Happ-E-Newsletter for October 1, 2007

Welcome My Dear Friend!

I have a special surprise for you! We are privileged to have Sarah Shapiro, the daughter of the beloved and famous, Norman Cousins, as our guest speaker for our next Happiness Club meeting on Thursday, October 11th. If you can't make this meeting than you can listen and speak with Sarah on our Virtual Happiness Club on Monday, October 8th. Sarah lives in Israel and is visiting our group to meet you and speak about her father. Sarah is an author and her most recent books are Wish I Were Here, and A Gift Passed Along, (Artscroll.)

Norman Cousins had said, "No one need fear death. We need fear only that we may die without having known our greatest power -- the power of his free will to give his life for others. If something comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality." I believe that Norman Cousins is immortalized. His work and his words live on to guide humanities steps now and for the future. Norman Cousins knew happiness very well and he knew it at a very deep level. "Our frustrations also arise from the mistaken belief that the complexities of life preclude happiness -- that life is something from which we must flee to be happy." These words of Norman Cousins show the magnitude of his awareness of happiness. Norman also said, "Life is an adventure in forgiveness."

As Norman Cousins said: "Illness is not a laughing matter. Perhaps it ought to be. Laughter is a form of internal jogging. It moves your internal organs around. It enhances respiration. It is an igniter of great expectations."

NORMAN COUSINS: EDITOR AND WRITER, 1915-1990

In the 1960's Norman Cousins had an experience that changed his life and that, at the same time, reinforced some of his deepest convictions concerning the nature of the human being. Stricken with a crippling and life-threatening collagen disease, Cousins followed a regimen of high doses of vitamin C and of positive emotions (including daily doses of belly laughter), all in consultation and partnership with his sometimes skeptical physicians. He chronicled his recovery in the best-selling Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration, published in 1979. In the book, generalizing from his own experience and research, he affirmed that "the life force may be the least understood force on earth" and that "human beings are not locked into fixed limitations. The quest for perfectibility is not a presumption or a blasphemy but the highest manifestation of a great design."

Finding Meaning

Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, is the title of the great new book by Alan Alda. Yes, the same Alan Alda that was the star of M*A*S*H on TV for so many years. You might have seen Alan on TV recently talking about his new book. He is on the cover of this month's issue of Readers Digest and has been featured in so many more places.

Alan Alda wrote, "I was truly happy. And one day I said to myself, Is this all there is to life --- happiness?" Alan is a happy person, but when a happy person asks this question, wonderful things can happen. Of course, I never knew much about the real Alan Alda. This new book has not only given me a large look into his life, but even better, a chance to know a great human being.

Alan said: "I heard this voice while I was trying to go to sleep one night. The voice was coming from the back of my head. You know, really asking this kind of impertinent question. "So, tell me," the voice said, "do you think you've lived a life of meaning?" And I said, "Oh, come on. What are you, kidding?" And it said, "No, no. Really." I'm talking to myself, you know. And I said--it said, "Well, if you don't wake up tomorrow, will this have been a life that meant something?"

This kind of questioning got Alan to contemplate his life. He rediscovered the advice he had given in many of the speeches he delivered at graduation commencements and funerals for friends. Agreeing to give these talks scared him, but they also made Alan come alive because he overcame his fear. Alan began to find that his life had meaning for him.

I love the following closing lines he spoke at another commencement address. "If you can put a high value on decency; if you can put a high value on excellence --- and on family --- if you can love the people you share your lives with, and if you don't shortchange them for a few bucks; if you can love the work you do; if you can try not to lie, try not to cheat, try to do good just by doing well whatever you do …Then you will have made a revolution."

I feel that Alan is taking about a Happiness Revolution. It is not a movement with others that occurs on the outer level, but one that happens within you. It is one that you see as a way to live your life, so that you can find your own meaning and purpose.

One of the things that Alan wants to do is to live to be 106 years old. He is 70 now. I can say two things about Alan reaching that age, first of all that he has a good chance to live to an old age, because he is a comedian in the entertainment business and he likes to make people laugh and be happy. Many comedians have lived to a ripe old age. Secondly, after reading his book, I realize that Alan's life is about something bigger than he is. His life is about spreading wisdom, understanding, compassion and happiness to people. Alan shares himself with you. He is amazingly open and honest and you just can't help feeling like you have found a new friend.

In another college commencement address, Alan made these three points: 1. Make someone happy. 2. Find out how you can be helpful. 3. If you keep score, keep score your way. Don't let the world tell you success is a big house if you think success is a happy house."

I am so gratified to know that Alan Alda has uplifted his own life by thinking of others. He has found meaning in his life. Alan is a modern day American Zen Master, who can make you laugh and find meaning in your life. When Alan Alda talks to himself; we should be listening. I want to close this article about Alan's new book by borrowing a few lines from the closing of one of his speeches. "I'll let you go now. So long, be happy. Oh, by the way, I love you."

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian. Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News on September 19, 2007

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 :) "The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed." Nicolas Chamfort

Happ-E-Quote :) "The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient's hopes are the physician's secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription." - Norman Cousins

Happ-E-Quote :) "The first aim of education should not be to prepare young people for careers but to enable them to develop respect for life." - Norman Cousins

Happ-E-Mail :) I hope you are happy (I never worry about your ability to be happy) and that the Universe is treating you with tons of kindness. Searching for a quote for the class & events calendar I put together for New Morning I found the following quote and immediately thought of you. All the very best to you Lionel, sending you much love, light, peace and this quote: Gene Banks

"Here is my wish for you and every other child, woman, and man on the face of the earth: Spend one week saying only kind, caring things to yourself. Say thank you at least ten times an hour, direct five toward yourself and five to the world at large. Compliment yourself (and others) each time an effort is made. Notice all the wonderful qualities and characteristics about yourself and those around you. One week. You will never go back. And your whole life will be a glorious meditation." Cheri Huber

Happ-E-Quote :) "Laughter is America's most important export." - Walt Disney

Happ-E-News :) Recent happiness articles and items of interest!

Happ-E-Quote :) "Man is not imprisoned by habit. Great changes in him can be wrought by crisis - once that crisis can be recognized and understood." - Norman Cousins

CLUB HAPPINESS, E-CLUB :) Everybody should join this club, try it, you'll love it!!!

VIRTUAL HAPPINESS CLUB :) Join our meeting with Sarah Shapiro, the daughter of the beloved and famous, Norman Cousins, our next speaker. Sarah will speak about her father, Norman Cousins. Sarah is an author and her most recent books are Wish I Were Here, and A Gift Passed Along, (Artscroll.)

A note from Dr. Robert and Barbara Muller, who will be joining in this phone interview. "So wonderful to know that Sarah will speak to your Happiness Club. Please say hello to her for us. It made us so happy to hear this news and we hope to join your teleconference. As Sarah knows, her dad, Noman Cousins was a great friend of mine and we had lunch together once a week in the UN Delegates Lounge where we shared many laughs and our numerous happiness stories.He even asked me to become editor of the Saturday Review. I really thought long and hard about it but I could never leave my beloved United Nations. Norman wrote the foreword to my 1978 Doubleday book, Most of All They Taught Me Happiness.

Time: Monday, October 8th from 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 one Monday each month.

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)

At our next meeting we are privileged to have Sarah Shapiro, the daughter of the beloved and famous, Norman Cousins, as our guest speaker for our next Happiness Club. Sarah lives in Israel and is visiting our group to meet you and speak about her father. Sarah is an author and her most recent books are Wish I Were Here, and A Gift Passed Along, (Artscroll.)

Date :) Thursday, October 11, 2007
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the Fairfield Public Library, Rotary room, 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
We have a wonderful presentation by Sabita Cohen a holistic nutritionist and medical message therapist. Her theme is laughing and learning your way to health and happiness.

Date :) Thursday, October 25, 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 Thursday, September 27, Thursday, October 25, 2007

NEW!!! NORWALK, CONNECTICUT SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Kelsang Shenden, Ph.D. is a Buddhist Kadampa Nun. Kelsang will teach from the book: Eight Steps To Happiness, a series based on showing how we can transform our mind of dissatisfaction and suffering into the perfect Wisdom - Compassion and Happiness of a Buddha. This course is designed for everyone including beginners with emphasis on the cessation of painful limitation and the development with freedom and confidence of a vital relationship within ourselves and with others.
Date :) Thursday, October 4, 2007
Time :) 10:30 AM - 12:00 P.M.
Place :) The Norwalk Senior Center
Address :) 11 Allen Road, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Kelsang Shenden, Ph.D., a Buddhist Nun is the group facilitator. Admission is free, to make your reservation please call Debbie Cole at 203 847-3115 Ext: 104. Meetings are held every Thursday each week from 10:30 AM - 12:00 P.M.

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.

Event Description: Positive Emotions - why use them? how can we most effectively use them?! Also a brief review of Positive Thinking. You're guaranteed to interact with at least five new people each time!" Hosted in association with the Creativity and Personal Mastery program at Columbia Business School, as taught by Professor Rao. No dues, no registration and open to everyone!

Date :) Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At Columbia Business School - Warren Hall Room 416 (4th floor) corner of Amsterdam and 115th street, Columbia University campus New York, NY 10027

MENTORS HAPPINESS CLUB :) Meeting: We will be meeting on our conference phone line that will be open to all Happiness Club facilitators everywhere. More information to come.

Virtual Happiness Club - For more information:

New - Happiness Club WWW Chapter - For more information:

Mentors Happiness Club - No meetings scheduled at this time.

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!

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"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.