I just got a copy of the best selling book, Happy for No Reason, 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out by Marci Shimoff with Carol Kline. Rabbi Zelig Pliskin called me to tell me how much he enjoyed this book last week and the author contacted me as well. The book has been #1 on Amazon for five days now and in the top five at Barnes and Noble's website. We are scheduling Marci to be on our Virtual Happiness Club Interview. I want you to know about this book because Marci is right on the mark. On October 4, 2000 I wrote an article called: UNHAPPY? FUGGETABOUTIT!, with these words: "Start acting happy right now, for no reason at all. The reasons will come if you just keep doing it. Soon you will experience yourself being happy and loving it." I am so glad to see that Marci is spreading this beautiful wisdom. The Happiness Revolution has begun and it is going into high gear!!!

A NEW HAPPY YEAR!
Happy New Year to you my dear friend. Thank you to all of you who sent me notes about this column. It really means a great deal to me and I want you to know how much I appreciate receiving your e-mails.

I would like to recommend a great book for you to read to set your New Year off in the right direction. The book is called Happiness Now! by Robert Holden, Ph.D. This book was originally published 10 years ago and was republished under the name Happiness Now! by Hay House, Inc in 2007. Hay House is a wonderful publishing company and publishes many books of spiritual value. You can tune into HayHouseRadio.com to hear many authors talk about their work. Dr. Holden has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

I just finished reading this wonderful book and put it aside. At 4:40 on New Years Eve, I received a phone call from Rabbi Pliskin who was in Jerusalem, Israel. It was 11:40 in Israel time and he called to wish me a Happy New Year. He mentioned that he was reading the book, Happiness Now! by Robert Holden. He said that he was almost done reading it and loved the book. I told him that I had just finished reading the book and I really love it as well. We both thought it amazing that we were reading the same book at the same time.

Rabbi Pliskin mentioned to me that he thought that Robert Holden would make a good guest on our Virtual Happiness Club meeting. This is a phone interview meeting, that people listen to on their phones once a month, while a live interview is taking place. I told Rabbi Pliskin that I had the same thought. Once again, we were amazed at our similar thoughts on our favorite subject, which is happiness. Rabbi Pliskin is the author of more than 22 books on the happiness subject matter. In my opinion, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin wrote the best book on happiness, called Gateway to Happiness.

On New Years day I woke up wondering how I could get in touch with Dr. Robert Holden to invite him to do an interview. I opened my e-mail and saw a response to my Happiness Newsletter, sent out twice a month. There, to my astonishment was an e-mail response from Dr. Holden to my newsletter. It contained a phone number and everything I needed to get in touch with Dr. Holden who lives in England. When the universe conspires to help you do something, I think it is time to do it.

Here is an excerpt from the book Happiness Now!: "Every form of unhappiness is a manifestation of fear. Thus, fear and unhappiness are inextricably linked --- they are the same thing. Unhappiness is born of fear and it gives birth to fear. When we give our power to unhappiness, we automatically side with fear, and we automatically become very afraid of everything."

With all this concentration on Dr. Robert Holden, I decided to dedicate this article to him because of the wonderful work he is dong to promote happiness awareness. He has written 8 other books and is the director of The Happiness Project. His happiness knowledge, insight and wisdom are truly remarkable and well worth discovering and learning for yourself. If you want to read a great book on happiness this year, I recommend Happiness Now!

Another powerful wisdom-filled reminder from this book is: "Decision is power! Decision, above circumstance, is the key to happiness now. Know, therefore, that your decision counts. You really can decide what sort of a day to have today. In fact, you already have. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can happen without your decision."

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation called: "Happiness: the Evidence" by Dr. Mark K. Setton. Dr. Setton will talk about the dramatic upsurge in scientific studies on happiness during the last two decades, the conclusions they have found, and what this means for you! Dr. Setton is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Chairman of the Martial Arts Studies Program at the University of Bridgeport. The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2008 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Fairfield Public Library, in the Rotary Room at 1080 Old Post Road. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Admission is free; everyone is welcome.

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian. Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News on January 4, 2008

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!

Happ-E-Quote :) Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering--remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you don’t want to repeat what happened. - Desmond Tutu, Cleric and civil rights leader

Happ-E-Mail :) My deepest thanks to all the "Happiness Club' for getting me to see the happy side of life...it is there for the taking. I too wish you all: HAPPY in 08 Love, Audrey

Happ-E-Quote :) If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator. - W. Beran Wolfe

Happ-E-Mail :) Did you happen to see the show on 20/20 on Happiness last Friday? I missed the first 15 minutes or so but caught the rest. In case you missed it, here are some findings from the show. We are social people and the people that develop that "sense of community" are the happiest people on earth. Attitude is a major part of happiness. (We knew that) The happiest country in the world is Denmark. They have a very high tax rate, but the government takes care of its citizens very well. In Denmark because so many of their needs are taken care of by the government, many work in jobs that they are passionate about vs. working anywhere they can just to make a pay check. They are very social in Denmark and 92% belong to at least one club, some more than one. Denmark is not a very diverse community. Most of the people were born there and they have a strong sense of community.

In Asia Singapore is the happiest place. Despite strict rules (they still cane people who break the rules there) the economy is good, and people have a sense of safety. Again a sense of community is key. They pay top officials upwards of a million dollars a year to keep them from participating in corruption activities. Other rankings for happiness included Iceland at #4, Canada at #10 and the United States at #23. Italy is the least happy nation in Europe because they have high corruption. Ashville, NC is the happiest place in the USA because of their sense of community. They also mentioned a book called, The Geography of Bliss, and the Blue Zone. Wonderful stuff and increased understanding and appreciation for the power of happiness. Light, peace and happiness. Love, Lynette Turner, www.positivebliss.com

Happy-Mail :) Lionel, All my best to you! Thanks for your kind words and continued support. - Guy Finley

Guy Finley has been on my Radio show, Successful Living, a number of times back in the 80's & 90's. Guy is best-selling author, has extraordinary ideas and is a success expert. I spoke with Guy Finley last week and he is offering you this free kit which includes: Powerful e-book, "30 Keys to Change Your Destiny," a 16-min MP3 audio program, "Discover Your Power of Higher Choice." Also an inspiring online video program, "What Your Heart Has Been Longing to Hear" and a helpful poster, "5 Great Lessons to Help You Let Go and Live In the Now." This is a $47 value, available to Happ-E-Newsletter readers for FREE at: http://www.guyfinley.com/Welcome/61/CD813/0

Happ-E-Mail :) This poem by David Lazar
May You Lift the World
By deeds of kindness and love
By creating and giving joy to the world
By always connecting to your spirit
By living a life of gratitude and courage
By savoring this moment, this day and every day.

Happ-E-Quote :) "There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." - Denis Waitley

Happ-E-Mail :) I would like to receive your newsletter again. I really miss not receiving it regularly as it is such a positive and informative newsletter, and am looking forward to receiving it again, and sharing it with others who are interested in being "happy," too - and would like any advice or suggestions on how to start a "Happiness Club" in this area of NW Florida. I have not had good luck in getting it started so far. May God Bless, and "Happy" New Year! Rita E. Ciavola, email address: r.smile07@gmail.com

Happ-E-Quote :) "The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself. Often well beyond any latent ability previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete, The body is simply the means it uses." - Bryce Courtenay

Happy-Book :) An upgraded version of my HAPPINESS DEFINITION by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

I am frequently asked, "How would you define happiness?" This is how I personally define happiness: "Happiness is a good feeling. We call this good feeling happiness or joy or bliss. When it is an extremely high feeling, we call this euphoria or ecstasy. Happiness is an experience and just as a beautiful scene needs to be seen to get a picture of what it is like, and a beautiful symphony needs to be heard to appreciate the wonderful sound, so too a positive emotion needs to be experienced. We have all had moments of happiness. As you recall these moments, you will know what it means to be happy."

How often can a person feel happiness? To this I answer, "We experience the state of happiness whenever we think happiness creating thoughts and visualize happiness creating pictures. When we choose to stand and walk the way we do when we are extremely joyful, we will create the experience of good feelings. A person chooses this as often and as frequently as he happens to choose these thoughts and feelings and body expressions of joy. People who make this choice rarely, experience happiness rarely. People who make this choice frequently, experience this frequently. It is up to each individual to choose how often and how frequently they will use their mind and body to create happiness."

"The mind is the first step, then the body reacts to happiness with multiple factors. When you are happy, at least ten things are consistent with this feeling. The acronym is: BBBEHHIMPT: your breathing, your brain-waves, your blood pressure, your energy, your heart, your hormones (dopamine, serotonin, endorphins), your immune system, your muscles, your physiology (body language and facial expression), your tone of voice.

"Since happiness is what we all want, it makes sense to choose this as often and as long as you want to feel happy. I bless my children and grandchildren to experience this frequently. And I bless everyone who reads these words to do the same." Zelig Pliskin

The book: Gateway to Happiness, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. is available at: http://www.eichlers.com or 1-888-EICHLERS Conversations With Yourself, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. is available at: www.Artscroll.com Rabbi Pliskin is A Self Talk Coach and Happiness Teacher.

Happ-E-Quote :) "Power is so characteristically calm, that calmness in itself has the aspect of strength." - Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

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

LEADER ARTICLE; Happiness Is A Warm Sun Times of India - India I watched the rerun of a BBC documentary, called The Happiness Formula, over the weekend. It delved into scientific research on the subject and noted how ...

The 10 steps to happiness Daily Telegraph - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia In his book The Happiness Hypothesis, psychologist Dr Jonathan Haidt points out the huge sense of satisfaction nearly everyone gets from performing what may ...

U.Va.'s Jonathan Haidt Shares Proven Ways to Boost Your Happiness ... University of Virginia - Charlottesville,VA,USA January 8, 2008 — U.Va. psychology professor Jonathan Haidt offers five steps you can take this week to increase your happiness: 1) Diagnose yourself. ...

Happiness may be good for your health Reuters India - Mumbai,India The current findings, according to Steptoe, add to evidence that happiness and other positive emotions are "associated with biological responses that are ...

Prestige or Happiness? California Job Journal - Sacramento,CA,USA Your happiness is much more important. Career counselor Marty Nemko is the author of Cool Careers for Dummies. He also hosts a radio talk show in the Bay ...

Test Your Level of Happiness With the Subjective Happiness Quiz ABC News - USA This week "20/20" is exploring the coveted emotion and introducing you to six theories about happiness, that feeling we all want to possess. ...

New Research Shows That Humans Have More Control Over Their ... ABC News - USA (ABC News Photo Illustration) By MICHAEL MENDELSOHN What exactly is happening inside the brains of people experiencing joy and happiness? ...

Happ-E-Quote :) "If the average person realized the power he wields over his life and destiny, he would live in a perpetual state of wonder and thanksgiving." - Earl Nightingale

THE HAPPINESS SHOW ON TV :) "The Happiness Show," is on every Monday 9:30 - 10:00 PM. Co-hosts are Lionel Ketchian and George Ortega. Cablevision of Connecticut broadcasts the TV show on channel 77. Airs in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Milford, Orange, Stratford & Woodbridge. View over 130 shows in streaming media and MPEG on your computer anytime at: www.happinessclub.com

CLUB HAPPINESS, E-CLUB :) Everybody should join this club, try it, you'll love it!!!
We have created an online e-mail community for you to talk about and share happiness with people around the world. To join, just send an e-mail to: clubhappiness-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and you will be notified. Or join here: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/clubhappiness/ Club Happiness is run by our good friends David Ambrose, living in Calgary, Canada and Iolanda who lives in Australia. For more information: http://happinessclub.blogspot.com/2007/04/club-happiness-e-club.html#links">Happiness

VIRTUAL HAPPINESS CLUB :) Tania Jedian will be our next guest on the Virtual Happiness Club Interview. Tania is a former student of Rabbi Pliskin and just published a book, Finding Inner Happiness. Her site: www.livingmybest.com Tania is a life coach and healer and has been teaching for 12 years and her goal is to take Happiness and Goal Workshops into High Schools and colleges. Tania says, "Happiness is a process of discovering who you are, who you want to be and creating the way to happiness by doing what brings YOU the most meaning and contentment to your life."

Tania believes that happiness is the foundation for becoming healthier and the foundation for better relationships and success. Tania says: "I look at it this way, the more that individuals develop happiness skills, the happier, healthier, and more peaceful planet will be. This thought brings me much joy and fulfillment to know that not only do we have the power to make ourselves happier but in doing so, to make the world a better place to live in."

Date: Monday, February 4. 2008
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM, EST in the USA.
Your Phone number is: (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.

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 one Monday each month. Listen to an MP3 Audio interviews with Dr. Robert & Barbara Muller, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, Professor Christopher Peterson, Ph.D., Professor Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., Senia Maymin MBA, MAPP, Sarah Shapiro, the daughter of Norman Cousins, David Ambrose and Robert A. Nozik, M.D. You can listen to the entire one hour interview now at: http://www.HappinessMinute.com/VirtualHappinessClub.htm

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next Happiness Club meeting will have a presentation called: "Happiness: the Evidence" by Mark K. Setton, Ph.D. Dr. Setton will talk about the dramatic upsurge in scientific studies on happiness during the last two decades, the conclusions they have found, and what this means for you! Dr. Setton is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Chairman of the Martial Arts Studies Program at the University of Bridgeport.
Date :) Thursday, January 17, 2008
Time :) 7:00 - 9:30 P.M.
Place :) At the Fairfield Public Library, Rotary room, 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Learn to have the peace of mind you need and experience happiness now. We cannot control the air conditioning, so bring a sweater or jacket. Future meetings at the Fairfield Library will be: Thursday, February 21st, Thursday, March 27th, Thursday, April 15th, 2008

Click here: Happiness Club: Directions to Fairfield Public Library

FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next meeting features a presentation called Happiness and nutrition.
Date :) Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Time :) 12:30 - 2:00 P.M.
Place :) The Fairfield Senior Center, 100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield, CT 06824
The group facilitators are: Tony Derbyshire and Denise Stein, MS, LPC. Tony's phone: 203-904-3273 e-mail: derbyshirea@raveisre.com Meetings are free and open to all seniors. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next meeting will have a presentation called: The Secret: Laws of Attraction by Penny Cohen. Can you imagine a life filled with inner peace and strength, unconditional love, satisfying relationships, a career with meaning and purpose, and greater prosperity and joy? You live with passion and compassion, feel successful, happy and fulfilled and you accomplish this with minimal effort and much joy.
Date :) Thursday, January 31, 2008
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, February 28, Thursday, March 27, 2008.

GREENWICH CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Hi Super Folks, We are wondering if one of you would like to help with organizing the monthly meetings of the Greenwich Happiness Club. We have found a wonderful location - the Cos Cob library - it is behind the Cos Cob firehouse - so peaceful and beautiful with art inside the comfortable room. Organizing the room involves coming to the library at 4:40 PM on the day of the meeting to pick up the key from the staff (we leave the key in the room after we're done). If you think you can help, please let me know. Thank you!
Senia Senia's phone: 212-920-0277, e-mail: senia@senia.com.
Date :) Tuesday in January to be announced.
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) NEW LOCATION! At the Cos Cob Library 5 Sinawoy Road, Cos Cob, CT 06807. This is behind the Cob Cob fire station, near the Porricelli's. The group organizers are: Dusty Baldridge & Dusty's phone: 203-869-4988 e-mail: lilabaldridge@yahoo.com and Senia Maymin, MBA, MAPP, Senia's phone: 212-920-0277, e-mail: senia@senia.com Meetings are open to everyone.

MADISON CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next Happiness Club meeting will have a presentation called: A NEW TWIST ON NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS by Beverley Sastri. Beverly will speak on reframe your New Year's resolutions so the process of achieving them is powerful instead of painful so you can actually reach your goals! Beverly is a speaker and facilitator of Live Like You Mean It! personal development training.
Date :) Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, Ct. 06443
Tina Garrity is the group facilitator. Tina's e-mail: Ting45@aol.com, phone: 203-245-2632. Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month.

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.
Nicholas Hall, MAPP is the group facilitator. Nick's e-mail: nickhhall@yahoo.com For reservations and information contact: Rosalie at: 203 322-9990

NEW YORK HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Presented by Senia Maymin MBA, MAPP. 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! Any questions in advance, feel free to email me: senia@senia.com
Date :) Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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
Senia Maymin is the group facilitator. Senia is an Executive Coach and Editor-in-Chief of Positive Psychology News Daily. Ms. Maymin is an Assistant Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania in the Master program for Applied Positive Psychology. Senia's phone: 212-920-0277, e-mail: senia@senia.com Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. For more information www.Senia.com & http://hobby.meetup.com/7/

MENTORS HAPPINESS CLUB :) Next meeting to be announced.

HAPPINESS CLUBS :)

Connecticut meetings

Fairfield Happiness Club, Fairfield, CT

Fairfield Seniors Happiness Club Fairfield, CT

Smiling Single Seniors, Westport, CT
Teen Happy Club, Stamford, CT

Greenwich Happiness Club, Greenwich, CT
Bridge House Happiness Club, Bridgeport, CT
New Haven Happiness Club, New Haven, CT
Madison Happiness Club, Madison, CT
Mentors Happiness Club, Fairfield, CT

More Locations...

New York Happiness Club, New York, NY

San Francisco Happiness Club, San Francisco, CA

Diablo Valley Happiness Club, Lafayette, CA
Happiness Club of Lompoc, Lompoc, CA
The Happiness Club of North Carolina, Wilmington,NC
Happiness for Elders, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Jane Bradley - Caregiver Workshops,Ontario,Canada

Attend from anywhere...

Virtual Happiness Club, by phone
Club Happiness E-Club, online, email

The Happiness Show, cable TV, online

I would like to recommend the Happiness Minute to you. David Ambrose produces this audio message just for you. Click here: Happiness Minute | Happiness in 60 Seconds a Week

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!

FREE Newsletter Share a smile with friends and family with this motivating FREE Happ-E-Newsletter. Subscribe online at: www.HappinessClub.com Our mailing list is never sold or given to anyone. To ensure that you receive your newsletter subscription in your inbox, please add printlrk@aol.com into your address book. Check out our blog and feel free to leave comments and messages: http://happinessclub.blogspot.com

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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 2008, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.