Happ-E-Newsletter for November 1, 2006

Welcome My Dear Friend!

Helen Keller said: "Your success and happiness lie in you... Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties."

Being happy is a feeling; it is the well being that comes from a balanced mind. When we have more control of our thinking so that our mind is not always telling us what we should be doing, we can start to experience more happiness. As Aristotle said, "It is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it." If we cannot stop our thoughts from always telling us what to think about or what to react to then we are not in control of ourselves. This is the reason we feel that doing things will get us where we think we need to be. The truth is we really don't need to go anywhere. If we start right where we are now, we can begin to realize we have everything we need to be happy. The only thing we are actually missing out on is the realization that we have everything we need to start being happy right now.

A New Happiness Club!

We have a new Happiness Club called the Madison Connecticut Happiness Club in Madison, CT. Let me introduce you to the outstanding woman who will facilitate the meetings. Her name is Tina N. Garrity. Tina lives in Madison, Connecticut with husband, Kevin and five daughters.

Tina is a Connecticut certified teacher who has a Master's degree in Education. Tina is also a board member of The Children's Center, in Hamden, CT. as well as being on the Madison's Selectmen's Council on Youth Substance Abuse. Tina volunteers her time at Yale-New Haven Hospital for the "Circle of Care," a group that provides respite care for pediatric oncology patients. In addition to this demanding schedule, Tina also does volunteer work at St. Raphael's Hospital for the program: "Read to Grow," which involves Tina reading to children in the pediatric out-patient clinic. Tina has organized and conducts a knitting group at The Hearth at Tuxis Pond in Madison, CT. knitting caps for chemotherapy patients.

A volunteer like Tina Garrity cannot help but be happy. When you are as busy as Tina, spreading happiness by doing public service work, you can't help but find happiness for yourself. Thank you Tina for making this a much better world because you choose to make a difference.

One of Tina's future goals was to run a Happiness Club in Madison, CT. Tina just accomplished that goal today. Tina's future objectives are to eventually do workshops on happiness with Middle school and High school students.

In this regard we have just completed a meeting to start a Teen Happiness Club in Stamford, CT. It all started with two wonderful moms, Rosalie Stone and Cathy Glass, getting in touch with me about the possibility of a happiness club for their teenagers. After a number of meetings, we decided that the group facilitator for this fortunate group of teens will be Dr. Cynthia Barnett. The Teen Happiness Club will begin in January 2007.

Dr. Cynthia Barnett is a "re-fired" educator who has reinvented her life. She has been a teacher, a guidance counselor, and an assistant principle, moving from the schoolhouse to an entrepreneurial venue. Dr. Barnett is the author of "Stop Singing the Blues: 10 Powerful Strategies for Hitting the High Notes in Your Life" and RE-FIRE, Don't Retire: 7 Secrets of Highly Successful Retirees. She has been featured in Time magazine for their article about women in mid-life who have reinvented themselves.

Dr. Barnett is a graduate of the Authentic Happiness Coaching Program facilitated by Martin E.P Seligman, Ph.D. Dr. Seligman is a professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, a leading motivational expert and an authority on the happiness factor and learned helplessness. Dr. Barnett is a Certified Facilitator of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. Jack Canfield, the best selling co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, has also certified Dr. Barnett as a Self-Esteem Facilitator.

People like Tina Garrity and Dr. Cynthia Barnett are making a real difference for all of us. It is no great surprise that they are happy people because they are busy making other people happy as well. Maybe it is time for you to find time for others. It just may be a way to find happiness for yourself. Give happiness to others and you will find it in yourself. What you do always makes a difference, so make a positive difference with what you do!

The Madison Connecticut Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation called: "How To Find Happiness!" by Lionel Ketchian. Find out what happiness is and what it takes to achieve it! Three wonderful books will be won as door prizes. Join us tonight, Wednesday, October 25, from 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. at the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT. 06443. Tina Garrity is the group facilitator. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Future meetings will be held on the last Wednesday of each month except for December 20, 2006. Admission is free; everyone is welcome. For further information call Lionel Ketchian at 203 258-7777.

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News October 25, 2006

Life is complicated, happiness is simple! LIVE RICHLY...PRACTICE HAPPINESS!

Everything we do in life is for the purpose of obtaining happiness! Happiness Empowerment to You! Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Think Smart, Look Smart, Be Smart...Be Happy! Sharing Love, Peace and Happiness with you, Lionel Ketchian

Happ-E-Quote :) "This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths...Once we truly know that life is difficult -- once we truly understand and accept it -- then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters." - M.Scott Peck

Happ-E-Quote :) "The trick is what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Castaneda

Happ-E-Mail :) My mother's advice from day one was always, "do what will make you happy." We need to get out of our heads and into our hearts! Money talks but chocolate sings!!! Peace, Bernie (Sent to us from Bernie Siegel, M.D.)

Happy-Book:) Coping With Adversity

While you should try to protect yourself from harm, if you do suffer, the best tool is acceptance. Accepting your situation greatly minimizes the amount you actually suffer. The most unfortunate person in the world is one who has not learned how to accept setbacks and misfortunes. Either this day or the next he, like everyone else in the world, will inevitably drink from the cup of suffering, which is either a test or an atonement. By failing to accept suffering, the pain you feel will be much more acute and harsh than necessary.

Happ-E-Poem :) Tears That Fall
People that are gone, Their lives have ended
They are now a part of eternity, They are in another realm of life
Thank you for what we shared, Thank you for the messages of the heart
Thank you for the moments that our souls touched
Thank you for the moments of love, acceptance and support
Thank you for the friendship, the peace and the harmony
Thank you for the moments of courage, kindness and serenity

Happ-E-Quote :) This quote was sent to us from Veda Naidoo. "Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable." - Denis Waitley

Happ-E-Quote :) "Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely." - Karen Kaiser Clark

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation called: "Simple Steps to Health & Happiness," by Dr. Veronica Waks. Dr. Waks believes that most illnesses are the body's reaction to a stressful, toxic environment and unwise lifestyle choices.

Date :) Thursday, November 16

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, December 7, 2006, Thursday, January 18th, 2007

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our next meeting will be: "Music For Your Happiness," by Hilary Caldwell. The meeting will be held Thursday, November 30, 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Westport Senior Center, 21 Imperial Ave., Westport CT 06880. Ms. Caldwell is a Norwalk resident for many years. Hilary has a BS degree in music, majoring in piano and voice. Hilary has taught music in Westport, Norwalk and Greenwich public schools and presently teaches piano and voice. Hilary is also church organist and choir director and soloist at several area churches. Hilary exudes happiness and laughter!

Admission is free and you if your single and over 50 you can meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Stay happy and healthy - get well connected. Stacy Enyeart is the group facilitator. For further information, www.happinessclub.com or call Lionel Ketchian at 203 258-7777. Future meetings: Thursday, December 21, 2006. Also Thursday, December 7, 2006 a joint meeting with Happiness Club at Fairfield Public Library.

NEW! - MADISON CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, November 28th, 2006.

"Happiness In The Workplace!" by Cal Sutliff

Date :) Wednesday, November 29th, 2006..

Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library

Address :) 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, Ct. 06443

Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month except for December 20, 2006.

Stamford, Connecticut Teen Happiness Club (To come)

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. We mistakenly think that doing this will make us happy. The truth is that we have given others power over ourselves. We can now consciously reclaim our power and experience happiness. Happiness does wonders for your soul. Now is the time to learn to use happiness for dealing with challenges and difficult people so you can empower your life. 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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"Unhappiness is a form of suffering." Eckhart Tolle If you're not happy by now, it's time to have a talk with yourself. Make the Happiness Decision Now! THAT'S ALL FOLKS...NOW BE HAPPY!

© Copyright 2006, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.