LAFOLOT

Don’t you just LOVE synchronicity?

I’ve gone from being in the dumps and ‘whoa is me’ thinking to, gratitude for all those routing for me, to WOW! the planets seem to be going into alignment if I’d just open my eyes and look as well as stop and listen!

This past week, I have had new friends and aquaintances contacting me in various ways, to help me spread my passion and intention to others! Besides Syn-chro-ni-ci-ty – I’ve opened to Re-cep-ti-vi-ty!

While all these GIFTS I was given by friends may not all bring in income, THEY DO allow me to share my passion.

“MY GREATEST JOY IS MAKING SOMEONE’S DAY!”

My intention is to: MOTIVATE and INSPIRE others!

As a result of one friend, I am going to get to sing a song I am PASSIONATE about; ‘Life is a Song’ – at a local Interfaith Service on Monday, May 3, 2010 in Harrisburg PA (USA). I will get to spread my passion of ‘Appreciating Life in ALL its forms of EXPRESSION; being in AWE of it ALL’ with people from various faiths, beliefs and ways of life. We will all be appreciating, sharing and listening to one another.

On Tuesday, May 25, 2010 – I am going to get to share my PASSION of LAUGHTER WELLNESS as a demonstration at a local ‘HEALTHY GROCER’ store in Camp Hill, PA (USA).

In October, I am going to get to share my discovery and PASSION of SHIFTING my PERCEPTION and AWARENESS via my talk and workshop titled: ‘SEEING WITH NEW EYES!’

As a result of my local Chamber of Commerce providing a Marketing Strategies meeting yesterday morning; I now know ways to improve my marketing and advertising practicies. I also made new contacts for future events that will CONTINUE to allow me to share my PASSION about ‘Seeing With New Eyes!’, ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’ talk on Diversity as well as my program ‘Laughter? Let’s Get Serious!’

I am AMAZED and in full appreciation of all the wonderul SYN-CHRO-NI-CI-TY going on around me as I am open to RE-CEP-TI-VI-TY to the WONDERFUL WHOOOOOOSH of love, support coming to me from the Universe, Spirit, God… whatever term you may ‘BE FREE’ to use.

I read my daily meditation while sitting at lunch. I had posted a note about a farrell cat of mine finally TRUSTing me enough to sit near me on the sofa. The daily meditation was about TRUST! SYN-CHRO-NI-CI-TY!

At lunch, I sat in a booth behind two high-powered, financial business men in their crisp white business shirts, strategizing, talking upward movement, and hearing one man say: ‘I KNOW I can make $250,000 more next year!’ WOW! What a statement! To have said it with such solid affirmation and knowing it to be TRUE! The next part of the meditation talked about being OPEN to RECEIVING all that is there for you to receive. To NOT see life from a PLACE OF LACK. To see life as being able to provide all you need.

SYN-CHRO-NI-CI-TY – sitting behind these gentleman, listening and learning as they talked. I had my own one-on-one educational seminar going on!

I LOVE sharing my passion of MAKING a PERSON’s day and I got to do that several times this past week!
Last Friday I attended an inspirational movie night. I am such a people helper, with my theatre background I offered to ‘entertain the crowd’ while the gentleman setting up the movie projector was waiting for folks to arrive. As a result, a woman who plays flute for local senior homes asked for my business card; to possibly team up in the future!

As a result of that I got into a wonderful discussion on the psychology of color with a gentleman at the event who was also aware of color psychology! I purposely made my business cards into YELLOW Bookmarks! Yellow agitates the brain and inspires learning so the bookmark falls in line with wanting to motivate and inspire people! I also love sharing the bookmarks because they have POSITIVE statements and bright, cheery smiling faces that I’m told, MAKE PEOPLE’S DAYS! While I was talking to this gentleman, a congregant from my church happened to show up at the event; having a SMILE on her face as a result of seeing the yellow, smiling bookmark! So, I gave HER one which put a SMILE on HER face!

I was THRILLED sharing my PASSION because I have a SMILE Campaign that talks about reflecting and sharing smiles!

When the movie was over, I was looking for a place to give my donation for the event when I overheard a mother PROUDLY talking about how TALL her son had grown in such a short time! I got to joke with them about him being taller than me at such a young age. I was THRILLED to be able to share a: ‘LAUGHTER OPENS THE MIND!’ smiley, yellow bookmark with this young man! I LOVE motivating, inspiring and MAKING THE DAYS of youth! I felt the young man could use the bookmark and be inspired as he read – sometimes it’s not easy being a teenager!

The next day, I went to a local restaurant and got to MOTIVATE and INSPIRE and MAKE THE DAYS of a young woman (cheerleader) who wasn’t afraid to LAUGH OUT LOUD amongst her friends!

Don’t be surprised! I have been known to wear my ‘tinsel deely bobber’ headband while dining out or while going grocery shopping! I had given and received

I AM HA HA Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT – my INTENTION is to MOTIVATE and INSPIRE others; my PASSION is to MAKE PEOPLE’S DAYS!
I LIVE MY PASSION and my INTENTION!
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!

…and yes, it’s OK to approach me out and about and call me: HA HA HELEN – I take it as a compliment and it MAKES MY DAY!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com

I had the pleasure of being sat in a dining area filled with over 20 chirping cheerleaders, yesterday!

I like going out to eat on my own, which allows me to be open to meeting new people, and getting involved in interesting discussions. The Olive Garden Restaurant where I dine, has a complex design with 3 more intimate dining rooms vs the open seating area. I’ve been sat in one of those rooms, when it has been totally quiet, with just me BEing there. I’ve loved it because of the wide-high windows with the flowering trees outside. It’s fun to watch the birds fly in and out of the trees doing their ‘bird stuff’.

Well, yesterday, when I got sat in one of those dining areas, there was a couple at the table to my right and 20 or more beautiful young women excitedly talking about LIFE! I smiled as I started to review the menu. I had to look over at the couple to my right and smile – they smiled back. The room sounded FULL of CHIRPING BIRDS! I LOVED IT! It was abuzz with excited chatter!

It was wonderful to be amidst the beautiful, high energy of youth! I was so thrilled to be able to recognize that and soak it up! Around age 49, I had a big ‘Ah HA!’ moment which allowed me to let go of my fear of bears, spiders and other insects. I can now allow a bee to walk on my hand or face; explore this ‘interesting find’ and then buzz away without feeling threatened.

As a result, I was able to sit amidst the BUZZ of chatter from these lovely souls! I had to get up and walk over to the couple’s table and joke, ‘IT SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF CHIRPING BIRDS!’ They nodded in agreement as they laughed.

Then, a wonderful thing happened; one of the girls a couple tables away LAUGHED OUT LOUD! It was so loud she actually followed with a giggle and put her hand over her mouth. It had FILLED the room! Well! I WAS GOING TO HAVE NONE OF THAT!

I quickly pulled an ‘appropriate’ LAFOLOT Smiley Face/Postive Statement bookmark out of my purse; jumped up out of my seat with a sly grin and ran it over to give to the girl. She looked up questioningly and accepted the bookmark with her friends looking on.

‘What does it say?’ they excitedly asked as I hurried back to my seat with my smile on my face. ‘YOU’VE GOT A GREAT LAUGH!’ the young woman announced! They smiled and laughed with her. Then, a wonderful thing happened; another girl at a table farther back LAUGHED OUT LOUD! Well! I dutifully jumped up out of my seat and ran a bookmark over to her! She smiled with pride as she graciously accepted the reward!

There was an adult woman with the Chirping Birds, so I quickly introduced myself and gave her one of my cards so she could feel safe knowing who had sprung into her flock of twittering birds, for whom she was responsible. She thanked me a couple times.
A couple other young women politely asked for a Smiley Bookmark, then we resumed our previous positions.

So often, young women are told to: SIT, LOOK PRETTY, DON’T WRINKLE YOUR DRESS, AND SPEAK SOFTLY. This type of behavior is carried into womanhood, into higher education, into the workplace and into their roles in relationships. Have we forgotten the song by Helen Reddy: ‘I am woman hear me roar, see me standing ‘cross the floor…’?

I am not into ROARING, but I AM into letting young women know it is OK TO LAUGH OUT LOUD! It’s OK to have a great idea and share it BOLDLY! It’s OK to EXPRESS your soul’s purpose that is yearning to get out and present itself to the world!

So to ALL the beautiful, spirited CHIRPING, BUZZING, LAUGHING OUT LOUD birds (I mean young women) out there in the world: LAUGH OUT LOUD and there’s no need to cover your mouth and shush, afterwards! Associate and mingle with Peers who embrace your passionate ideas; and SOAR TO THE SKY LIKE A BIRD spreading your ideas and laughter like SEEDS spread around by bustling chirping birds.

BE

Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT
Living in AWE of it ALL! Living Life in A-MAZE-Ment!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
LAUGH OUT LOUD!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation under Blog Cirlcle name: Helenoflafolot]
Motivational-Inspirational video by Helen of LAFOLOT can be seen on You Tube at Channel: Helenoflafolot

Friends and family have been encouraging me to put my creative characters and motivational/inspirational messages out on You Tube.

I talk about appreciating life in ALL its forms of expression; being in AWE of it ALL!

I have been hearing back from women, men and teens all over the world about their appreciation of my self-expression in video and blog form.

It’s funny, because I look at the videos and photos and see a short, fat, woman with no lips, a big menopausal abdomen, large forearms and gobble gobble neck –

BUT! When folks see me they say: YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL!

So I KEEP ON spreading my message of ACCEPT LIFE in ALL its forms of expression –

don’t crawl into a hole because you don’t FIT THE NORM.

GET OUT THERE AND BE THE ‘ME’ YOU WERE MEANT TO BE!

Here’s my Creative, Menopausal Woman over 50 video I submitted to The ELLEN Show for her: Write a World Domination Theme Song contest.

Not bad for a White Hungarian Rapper? My darker complected friends get a kick out of my rhythm and rapping abilities! I get it from my HUNGARIAN ANCESTORS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Gm37ku7zw

I hope you can get to the video link, above! If not, my channel on You Tube is HELENOFLAFOLOT – just type it in the search box and look for the video called: DomEducate

I’M VERY PROUD OF IT!

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often! (Live in AWE of it ALL! and Make Life a Song!)
www.lafolot.com
This blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation under blog circle name: Helenoflafolot

It’s April 18, 2010 and I’m having a SILLY SUNDAY!

The first clue about this Sunday being SILLY and SPECIAL was the fact that BOTH my Alpha female cat ‘Kitty’ and my Alpha male cat, ‘Buddy’ decided it was OK for both to come and sleep on the bed with me at the same time! Is the world coming to an end? What a miracle!

I spent the morning relaxing and listening to the Sunday morning jazz stations ‘mellow music’ show. Ahhhhhhh -
While listening to the music, I opened Facebook and checked on my ‘Life is a Song‘ coupon special, book AD. I was getting ‘clicks’ and all was well. I hone my marketing and advertising skills by making general observations about Facebook activity, so I spent some time doing that.

Then it was time to get out of the house and make use of my A.C. Moore Craft store, fifty percent off coupon, that so diligently gets e-mailed to me every Sunday morning! I’m a VALUED A.C. Moore club card holder, you know! I AM SPECIAL! But first, lunch at Olive Garden! Going out to eat works well for visibility in my marketing and advertising.

I like to park farther out in the parking lot when I make the trip to these two places so I get some exercise. So I treck over to the restaurant which has a 15 minute wait; but that’s okay because I get ‘face time’ and unexpected advertising when I sit in the lobby and wait with the crowd. Marketing marketing marketing! While waiting, we heard ‘CRASH’! I announced: ‘YEAH!’ The one host looked at me. I said: ‘Well, it’s done, why get worked up? Just sweep up the glass! He revealed to me that it is such a common occurrent, when he is waiting on tables and entire trays go crashing to the floor, he doesn’t miss a beat with his order taking!

I had been given one of those beeper disks that is supposed to light up and buzz when it is your turn to be seated. One of the friendly hosts called over to me: ‘Helen, you should have ‘GONE OFF’.” I looked up and laughed! I pulled the device out of my pocket, it wasn’t flashing or buzzing. I respond: ‘Well, I’m in a good mood at the moment, I don’t have any need to GO OFF on anyone!’ (insert smile or laugh here) When I handed it to her, THEN it started it’s commotion! Too late buzzer-lightup thingy, I’m already getting seated!

I got one of the young, handsome, great smile, servers and had a nice lunch. Over the half-wall from the niche where I was seated (containing 3 other tables) was a family with toddlers. You could hear the fun, giggling, and squeels of the kids. A new couple got sat when I was almost finished. At one point, the little girl let out such a squeal of GLEE that it shreeked through the area. I just laughed out loud, because I thought it was fun. The lady across from me winced. My handsome, friendly, great smile server brought me my check along with a ‘Comment Card’. This was new. ‘OOOOOOH! A CHANCE TO WRITE SOMETHING SILLY’, I SAID! He just laughed, not being worried.

I had my daily meditation magazine with me, so I joked I was going to pull a profound quote out of the periodical and write it on the card. I was laughing and chuckling as I wrote on the back: ‘THE OBSTACLE IS THE PATH.” Tao Then I noted he was a friendly server and had a great smile! ha ha ha Enough SILLINESS there, I left and headed over to A.C. Moore Crafts to use my coupon!
woo hoo!

While getting my walking exercise in, returning my periodical to my car so I wouldn’t have to take it into the store; I heard a vibrating, rumbling noise. I looked up. I saw a truck with an appliance in the truck bed, with bubble wrap all around it. The bubble wrap was making a buzzing noise like when you put a baseball card clipped to a bycycle tire spoke as a kid.

I waited for the man to get out of his truck and hollered: ‘Sir! You ought to drive your truck all around more and have some fun with the bubble wrap making that buzzing noise!’ He smiled and laughed, agreeing with me. He said he had heard it and it reminded him of the baseball card bit on bycycle tires, too!

As I got to the A.C. Moore store entrance, a husband was DUTIFULLY leaning against the stone pillar in front of the store. His wife was shopping in the bins outside the store. I called out: ‘Sir! Just keep holding that column up for me while I shop in the store!” He smiled and said he’d do his best!

I got the chance to give a plug for my book, when I went to the checkout! I forgot I was wearing my AD button: ‘LIFE IS A SONG IN THE KEY OF LOVE’ by Helen Marie Szollosy, www.lafolot.com. The cashier was looking at it with a quizzical look on her face.

[an aside: When I was in a woman's clothing store the day before, the sales clerk said, as she prepared a changing room for me: 'Your name's Helen?' 'Yes.' I answered. Wondering how she knew? Then, last evening, I went to an art gallery showing. An artist I was talking to said: 'I know I've seen your name in an e-mail I received recently.' I laughed and said: 'Oh! You're reading my book advertising button!' I forgot my name was on it! Plus, I was thrilled someone had forwarded and e-mail or youtube video of mine to her!]

I said, ‘OH! That advertises my book.’ She was excited, ‘You wrote a book?’ ‘Yes!’ I was thrilled for the opportunity to toot my own horn! It ‘just so happened’ – tee hee – that I had my mini-marketing tools for my book in my purse! I whipped one out and gave it to her; explaining it was about ‘appreciating life in ALL its forms of expression.’ I mentioned it was an autobiographical/philospophical discussion on learned but not felt, bias and prejudice. Her face lit up! She was a caucasian woman and told me her husband is African-American. I let her know that book was about ALL types of bias. I gave her a couple more marketing cards and told her to feel free to pass it on.

She asked if the book was in stores, and I let her know it was self-published, it could be gotten at my website, that I had had a book signing in Carlisle, PA , recently, etc. She thanked me and I left.

When I made my next trip to the grocery store, I got to have more fun. When I got to the dairy section to pick up eggs, an employee had a HUGE cart filled with eggs, as he was stocking the area. I walked around the cart, he was sitting on the floor. I said: ‘I SEE YOU ARE UP TO YOUR ARMS AND LEGS IN EGGS!’ He started to laugh and said: ‘Hey! I like that! That’s egg-actly what I am!’

So, finished with my SILLINESS, I headed home, with a smile and a chuckle.

MAY YOU ENJOY A SILLY DAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
and let your silly side out and keep your sunny side up!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION under blog circle name: Helenoflafolot]

Each day, I am more and more amazed at the synchronicity happening in my life! I am to the point, when I get up in the morning and experience what I see as a challenge/block/frustration, by the time lunch comes around; I am reading about the SOLUTION in my daily meditation magazine! Then, I have to laugh out loud! It’s gotten to the point that I want to PEEK in the daily meditation magazine to SEE what is in store for the day; BUT that would spoil the surprise! Kinda like read the last page of a book before you get to enjoy the journey within! Some days I feel like I’m in the ‘Groundhog Day’ movie with Bill Murray!

I had a BIG AH HA, part II – today. It’s said we ‘teach what we need to learn’; I am doing this big time! Around age 49, I had a big AH HA! moment; as a result, I was able to move forward in my life, stop hiding, see my life as the gift that it is, and START LIVING!

This resulted in me taking early early retirement from my 28 1/2 year job on a leap of faith, starting my LAFOLOT business, starting my website and setting the intention to Motivate and Inspire others through Speaking, Singing, Writing, and Laughter Wellness.

My first big talk was called ‘Seeing With New Eyes!’. This talk was an off-shoot of my big Ah Ha! moment. I saw that the talk was so flexible as to be given in many different venues. My ‘teaching what I needed to learn’ was coming out no matter HOW I expressed myself! I realized today, when talking with a friend, that it EVEN came out in my book: Life is a Song in the Key of Love OR Growing Up With the Embarrassment of Prejudice. The intention of the book is to appreciate life in ALL its forms of expression; to be in AWE of it ALL. Once again, as I talked to my friend, I had to LAUGH OUT LOUD at the synchronicity! It seems no matter what I undertake, the idea and lesson appears to come out as: SEEING WITH NEW EYES!

As I read my daily meditation today, the first quote JUMPED out at my EYES! “We are all like flies crawling across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We cannot see what angels and gods lie underneath the threshold of our perception.” William Irwin Thompson
I had to LAUGH OUT LOUD! There it was, again!

I then recalled how I spent a majority of my life Doodling EYES whenever I was bored in school. Everytime I had a chance to doodle, I was doodling eyes! I wondered WHY I had chosen THAT particular doodle, but then the thought would leave. Then, I had the AH HA moment PART II! Was my life purpose or intention to SEE things from a DIFFERENT AWARENESS; a DIFFERENT PERCEPTION? This is what I talk about in my presentation.

The songs I sing have to do with SEEING life in a NEW LIGHT; SEEING things turn around. I was in total A-MAZE-MENT today as this new AH HA came flying at me!

I had been very depressed the past couple days. I choose to be aware of depression, talk and write through it. I also choose to cry in order to process my feelings; as well as whine if necessary. I feel by going through the process; just as with a cold or flu – I can then move forward. I feel if I HOLD IT IN, it never leaves. So, I allowed myself to feel the depression and cry at breakfast as well as whine. When I allowed myself to whine, I started to LAUGH; realizing how I sounded like a little two year old. But, it was OK, because of the AWARENESS and being able to SEE myself from a DIFFERENT ANGLE or PERCEPTION. I could SEE myself depressed, FEEL for myself in that moment and help myself to LAUGH and start to LIGHTEN myself up!

I was able to START MOVING FORWARD and prepare for my next day’s event. Then, as I read the daily meditation at lunch; the day even got better! It talked about not giving one’s power and personal energy to people and things outside ourselves. I immediately thought of how I was giving my energy/power to the Condo Board where I live. I was allowing my frustration with the board to take hold of my feelings. AH HA moment! I then realized, when I had gone to Boiling Springs, PA (USA) Children’s Lake, yesterday – I was SEEING another solution by watching the fish in the area feeding water into the lake.

I was standing on the bridge, watching the fish just hover in the water as the inflowing CURRENT (energy) washed around and THROUGH them (their gills). They didn’t FIGHT the CURRENT, but allowed gentle movement (as they used GROUP ENERGY by clumping together) to stay in one place while the FOOD, WATER, CURRENT, ENERGY flowed around and through them.

I thought! Smack myself in the forehead! OPEN MY EYES! There I was HIDING from the Board, RUNNING from the Board, ALLOWING them to EXPEND my energy! I was ALLOWING them to MOVE ME in directions I didn’t want to go, zapping me of my energy!

Once I read this, realized about the doodling eyes, was REMINDED of the lesson I TEACH, but also need to LEARN; I GOT MY ENERGY BACK!

So, after having finished packing my ‘stuff’ for my event tomorrow; as well as having had the ENERGY and TIME to get organized, make more items to GIVEAWAY and advertise my LAFOLOT business –

I’d say THE EYES have it! … focused in the right direction of thought, for the moment, until I decide I need another lesson!

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life in A-Maze-Ment!
Being in AWE of it ALL!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be found at Vibrant Nation under Blog Circle name: Helenoflafolot]

A friend of mine sent me this ‘daily inspiration’ message yesterday:

I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel,
about the Sacraments -
he got so excited
and ran into a hollow in his tree and came
back holding some acorns, an owl feather
and a ribbon he found.
And I just smiled and said, “Yes, dear,
you understand
everything imparts
His grace.” –St. Francis of Assisi

No matter WHERE you get your inspiration or place your beliefs; I have personally observed how animals and insects can teach us wonderful life and spiritual lessons!

This morning I was awakened by my cats to; meow! meow! get up and seize the day! (They don’t speak latin, so it wasn’t Carpe’ Diem!) It was 5:55 when I looked at the clock! I like turning on the patio light so my cats can watch any critters going by the sliding glass doors. I noticed a brown rabbit sitting 10 feet out from the patio. I immediately shut off the light; allowing the rabbit its peace.

As dawn broke and I sat at my office computer, I saw the brown rabbit continued to ‘just sit’ in the grass. I put on my distance glasses (being over 50 and now wearing tri-focals), and noticed it was just BEing. I went about my BUSY-ness, and occassionally noticed the rabbit was still there. I avoided eating my healthy breakfast; being too caught up in wondering why the updates on my computer were taking so long! Again, the rabbit was JUST BEing. I noticed it decided to take a little ‘munch’ out of the grass.

I took the rabbits advice around 6:00 AM and started my healthy breakfast. I sat in my comfy sofa with my accent table containing my healthy breakfast items; and had breakfast while just BEing with the rabbit. When I was done, and continued to sit as the rabbit was, it started to twitch its nose. I realized I was tapping my finger on the sofa in time with the rabbit.

Was the next clue to ‘get moving now’ since I had finished my breakfast? I went back to my computer to see if the updates were completed, so I could access my e-mail; it was now about 7:09 AM. The rabbit stretched its legs by going into a partial sit-up position then went back into resting mode. It took a few more nibbles out of the grass; and at 7:11 AM it hopped off to its right, across the back lawn.

I wished the rabbit a HOPPY day and thanked it for inviting me into its EARLY MORNING RABBITATION (meditation/prayers).

I have a ferrel cat named Fonzie; who was rescued from under a local playhouse, after its mother had been hit by a car. The meows were heard by actors in rehearsal at the theatre. I got Fonzie (so named for his softness and survivor abilities), to be a ‘playmate’ to my Alpha Male cat Buddy. Fonzie wasn’t more than 4 inches long and high, and STOOD UP to Buddy (arching his back) when he first met him. What a brave cat! I thought! Fonzie saw himself BIGGER than his body gave him credit for! (John Maher)

It has taken 4 years, but Fonzie has taught me a lot. Be Brave, Be Cautious, Be Bold and Be a good friend to Alpha characters; you never know when you’ll need their help! Fonzie went from constantly hiding in the closets, under the bed, to finally showing himself. He then went from jumping, running and hiding EVERY time he saw me, to now ALLOWING me to sit near him on the sofa without running away. He now comes to me to ALLOW me to pet him! (ha ha ha) I watch the way he slowly approaches Buddy and then gets groomed and allowed to cuddle with Buddy for a nap. I got to watch how GENTLY Buddy introduced Fonzie into the family. Buddy would gently give ‘fake nips/bites at Fonzie and then follow with gentle licking’. I saw the message he was giving Fonzie, ‘it’s OK, don’t stress, relax’. I saw how he could calm Fonzie with his Alpha Male Cat wisdom and gentleness.

I saw a duck ‘just sitting’ out in our parking lot yesterday. It was raining, and puddles were forming. We RUN from the rain; this duck said ‘bring it on!’ – YES! I’ve got more puddles!

When I’m spending too much time at my computer, my Alpha femal cat ‘Kitty’ jumps up on the desk and insists I pet her. Not only that, she plops down and insists I scratch behind her head and also gently rub her belly. She then, shows me TOTAL TRUST, closes her eyes and goes into a sleep. ‘Enough of that computer!’ she is gently telling me; time to take a break and rest. She has total trust while she allows me to cradle her; since she would surely slip off the desk if I wasn’t supporting her while she rests.

I am grateful for all the creatures and insects that present themselves to me, each day, to teach me life and spiritual lessons.

Allow me to give a SHOUT OUT to the mammal and insect world: Meow! Woof! Buzzz! Rabbit Nose Twitch! Tweet! Chirp! etc.
Thank you for taking the time to allow me to attend your classes. Where can I sign up for the next lesson?

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life in A-Maze-Ment!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation under Blog Circle name: Helenoflafolot]

These are my “personal thoughts and observations” on SMILING.

What I’ve come across in my training and research is that SMILING has many wonderful health benefits. One of them is opening communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain! A smile naturally UPLIFTS and LIGHTENS not only the face, but the heart, soul, spirit, health, and demeanor of a person!

Before I became a Certified Laughter Leader, WLT; people would pass me and ORDER … SMILE! I would wonder why they were doing this? It instantly made me ‘irritable’, having the opposite effect of the intention of the sender. I would say, ‘What? This is my face, I’m just thinking, what’s wrong?” I have one of those ‘small mouths that naturally turns down’. I would say: ‘This is my God-given face, what’s wrong with it?’

Then, I figured: ‘Well, If they WANT me to walk around with a smile all the time, I will!’ So, whenever I passed someone, I would INSTANTLY put a frozen GRIN on my face, then close it. Some people started to say: ‘WHAT’S WRONG?’ ‘Gheesh! I thought. They’re never happy!’ Some people would say: ‘DO YOU HAVE GAS?’ I couldn’t win! Nothing seemed to make people happy with the look on my face!

So, once I learned more about the mental, spiritual, physical health benefits of smiling, I started an experiment! EVERYONE I met at work, or grocery shopping or at Stop Lights while waiting at a busy intersection got a close-mouthed smile from me. SOMETHING MAGICAL HAPPENED! I started to get automatic, mirrored smiles in return! “Wow! I thought! This is amazing!” I started to make a game of it. If I gave a close-mouthed smile and received an automatic one in return from whomever I was passing, I gave myself ONE POINT! Something MORE MAGICAL started to happen! I realized I not only got a REFLECTED smile back at me; but I would sometimes receive a verbal ‘Hi! or How Are You?’ “WOW! I once again thought, now I’m going to give myself TWO POINTS!

So, I started totalling my points whenever I went out anywhere. I started to notice something even MORE magical! Total strangers would be walking with their head down, look up, see my closed-mouth smile, and 1) Smile Back at Me 2) Say Hello, and ask how I was doing, 3) START TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ME! Besides the previous three reactions, I would VISIBLY NOTICE 1) Their posture got taller, 2) Their face lit up, and 3) They were still smiling when they passed me!

I went from: Irritible, to Faking a Smile, to Experimenting and Playing a Game with Receiving a Smile to, seeing the VISIBLE WARMTH and ENLIGHTENMENT that was produced by acknowledging a person with a look and smile!

I started to get a warm, fuzzy feeling and couldn’t wait to go out and share smiles! I started to call this my: HA HA HELEN’S SMILE CAMPAIGN and posted it on my website! I made buttons that read: ‘I JOINED HA HA HELEN’S SMILE CAMPAIGN!’ I started to incorporate the observations and experiment in my: ‘Laughter? Let’s Get Serious!’ talks and programs!

I started to notice more and more, how our bodies NATURALLY use SMILING and LAUGHING as natural responses to:

HAPPINESS
EXCITEMENT ABOUT LEARNING and DISCOVERING
FEAR
HESITATION, etc.

For example, watch a baby when it first smiles or giggles; they don’t understand language but they smile and giggle with EXCITEMENT at NEW things seen or NEW self-discoveries. I started to realize; if smiling opens communication between the left and right brain hemispheres, then this act of a baby must be helping the child to learn, about these new discoveries!

I met a young girl in a Sunday School class who talked to me about a fear of riding a roller coaster, but her friends were insisting. In relaying the story, she sucked in her breath to show me hesitation and fear; made a frozen grimmace or grin, released the sucked in breath, letting all the air out and released the frozen grin or grimmace. I WAS AMAZED as I OBSERVED this! The girl was using NATURAL body functions of DEEP BREATHING, pulling the mouth back and up to OPEN THE MIND AND RECEIVE and then RELEASE THE FEAR!

I started to realize another action when a person is entering a SCARY situation in a horror movie. I noticed they would walk low, stealthily and PULL THEIR MOUTH OPEN AND UPWARD in a FEAR / CAUTION produced GRIN or GRIMMACE! What was happening? I thought. Well, from what I’ve learned, they were in HIGHTENED reaction mode and they were INCREASING the communication between their left and right brain hemispheres with this action, to be READY TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION and REACT!

Think about the Holiday story ‘The Grinch That Stole Christmas’. Did you notice whenever the Grinch had a clever idea; he PULLED THE CORNERS UP on his face into that GRINCH CLASSIC SMILE! How appropriate! Did you notice how Dr. Evil (Austin Powers), or Vincent Price would LAUGH DIABOLICALLY when they had an EVIL idea? Isn’t it interesting how laughing and smiling would apply to THE CREATION OF AN IDEA – in opening communication between the left and right brain hemispheres?

The health benefits of laughing and smiling are NEUTRAL when it comes to causing many physical, mental, emotional reactions in the body in order for us to develop an idea, deal with fear, deal with stress or express excitement and joy!

I invite you to continue your own research and continue your own observations with how smiling and laughing are used in your own, daily interactions. I invite my workshop attendees to prove me right or wrong by going out and SMILING to see what they observe. I am a natural, nervous laugher and use it to deal with life situations. I have become an AUTOMATIC SMILER.

I now use SMILING before I answer the phone or door. I use smiling to CAUSE me to PAUSE; so I don’t over react, and allow myself time to be OPEN and PROCESS what I am ABOUT TO RECEIVE.

Try it and let me know what you think or observe… you may like it and find it fascinating. Either way, join my smile campaign and see how many points you earn! It makes shopping and other chores go a lot faster; and brings in the FUN!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often! … and SMILE, too!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be found at Vibrant Nation under Blog Circle Name: Helenoflafolot]

I had my second book signing (‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’), last evening. I strategically scheduled it at Lily Cafe’ in the heart of downtown Carlisle, PA (USA) near Dickinson College. Besides college staff and students, the area is very diverse. There is the Army War College as well as people from all cultures and backgrounds. I placed advertising in two different newpapers, information on my website, out on Facebook, distributed fliers around Dickinson Campus and elsewhere. I felt good about this location.

My first book signing was the previous Friday, Easter weekend. I looked at it like a test run for me, since I hadn’t realized the Holiday weekend when I scheduled the advertising. So I was READY FOR THE CROWDS last evening.

Once I set up ‘my space’, a slew of Emergency Response vehicles went flying by the Cafe’! I thought, Deja Vu, since an emergency vehicle had flown by last Friday when I was setting up. I immediately thought the worst. I went to the owner and said: ‘This is like the movie Ground Hog Day! Does this mean I’ll get no interest again, this week? I hope you’re not superstitious!’

Since the book signing was scheduled from 3:00-8:00pm (to allow time for students getting out of classes to stop in), I relaxed at my book signing sofa, watching passers by. I also had my daily meditation magazine with me. I re-read the line that had interested me earlier that day: ‘NEVER LIMIT YOUR VIEW OF LIFE BY ANY PAST EXPERIENCES.’ Ernest Holmes

I had to SMILE, I was EXPECTING the worst based on a previous experience! I then allowed my gaze to fall on the businesses across the street. First business: Emporium CONCEPTS; Second business: … Life Cafe’; Third business: UNIFORMLY Yours

I had to SMILE and LAUGH to myself! Never limit my view from past experiences … here’s a new CONCEPT … (switch the letters in Cafe around and get FACE) Life – FACE it! … it’s UNIFORMLY YOURS … to make of what you will!

So, once again, I was learning my lesson to: ‘See With New Eyes’, ‘Shift my Awareness’, ‘Shift my Perception’, move forward with my thinking in a new direction!

I step away from my book signing area to talk to the owner; and when I return a woman walking in the door stops to look at me. She asks: ‘Are you Helen?’ I respond affirmatively. She gives me her name and I realize she is the wife of a former coworker and friend whom I haven’t seen for about 10 years! OH, THE SYNCRONICITY! They saw my AD in the Carlisle Sentinel and clipped it for the book signing and 20% off Cafe’ dining purchase offer!

SHIFTING my awareness and perception of the event was now starting the Life Experience Dominoes falling in a different direction! I shared with my two friends, all the synchronicity that had been happening up until ‘Muriel’ had walked in the door. Her husband Rich had introduced me to the movie ‘Baghdad Cafe’ way back in the early 1990s. I referenced ‘Baghdad Cafe’ as a comparison to Lily Cafe’ in a blog I wrote a couple weeks ago! I had been thinking about Rich and Muriel and had even moved near their ‘neighborhood’ over 2 years ago!

So, here I am, waiting for folks to show at Lily Cafe’ (Baghdad Cafe’) and they arrive! I end up having a wonderful conversation about my book topic with Muriel as well as an artistic young man who had stopped in with his brother. The young man told me he grew up in a farming family, was expected to stay in the ‘family business’, when in his heart and soul, he knew he was an artist! The conversation was priceless!

When Muriel’s husband Rich arrived, we caught up on 10 years of stuff, discussed the book and they stayed to dine at the Thai Cafe’. Antonio Anacan, the master jazz musician and featured performer, allowed me to sing for Muriel and Rich. They got to dance while I sang and Tony took a break.

I also got the chance to sell my book (way below cost) to a wonderful young couple I had met at the Cafe’ on another occassion. They are always ALL SMILES, having eachother, and a positive outlook; even though life hasn’t graced them with more than limited income. They WANTED to pay for the book, so I talked with Danielle who shyly negotiated the price they could handle. I gave them a couple ‘Life is a Song’ canvas shopping bags, a couple Pinback buttons and they promised they would help me advertise! They were ALL SMILES as they left the Cafe’!

I sold two books! YES! What a priceless evening! I left exhausted and found a UPS package on my doorstep when I arrived at home. I was so tired, I placed all my stuff in the living room and prepared for bed. After I awakened this morning, had a healthy breakfast and started to go through my items left in the living room, I RE-discovered the package. WHAT A SURPRISE!

I start to dig through all the foam peanuts. What did I find? A YELLOW SMILEY SPATULA! I was ALL SMILES! My laughter leader buddy, Barb G. had sent me a SMILE spatula! I read the card, the beautiful note as well as the check donation she sent me for helping with Marketing/Advertising bookmarks. I SMILED even broader, as I felt the WARMTH of HAVING BEEN THOUGHT OF in a kind way!

I laughed when she noted in the card that she knew I didn’t cook, but perhaps I could display it in my kitchen to bring me smiles! I immediately used the chain to hang it on my plant rack at my kitchen window. My cat Buddy, was enjoying the open window, the sun shining in, and the smile spatula! I took a photo.

 
Then, as I continued preparing for a health faire at a local Senior Center, today; I started to find Smiles ALL OVER MY HOME! If you read my blog about having to bring my birdbath into my home; it now reflects rainbows all over my ceiling! I took a photo of the RAINBOW SPOTS smile created by the sun reflecting through the glass votive candles sitting in the water. I went into my living room to find a SHADOW SMILE peaking at me from the Cathedral ceiling; as a result of the sun going through the SMILE SPATULA! I walked out of my home office, looking up to find a WINKING SMILE on my smoke alarm mounted on the wall. I entered my bathroom to find a ‘Pearl Necklace’ SMILE made by having hung the necklace on a bathroom shelf!

I was ALL SMILES! I was SURROUNDED by SMILES! My home was filled with SMILES BY THE MILES!

It’s the THOUGHT that counts – friends from years past THINKING of me and supporting me at my book signing.
New friends, Danielle and David, RICH in love and friendship but not in money, showing me support!
Master Jazz musicians allowing me to share my gift of song with friends while they dance.
A distant laughter / Virtual Buddy thinking of me and sending me a smile; and
ALL THESE SMILES being REFLECTED back at me to warm my home space, heart and soul.

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
Live Life in Amazement!
Share your SMILES by the MILES!
www.lafolot.com

[this blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation under blog circle name: Helenoflafolot ]

As I was growing up, I had an unwarranted fear of spiders, bees, lightening bugs and just about any other flying or crawling insect. It was frustrating, because I didn’t have as much fun as other kids, due to always running into the house!

If a bee, or other flying or crawling insect was on or near me, and anyone was standing next to me – WHACK! I would involuntarily hit the other person in trying to rescue myself from this small creature.

If I was in a car, it would get dangerous! I would either scream and hit the person next to me, or have to pull to the side of the road and get out of the car.

At age 49, I had a major enlightening moment! This is the time I MOVED FORWARD, took early retirement, started my LAFOLOT business, and developed an appreciation for LIFE in ALL its forms of expression. HA HA HA!

I was now able to sit or stand or just BE next to a spider and admire it.
I was now able to allow a Bee to BE. I could allow a bee to fly around me, walk on me, buzz near my ear, dive into my salad as I sat at my LAFOLOT display table, at an outdoor event. IT WAS A WONDERFUL, NEW FEELING!

I have shared this NEW ME with many others, when I am promoting myself, my business, my book etc. I give others HOPE in achieving the same FREEDOM!

So, last evening was rough. For some reason, my Alpha Male cat ‘Buddy’ was restless. As a result, I couldn’t get to sleep. He kept fussing and whining and wanting attention. I never figured out what was bothering him. When I finally got to sleep, I was AWAKENED at 4:00 or 5:00am by my Omega cat, ‘Fonzie’. Meowing and Meowing and running around to get my attention; wanting his the bathtub spigot turned on, since THAT is the way he insists on having his water!

So, I get up at 8:00am and make my healthy, ENLIGHTENED PERSON, breakfast. I am very exhausted from lack of sleep, but I need to be up since a Handyman is supposed to call and stop by my house to fix some items.

I make my Herbal tea -
Pour my cranberry/pomegranate juice -
Make my Romaine Lettuce Salad with Lite Zesty Italian Dressing – Slivered Almonds, Chopped Apples and Cranberries.

I sit on my sofa with my breakfast items on a side accent table.

I’m enjoying the beautiful sky, the bright shining sun, the birds, my pets FINALLY calming down and resting, Steve Halpern Healing Music CD…

I hold my salad bowl in front of me while sitting on the sofa.
As I finish my salad, put the bowl on the side table; I move to lean forward to get off the sofa:

SCREAM, WHACK!, FALLING BACK ONTO THE SOFA!

WHAT WAS ‘T H A T T H I N G!!!!!’ that plopped onto my lap that I just WHACKED! towards the sliding glass door window – that fell behind the curtain?

My Alpha cat Buddy is now in FROZEN, EMOTIONALLY AWARE, HEIGHTENED SENSES mode – obeying his owner’s reaction!

I start to LAUGH OUT LOUD! I realized I had dropped a cranberry on my shirt as I was eating the salad, and it fell on my lap when I went to get up! When I saw the dark THING my tired brain immediately reacted!

I’m LAUGHING and LAUGHING and LAUGHING! My poor cat Buddy is slowly staling the curtain at the window. I talk to him and let him know IT’S OK! It’s JUST A CRANBERRY!

I continue to laugh, due to FATIGUE, EXHAUSTION AND LACK OF SLEEP as well as JUST LAUGHING AT MYSELF!

I’m thinking – OH YES! ENLIGHTENED ONE! Whacking a cranberry!

So – per the RULES OF ENLIGHTENMENT . . .

repeat Step 1. – Release Ego.

Highlighted – er uh – Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often! and keep an eye out for killer cranberries!
Live Life in A-Maze-Ment!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog may also be viewed at Vibrant Nation under blog circle name: Helenoflafolot]

I conduct laughter wellness programs and am often complimented on the ‘safe/comfortable’ environment that is created.

I was trained to create a non-perfectionistic, optional participation, non-physically invasive environment. A man shared openly: ‘I really appreciate the guidelines you stated at the beginning of the program, about respecting people’s space!’

I just tried to pick up my Alpha Male cat and give him a hug, he squirmed and jumped away. I respected that he didn’t want interaction at this time; he had just wanted a little recognition and a rub around the ears. I appreciated that he let me know, in a gentle way, his wishes at this time.

In my book, ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’, I talk about respecting life in ALL its forms of expression. We all have our own wishes and comfort levels when interacting with one another on a daily basis. Watch how animals approach one another. Dogs, cats, birds, insects; they all have a system of approach. They use site, physical movement, and sense of smell to gently approach and ask: ‘Is it OK for me to enter your space?’ They have a way of letting echother know: ‘This is what I am allowing and accepting at this time.’

For example, try hugging a beehive! But, you may say, I LOVE that bee hive!; I want to give it a hug! Well, listen to the agitated buzzing of the bees, observe, sense and LET THE BEES GO!

Try picking up a cat after it has ‘gently’ let you know that it doesn’t want to be held. The signal will get stronger with an open claw or gentle nip of the teeth. Watch an Alpha cat with an Omega cat when the Omega isn’t listening to ‘I don’t want to be bothered at the moment;’ you will hear a quick NYEH! signal sometimes followed by a quick touch of the paw to the pestering Omega cat.

We need to learn from animals, insects. People have this same system of letting one another what they will allow or not allow as far as ‘getting into their space.’ We need to be aware of the subtle signals, that sometimes have to grow to stronger signals.

I am grateful that I got to attend a variety of 12-Step programs as well as one-on-one and group counseling. I loved learning about:

1) Respecting a person’s space
2) Using ‘I’ statements or ‘I feel’ statements when discussing a personal need or wish
3) The word ‘NO’, without an explanation, is acceptable and should be acknowledged and respected.
4) My body is MY personal space and I have a right to allow or not allow permission to enter my personal zone.

I am blessed to have learned these social skills; but the frustration comes from daily interactions where they are not respected.

In my laughter programs, people are told if they don’t want to shake a person’s hand (for whatever reason: cold/flu season for example) they can just keep their hands at their side as an idicator.

Another example is, if a person does not want a hug, they can put their hand forward to indicate a handshake is acceptable. Another suggestion is to ASK. Openly ask a person, ‘would you like a hug?’ If the recipient extends a hand or says, no – then that request needs to be honored. Think again, about the animal and insect kingdoms. Learn from their examples.

I CRINGE when an adult ORDERS or INSTRUCTS a child to: GIVE HER A HUG! What if the child isn’t COMFORTABLE with the adult they are being TOLD to hug? What if the adult they are telling to hug, isn’t comfortable?

Here’s a suggestion: ASK the child IF they would LIKE a hug? Respect the body space of one another.

I recall, as a child, how SCARY or DIFFERENT the adults around me seemed. Just the HEIGHT and EXPRESSIONS could be very scary and intimidating. Children are in the mode of Learning, Experiencing, Discovering the world. I recall being told to ‘Go Say Hello to your Grandfather!’ Now my grandfather was a kind man, but he was big, stocky, dark hair and blurry eyeglasses. I recall being very fearful, taking the quarter he offered and running away. *pfew!

I recall having being dropped off at a woman’s home so I could be safely watched during the day. My mom was a nurse, my dad worked and an older sister was STUCK with the duty of dropping me off to be baby sat. I Screamed and Kicked and Yelled at the doorway, refusing to let go of my sister’s hand. I didn’t want to go into this STRANGE home with the PERSON I didn’t know. I screamed and cried and yelled. I recall sitting at the kitchen table ALL day until I got retrieved by my sister. No matter what the woman did, I sat there with my head down. She was a scary, strange adult. (As I got older, I got to know this kind, smiling woman who ran the library at my school – Marie M.)

Think from the mind of a child. Think from your own mind. Would you want to be pushed to get physically, full body close to a person you weren’t comfortable with?

Because I am so AWARE of respecting my own personal space and other’s personal space, I CRINGE when I go to church and am told ‘IT’S TIME FOR HUGS AND HANDSHAKES!’. With everyone being seated in the pews, there’s no escape!

I have nicknamed this time: INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS! The FULL-BODY INVASIVE huggers start their SLOW – ARMS WIDE OPEN ascent on any body they find! I start to practice all the healthy social skills I’ve been taught.

1) I give a smile and wave! – didn’t work… they’re still approaching!
2) I extend my hand! – didn’t work … they GRAB my hand and PULLLLL me into THEIR ZONE – invading my ZONE!
3) I verbally express – I DON’T WANT A HUG! – didn’t work, they respond: BUT I LIKE HUGS! (I guess I don’t count?)
4) NO turns out to NOT be an acceptable answer! I guess the 12-Step programs and psychologists were wrong after all! I am then PUMPED FOR INFORMATION … “but WHY? but WHY?” – I feel like I’m talking to a 2 year old with the why? why? why?
Then the ultimate: There must be something wrong with you, I’m going to FIX you! YOU WILL SUBMIT, YOU WILL COMPLY!

Ohhhh Noooooo! The body snatchers are going to ASSIMILATE me! Ahhhhhhhhh!

So, ASK if the person wants a handshake or a hug
RESPECT the person’s personal space
ACCEPT the answer
and, maybe – like the LEARNED cats, dogs, bees, birds, etc. You will WIN OVER their trust and respect and they’ll step over the line into your zone, one day and FREELY offer the hug or handshake you have expressed that you like. Just like the Alpha cat that eventually allows the Omega cat into its space. Just like the bee that realizes you aren’t going to harm it.

Let people BE – approach them with ACCEPTANCE and RESPECT of their PERSONAL SPACE.
START with a SMILE
ADD a WAVE and see where it FLOWs.

This has been a Highlighted, Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT moment.
Live Life! Laugh Often!
LIVE and LET LIVE!
Be in AWE of it ALL and Make Life a Song!
www.lafolot.com/books
[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION under blog circle name: Helenoflafolot]