Happ-E-Newsletter for June 15, 2007

Welcome My Dear Friend!

I am so glad your are working on your happiness. Keep up the great work you are doing. You will change the world for the better.

Do you want to attend a happiness course given at Harvard University from your own home. Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. the Harvard Happiness Professor and author of a great new book called: Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, will be our guest. Read this newsletter to find out how you can do it by joining our next Virtual Happiness Club meeting.

Epictetus, one of my favorite people said almost 2,000 years ago: "The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things."

Do Great Things!

BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian

We can do nothing better than make a positive difference in the world. To do great things, just think about what needs to be done in order to leave this world better than you found it. Each of us has different thoughts on what that is and when we do it with happiness, we empower ourselves to accomplish great things.

A group of teenagers from the Happy Club of Stamford, CT conceived and coordinated a Memorial Garden in Fort Stamford. It was a beautiful day on Tuesday, June 5 as many people gathered to dedicate this project. The mayor of Stamford, Dannel Malloy gave a wonderful speech dedicating the garden and acknowledging the Teenagers who made a positive difference by working together to create this project. The event was broadcast on television and the press interviewed the teen leaders for the wonderful work they had accomplished.

Trees were planted; red, white and blue flowers surrounded a bronze plaque commemorating our soldiers who gave their lives in Iraq. The local veterans groups, a Marine Corps color guard, the boy scouts and the garden club were in attendance.

In the six months that the Happy Club for teens has been in existence, it has completed eight projects that serve others. Some of these projects included collecting goods for the local food bank, interacting with senior citizens in an assisted living center, making and serving lunch to recovering drug addicts and people with mental illness, selling baked goods and other items to benefit an animal care facility and helping to set up for the March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon.

Kasey Glass and Sami Stone are two of the teens that started this Happy Club with the assistance of Dr. Cynthia Barnett. The club has 35 high school aged youths from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey representing over 15 schools. I spoke to a few of the teens and asked them how they felt about serving others. They all agreed that it was the greatest feeling they could imagine.

I congratulate the wonderful teen members of our Happy Club. Our teens are a shining example for people of all ages. Volunteering their time and their efforts both physically and mentally, provides people with a good example of being happy and serving others. The members of the teen Happy Club have become role models for people much older than they are. Our youth is showing everyone how to be happy and spread that good feeling to others by serving people using happiness as a power tool.

The Happy Club teens are a great testament to our future leaders in this wonderful county called the United States of America and to the entire world. These teens are the leaders of a happy future for all of us. They are doing the most important work any human being can do. They are making a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of everyone they touch.

If there is something that you feel needs to be done, than do it using the power of happiness. You might be telling yourself that you are only one person, what can I do? If you don't give up on your ideas, you can make a positive difference in this world by acting on what you want to see accomplished. If you just begin, events and people will come along to assist you in your efforts. Do nothing and nothing changes. It is time for you to make a positive difference. Do something big or something small, it does not matter at all, as long as you do something.

Getting out of yourself and thinking of others and the world around you is the best way to find freedom for your soul and to experience enduring happiness. The happiness these teens have found is an everlasting happiness. Nothing will be able to take that feeling away from them. They are learning early in life that making a positive difference is the best thing they can do for themselves.

2,911 yeas ago, a man named Aristotle was born who stated these true words: "All men seek one goal: success or happiness. The only way to achieve true success is to express yourself completely in service to society."

At a Hospice recognition dinner, I heard one volunteer say: "I serve because it makes me feel happy." That was her whole speech. She accepted her award and sat down. A woman I was speaking to after a Happiness Club meeting told me she became happy after following what I had said at a meeting a few years ago. She told me that I said, if you are unhappy help someone else and you will find happiness. She said that she followed that advice and is now a volunteer and life has changed for the better.

Why serve others? It will make you feel fantastic! Do Great Things! Make your dreams come true and make a positive difference in your life. Everyone will benefit from you! If not you, who? If not now, when? Do it Now!

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 :) "When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." - Albert F. Geoffrey

Happ-E-Mail :) In response to the article called: BEING HAPPY, THE BEST MEDICINE! in the last newsletter on drugs, depression and our state. Dr. Bernie Siegel sent this to us: That's why how we act creates our chemistry and petting a dog raises serotonin and oxytocin levels and we bond with each other as a mother does with her newborn.

Happ-E-Quote :) "A man must seek his happiness and inward peace from objects which cannot be taken away from him." - Alexander Humboldt (1769-1859) Naturalist and explorer

Happ-E-Mail :) Today I got up grateful, smelling the flowers first and the attitude of 'happiness' All the books, scholars, messages, can never replace the real thing...Love,Audrey

Happ-E-Quote :) "To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end in life." - Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

Happ-E-Mail :) I forwarded the Happiness newsletter to my sister Laureen who sent me this e-mail which has a great idea...Feel free to use it and know how much we all appreciate you..... Your efforts for happiness and your love! - Barbara and Robert Muller, author Most of All They Taught Me Happiness

This is fantastic and I am going to print out and put in a cute "Happiness" folder for each one of my children and grandchildren—and one for Bob and myself—it is the time to be happy and continue on in their lives—and for children, make it something on a level they can understand and achieve. So each family will have their happiness folders---is that cute or what—and every day they need to write down one happy thought—oh this is going to be fun and I will be the Happiness grandma and mother—it is happiness that is deep down inside that keeps me going and has kept me going when times in my past were so tough that I would look for a happy thought or thing or laugh with myself and my kids to keep me going---and we were so fortunate to live close to Grandpa who was happiness personified—that Levi family always had a smile and a joke---and I need to continue that for my children and grandchildren—This email you sent to me will be a life changer for my entire family and myself and Bob—and I thank you so much for it.

Happ-E-Quote :) "If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." - Maya Angelou

Happ-E-Quote :) "A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed." - Earl Nightingale

Happ-E-News :) Some excellent articles on happiness!

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)

CLUB HAPPINESS, E-CLUB :)

Maximize Your Happiness Seminars :)

Date :) Wednesday, June 20th

Time :) 6:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the Fairfield Public Library Memorial Room, 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
We will feature a talk called: Creativity Creates Happiness by Barbara Abraham. Barbara has a great
deal of experience in helping seniors cope with many issues. Her work as a visiting nurse and director of an adult day program and admissions director of a long term care facility and educator make her uniquely qualified to offer advice and guidance.
Date :) Thursday, June 28, 2007
Time :) 6:30- 8:00 P.M.
Place :) The Westport Senior Center, 21 Imperial Ave. Westport CT 06880.

Admission is free and the meetings are for people single and over 50 years old. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Stay happy and healthy - get well connected. Stacy Enyeart is the group facilitator. Future meetings will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2007.

Attend the talk called: Life is Short! Let the Cuckoo Out! How to stay happy even when things are not good. Elizabeth Theodore is the author of a series of books titled: Lily's Life Lessons, breaks through conventional thinking to get at the core of living a happy, purposeful, peaceful life. Her books are pages of sweet advice written from her own personal experiences.

STAMFORD,CONNECTICUT TEEN HAPPY CLUB :)

Open to all high school students. Meetings are held twice a month on Saturdays from 11:00 - 12:30 P.M. At the Daniel and Grace Tully & Family Health Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Court, Stamford, Connecticut 06902.

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Come and participate in an exciting exercise where we will learn the Option Philosophy. The Option Philosophy is a group of observations that we can use to change various aspects of ourselves including our emotions and behaviors. This will be a fun and enlightening experience that just may change your life! It would be beneficial to read the book "To Love is To Be Happy With" by Barry Neil Kaufmann beforehand. It is available free and online. Just google "to love is to be happy with." Also check out our "latest added pages" and "Option Method Resources" when you click on the "About Us" tab to the left.

Date :) Friday, June 22

Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) The Happiness Institute Counseling and Wellness Center, 6336 Oleander Drive Suite #4, Wilmington NC 28403.

Organizer' feature on the Meetup.com website:

VIRTUAL HAPPINESS CLUB :) Join us from your home, on your phone, on the new VIRTUAL HAPPINESS CLUB with Dr. Cynthia Barnett. You can listen and talk with a great happiness teacher each month.

Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., is one of Harvard University's most popular lecturers. More students have signed up to hear Ben-Shahar than any other teacher in Harvard's history. His classes attract 1,400 students per semester - approximately 20 percent of all Harvard graduates. He has been profiled on NPR and featured on CNN and CBS and in the New York Times and the Boston Globe. Ben-Shahar graduated from Harvard with a degree in philosophy and psychology. For the last ten years, he has been teaching personal and organizational excellence, leadership, ethics, and self-esteem.

Date: Monday, July 9, 2007
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM, EST in the USA.
Phone number: (712) 775-7000
Your Access Code is: 122856#.

The Virtual Happiness Club is free, just your normal long distance charges apply. The first 90 callers may participate. The Virtual Happiness Club meets the first Monday of each month from 7:00 - 8:00. PM, EST in the USA. Our guest for the next Virtual Happiness Club meeting will be pending his schedule.

MENTORS HAPPINESS CLUB :) Meeting: Monday, July 2, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on our conference phone line. This meeting is open to all Happiness Club facilitators in everywhere.

Virtual Happiness Club - For more information:

Club Happiness, an E-Club - For more information:

New - Happiness Club WWW Chapter - For more information:

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. 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!

REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS: No longer wish to receive the Happ-E-Newsletter, reply with "Remove" in the subject line.

May the good lord be with you, Down every road you roam, And may sunshine and happiness, Surround you when you're far from home. - Words from the song Forever Young by Rod Stewart

"Unhappiness is a form of suffering." Eckhart Tolle. "Do or do not. There is no try." Yoda

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 2007, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.