness and that blinds us to the happiness that is there for us to see and enjoy. Robert Louis Stevenson wisely advised us, "When we look into the long avenue of the future, and see the good there is for each one of us to do, we realize, after all, what a beautiful thing it is to work, and to live, and to be happy."

Making the Happiness Decision can help remove the schetoma once and for all, that we seem to have toward being happy. If you don't decide to be happy, then you will decrease your chances of removing the unhappiness blind spot. It might be said that unhappiness is nothing more than societal schetoma, or a societal blind spot, a refusal to see happiness. Let's not be blind to one of life's most significant gifts. The gift of happiness may give us superior insight. The only way to really see yourself being happy, is to be happy and then you can see happiness for yourself and in yourself.

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian

Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News - April 19, 2006

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 the Happiness Club Meeting dates, The Happiness Show, on television and the Internet, the newest happiness information, and your latest copy of the Be Happy Zone Article published every other Wednesday in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Read the latest article, at the beginning of this newsletter.

"Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows." - Robert Ingersoll

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

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

Happ-E-Mail :)

Dr. Bernie Siegel responded to the last Happiness Newsletter regarding the article about LONELINESS & HEALTH. This is his message:

Connections are not just with people. A study that was conducted found that if you go home to a house with dog after a heart attack close to 6% died in the next year. If you did not have a dog than closer to 27% died in the next year. If you give nursing home occupants a plant to take care of, while others get a plant to decorate their room, those with the responsibility to care for the plant lived 5-7 years longer.

I can go on and on telling you stories and statistics about this sort of thing. My other advice is for seniors to work at fast food restaurant and relate to the customers. That works too!

peace, bernie

Happ-E-Quote :)

"I expect to pass through this world but once. - Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." - William Penn

Happ-E-Mail :)

One suggestion, if I might. It might be helpful if the upcoming meeting info. was right at the beginning of the email. Sometimes with peoples busy schedules the meeting info. kind of gets lost in the long email, which we have every intention of reading, but sometimes don't get around to. Just a thought, Ralph

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves." - James M. Barrie

Happ-E-Mail :)

I watched a video last night that you should see. It's called: The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. It's about a mom in the 50's in a small town who has 10 kids and a husband (Woody Harrelson) who becomes really violent when he drinks, which he often does. The woman (Laura Dern), despite almost desperate poverty is a truly happy person and I was, frankly, floored at how she demonstrated how to use the happiness key principles to maintain her happiness despite her desperate life circumstances.

It's a DVD that I'm going to order because it is such a great demo of the things we try to teach those who are not but want to be happy. With love and happiness, Bob Nozik, M.D.

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate." - Albert Schweitzer

Happ-E-Mail :)

Our friend David sent us this poem he wrote:

Happiness

Savoring the moment

Seeing the good

Coming back to wholeness and healing

Smiling at all the gifts

Offering our best to ourselves and others

Receiving the best from ourselves and others

Being near the poetry and dance of joy

Seeking peace and offering compassion everywhere

Transcending fears and anger

Connecting deeper and deeper to the spirit

Connecting with the rhythms of life

Loving the melody and song of life

Accepting all there is exactly the way it unfolds

Saying peace to life

Saying acceptance to the world

Saying thanks and praise to God.

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love." Tao Te Ching

Happ-E-Mail :)

For those of you who could not attend the happiness talk I gave on April 8th in California. Here is the 15 minute gist if you are interested… http://www.makemehappytv.com remember, it is my first public speech (sly smile) - Aymee Coget, M.A.

Happ-E-Quote :)

It's not the situation that's causing your stress, it's your thoughts, and you can change that right here and now. You can choose to be peaceful right here and now. Peace is a choice, and it has nothing to do with what other people do or think. - Dr. Gerald Jampolsky

Happ-E-News :)

Pupils to have a key to happiness

Learning how to take the rough with the smooth and be happy with your lot is to be part of the curriculum at one of England's public schools.

Read the entire article

Click here: BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Pupils to have a key to happiness

Happ-E-Quote :)

Every life has its dark and cheerful hours. Happiness comes from choosing which to remember. - Author unknown

Happ-E-News :)

The science of happiness by Mike Rudin, Series producer, The Happiness Formula

Find out how happy you are! A new six-part BBC series, starting this week, looks at the newest research from around the world to find out what could it be that makes us happy. We all want to be happy but the problem has always been that you can't measure happiness. ... "There is a problem with the word happiness. ...

Read the entire article: The science of happiness

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Do not save your loving speeches for you friends till they are dead; do not write them on their tombstones, speak them rather now instead." - Anna Cummins

Happ-E-News :)

Thank you for your fabulous newsletters! I am really considering starting The London Happiness Club, what would I need to do? I look forward to hearing from you.

With many thanks indeed & very best wishes, Piercarla Garusi, Life Coach & NLP Practitioner, Director of PG Coaching Ltd, Create an Extraordinary Life! www.pgcoaching.co.uk

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Strong people are made by opposition like kites that go up against the wind." - Frank Harris (1856-1931) Writer

Happ-E-News :)

A change in outlook may help you turn that frown upside down

Oxford Press - Oxford,OH,USA Yet mental health care providers stress that most of us do have some control over our happiness and often can change our attitude. ...

Read the entire article A change in outlook may help you turn that frown upside down

Happ-E-Quote :)

Treasure the love that you receive above all. It will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished. - Og Mandino (1923-1996) Motivational writer

Happ-E-Book :)

Put Down Sad Thoughts

When you feel sad, write down which thoughts are causing your sadness. Then challenge those negative thoughts with more positive ways of viewing matters. Writing this down is frequently more effective than just thinking about it.

From Rabbi Pliskin's book: Gateway to Happiness, p.180

See more Daily Lifts on "Sadness"

Feelings Aren't Facts

Some people feel discouraged. They then assume that these feelings are facts: since they feel discouraged that is a "proof" there is no hope. But feelings only represent a person’s present state of mind, they cannot predict the future.

They can ask themselves: "Do my present feelings actually prove that there is no hope?" Of course not. There is never absolute proof that your situation will not improve. By believing you have no hope, you are causing yourself great harm. Adopt the attitude: "It is always possible that the future will turn out much brighter than I presently feel it will. What constructive action can I take for improvement?"

From Rabbi Pliskin's book: Gateway to Happiness, pp.374-5

This book is available at: www.Eichlers.com

Happ-E-Mail :)

I recently saw a short piece on TV about a woman who is doing much work like you are.

She cured herself of cancer with the help of humor, and now spreads the work with...you guessed it....a Laughing Lunch for cancer patients and their families. It is so successful that there is a waiting list of several months to attend ...and the participants get to go just once (:

www.comedycures.com. You are truly on the cutting edge, as Abe would say! Happier and happier, Phyllis Freeman, MS from Bridge House

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Ultimately, it is through serving others that we become fully human." - Marsha Sinetar

Happ-E-Mail :)

Thank you so much for the welcome and the newsletter. So much valuable and enlightening information and insight. I teach yoga classes in my home studio in Ridgefield, CT. While my group classes do include the yoga postures, the real focus of the teaching is on the spiritual, including unconditional love and lightness in our lives. In fact, one of my students' favorite classes (each one is different) is the class where we laugh, have lots of fun and even act silly. We've spoken of the laughing groups that are popular. And most recently I have mentioned the Happiness Club, although I had not yet made contact with you. I hope I will be able to attend your next meeting in Fairfield. Anyway, what you are doing is wonderful, admirable, and has such great value. Remembering that happiness is a choice we can make at every turn - what a gift! With sincere thanks, Deanne Mincer

Happ-E-Quote :)

Anything you're good at contributes to happiness. Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) Philosopher

Happ-E-Mail :)

Wonderful letter...once again thank you for ALL that you do, write and plan...so many wonderful things are happening and it is good to see and hear. I will try to remember the quote "Life is complicated...happiness is simple"...a great truism and certainly one I want to keep handy to say when I encounter a "woe is me" comment...I like it because it is sooooo simple and thought provoking when spoken..Whew! Spring is here and I hope you take a little time each day to take in all of its beauties...if it wasn't for winter...we would never realize the gifts of Spring! Blessings, Joanie

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Be absolutely determined to enjoy what you do." - Gerry Sikorski

The Happiness Show on TV:)

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.

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Do the thing you believe in. Do the best you can in the place where you are and be kind." - Scott Nearing (1883-1983) Activist and conservationist

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT BRIDGE HOUSE HAPPINESS CLUB :)

The Happiness Club at Bridge House meets every Tuesday at 12:00 PM for a happy meal and a happy hour meeting!

Phyllis Freeman, MS is the group facilitator. Phyllis e-mail: intake@bridgehousect.org

Bridge House is a Clubhouse which is modeled on the Fountain House model of psychiatric rehabilitation. The men and women who attend assist with the running of the program, which helps to restore their sense of purpose,dignity and self worth. The members also work at part time jobs, with staff providing intensive supports. New employers are always welcome! In addition,case management, social events, residential supports, and educational opportunities are provided. The program is open 365 days a year, and is about to celebrate their 20th year of helping it's members realize their potential as valued members of the community.

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our next meeting is Monday, May 22nd, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at the Westport Public Library. Located at: Arnold Bernhard Plaza, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880.

The Westport Public Library is located along the Saugatuck River in Westport, Connecticut.

Future meetings will be on Mondays as follows:

Monday, June 26th, July 24th

Smiling Senior Singles is a group for seniors who have found themselves alone. Many people, who live in the area, have found themselves without any family. This can be difficult, so it is important to find friends you can relate to. Meet some wonderful people and start using happiness in your life.

Stacy Enyeart is the group facilitator. Stacy has a background in publishing, advertising, TV producing and is President of the AARP of Westport/Weston Chapter.

For more information, call Lionel Ketchian at 203 258-7777, or e-mail PrintLRK@aol.com

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING :)

Date: One Sunday a month, Time: 3:00 - 5:00 PM

Meeting Location: 1485 Church St. Apt #1 SF, CA 94131

(corner of 27th Street in Noe Valley). You can exit on 24th street BART and walk about 10 – 15 minutes or take the J Church which drops you off right in front of our house.

Wishing you happiness! Aymee and Bob

Robert Nozik, M.D. is the author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It.

Dr. Nozik’s e-mail: PollyannaN@aol.com phone:925 939-8655

Aymee Coget, M.A. is an Organizational Psychology Ph.D. student at Alliant International University, San Francisco, CA. Aymee's e-mail address is positiveleadership@yahoo.com

LAFAYETTE CALIFORNIA SENIOR HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING :)

We had our first meeting of our new Lafayette Senior Happiness Club which was held Thursday, April 27th, from 10:30 AM to Noon. It was held at the Lafayette Senior Center and I am co-hosting it with Mei Sun Li and Diane Wilt who are the leaders of the Senior Center. We were expecting 17 people but 25 showed up. We want to encourage everyone to actively participate and not be so big as to lose intimacy. Everyone did contribute and the energy in the room was amazing! Mei Sun and Diane had the room set up with chairs in a large, double row, semicircle so everyone was closely connected to whomever was presenting. We went around the room and everyone introduced themselves and said a few things about their interest in happiness. We brainstormed a bit about what we should call ourselves and then decided to make the final choice at our next meeting.

I gave everyone a copy of my Short Happiness Evaluation Questionnaire and return it at our next meeting. Finally, I spoke a bit about appreciation & gratitude and had everyone do a little exercise around that. The enthusiasm and excitement was palpable to everyone in the room. Our next meeting will be Thursday, May 11th, 10:30 AM - Noon. I know that's only two weeks away but we'll be on a regular monthly schedule starting June 8th. Anyone interested in coming to our happiness club meetings should e-mail either Mei Sun (msl@lovelafayette.org) or Diane (dwilt@lovelafayette.org) or call the senior center at: (925) 284-5457. With love and happiness, Robert Nozik, M.D.

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." - Leo Tolstoy

WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA HAPPINESS CLUB :)

We had our first meeting on Tuesday, April 25th!

The Happiness Club Of North Carolina in Wilmington meets on the last Tuesday of each the month at 7:00 PM. The next meeting is May 30th. The club will initially be a free one hour discussion/seminar on a topic pertaining to happiness.

Richard D. Banton, LCSW, Happiness Institute, Positive Alternative Counseling 4608 Cedar Ave., Suite 114, Wilmington, NC 28403 Bus: 910-262-8855 Fax: 866-365-1878, Richard's e-mail: rbanton@ec.rr.com

MARYLAND AMBASSADOR OF HAPPINESS FOR ELDERS :)

Kathy J. Ward, MA, ADC, CTRS, President, WEL, World Elder Land™ and ERT, Elder Recreation Therapy, a Therapeutic Recreation Consultant. She is National Assisted Living Administrator Certified a Board Member. Kathy is the author of Journal For A Better Life.

Kathy's phone: (240) 393-5456, e-mail: Connection@KathyJWard.com

blog: KathyJWard.com/blog web: elderrecreationtherapy.com

For free registration, please call the Village Center at 301-656-2797. Open to all community members that have decided to better their quality of life and be happy. Please send inquiries, requests for programs, speaker and consulting services to: Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 South Park Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

CANADIAN AMBASSADOR OF HAPPINESS :)

Jane Bradley is our Canadian Ambassador of Happiness. Jane conducts workshops and deals with the caregiver professions. For information call: 905-684-6242, or e-mail: happinessclubniagara@yahoo.ca

Happ-E-Quote :)

"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 an inner state of well being. A state that enables you to profit from your highest thoughts, intelligence, wisdom, awareness, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values.

Happiness is one of the most important things in your life.

Don't give away your power by being unhappy! Practice "Premeditated Happiness," because 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 now take our power back in order to be happy again. Happiness does wonders for your soul. 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!

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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.

"If you are going through hell...keep going." - Winston Churchill

Life is full of opportunities. Go For It! Carpe diem!

Make the Happiness Decision Now!

This can be the best day for the rest of the "Best Of Your Life!"

If you're not happy by now, it's time to have a talk with yourself.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS...NOW BE HAPPY!