LAFOLOT

Did you know there is a ‘Law of Average’ or Standards? It applies in Interior Design, when drafting and indicating counter heights, seat heights, ceiling heights, etc. It applies in school systems, noting whether we fall above or below average on a grading scale. It applies when a child is born, relating to their height, weight or mental/emotional capacity.

I write in my book, ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’, that we may tend to unknowingly show bias or prejudice, and the best way to deal with it is talk openly. I suggest asking questions and becoming more familiar with cultures, non-average folks so that we may educate ourselves and break down barriers.

Yesterday, I had another ‘OOOPS I DID IT AGAIN!’ moment relating to making an ‘Assumption’ about another human being. Luckily, I was able to talk openly and educate myself, thank goodness!

I was sat at a booth at a local restaurant. About 6 feet across from me, in another booth, was a family consisting of the mom, dad, and two young boys. I already knew what I wanted, so I was just staring off into space. I suddenly noticed ‘more movement’ out of my left eye. The one boy was ‘playing peek-a-boo’ with me! I LOVE playing with kids when they initiate play out in public, being bored with their families. Babies do this a lot, by looking away from their parents and observiing with big, wide eyed looks as they absorb all the ‘new stuff’ they are seeing and experiencing.

So, my first thought was: ‘this boy seems too old to be playing peek-a-boo, but I’ll go along since he is having fun!’ So I put some silly grins on my face, he ducks and hides behind his daddy.
He pops his head out again, and I give him a wide open-eyed look! He ducks and hides.
He makes another appearance and I hide my face with the menu. He is giggling, hiding, popping up, and smiling.
Life gets too serious, too fast – so I love doing my part to allow kids to be kids and have fun!

All the while, I’m thinking – FOR THIS KID’S HEIGHT (here I go with my assumption and LAW OF AVERAGE), he seems to be a 7 or 8 year old playing PEEK-A-BOO like a little two year old!

Well, I’ve had many opportunities to assist parents with crying toddlers by offering them one of my SMILEY Face bookmarks. When the child sees it, their face lights up and they get curious. It usually stops them from crying.
So, in this case, even though this was a happy BOBBING, PEEK-A-BOO child, I offered him a SMILEY Face bookmark (actually my business card), and gave him an extra for his brother. The parents thanked me, and we went back to our own table space.

A little later, I asked the boy (who I ASSUMED was about 7 or 8 years old), ‘did you READ the back of the bookmark?’
[It has wonderful positive statements about having a fun, healthy outlook on life.]
The mother looked over and said:

HE’S ONLY 4, HE DOESN’T READ YET. [There's the LAW OF AVERAGE!] I ASSUMED he was older, even though I thought his behavior a bit juvenile! This child was almost 4 feet tall and was 4 years old!

I could have smacked myself. I said to the mother: ‘My he’s tall for his age!’ [COULD SOMEONE STUFF A SOCK IN MY MOUTH!]

We are all so unique and beautiful, but we have this LAW OF AVERAGE on which everything is based. I got treated differently because I was short, fat and female – when I worked in a technological environment. My age also came into play due to the field in which I worked. I talk a lot about this LAW OF AVERAGE in my book, by giving examples of scenarios experienced by friends.

I am making a judgement about myself. My book is about AWARENESS and Appreciating Life in All its Forms of Expression. I just had another dose of, ‘step out of your Law of Average awareness and open your mind to other possibilities’ Helen. I’m glad the mother was comfortable enough to talk with me. I’m glad the boy was COMFORTABLE enough with himself to feel free to PLAY LIKE A FOUR YEAR OLD even though people may see him as a seven or eight year old.

Like Forest Gump said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates’ – there’s a wide variety, full of wonderful flavors. Life is a Song in the Key of Love, full of wonderful variations on musical themes, with a wonderful mix of musical notes.

I got to HEAR THE SOUND of a TALL FOUR YEAR OLD while he MOVED FREELY in life, BOBBING up and down, around his daddy, feeling free to play PEEK A BOO with an over 50, menopausal women.

He held no bias towards me! He just saw a PLAY PAL – not a short, fat, 51 year old, menopausal woman!

Thank you beautiful four year old boy for accepting me as I am and showing me how to do the same. Angels come in ALL SHAPES AND SIZES!

Highlighted Helen of LAFOLOT
Be in AWE of it ALL!
Make Life a Song!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog may also be seen at Vibrant Nation under blogger name: Helenoflafolot]

I was blessed to have the opportunity to give a LAFOLOT Laughter Wellness demo at our local ‘The Healthy Grocer’ store this past Tuesday. They open their lunchroom to ‘alternative healers/wellness’ folks to demonstrate their gifts.

I entered wearing my ‘now unofficially trademarked’ Tinsel Deely Bobber Headband. A store clerk approached me as I went up to talk to my contact and asked: ‘Are YOU the laughter wellness person?’ I said: ‘What makes you say that?’ Greg, ‘The Healthy Grocer’ wellness program coordinator said: ‘She asked how she’d know you. I told her, don’t worry, you won’t miss her!’ HA HA – Good thing I remembered to wear the tinsel deely bobber headband into the store!

I encountered a blonde hair, blue eyed, wide-eyed with a BIG SMILE little toddler as I was waiting for folks to arrive. Kids tend to think I’m a clown just because of my head gear! I had one of my LAFOLOT Stress Reliever Pinwheels with me, and I was making it twirl around. The little girl was EYEing it. When she and her mom and grandmom went to check out – I held the pinwheel out towards her. (I had already given her a smiley face bookmark.) It was hilarious – we started a TODDLER vs. SILLY ADULT PERSON – dance. She took two steps forward, two steps back! So I did the same. She giggled. I started a sideways crab walk movement, continuing to hold out the pinwheel towards her – then I’d step back. She mimicked me. She giggled. So we shimmied forward and back, sideways and back till I finally stretched long and forward so she would take the pinwheel. She accepted it with a big smile! Her ‘mommy’ told her to say thank you! It was the funniest thing! I love playing with kids and their shyness…OR WAS SHE PLAYING WITH ME AND MY ADULTNESS?

I had two wonderful attendees at my program. One was named IDA and she was professionally trained as a clown known as CHARITY! We had healthy fun and they took smiley bookmarks to pass around, LAFOLOT pamphlets, LAFOLOT canvas shopping bags, as well as wanted to bring me to their church to do a program or a Full Belly Laughter Club! It was a success!

When I left, I stopped at our local ARBYs. I ordered a small drink and decided to order the cheese sticks. When I got to the window to pay, the guy asked: ‘Did you get your drink yet?’ Well no – so I answered. (this made no sense but I just went with the flow) I had agreed to donate a Dollar to Big Brothers Big Sisters so I was gathering my quarters together. A girl came to the window and asked if I was a motivational speaker? She had seen my LAFOLOT Magnetic advertising panel on the side of my card. I said YES! and gave her a few SMILEY FACE bookmarks (I don’t use business cards). I let her know it would be fun to bring me in for an emloyee meeting, etc. She was excited. Then, the young guy who had asked about the drink gave me my ‘BAG’ with my order. As I pulled forward I reached into the bag and it didn’t feel like cheese sticks. I had been given a roast beef sandwich! HA HA HA – I just continued on home! There was too big a line of cars at the drive thru to go back and I was tired!

I had to drive through the GIANT Food Store parking lot to get to an exit with a traffic light, for ease of getting across the roadway in the opposite direction. I had paid for Shopping Cart advertising at this store for two seasons, but had to stop due to lack of funds. As I stopped at one of the ‘customer crosswalk’ indicators, a mom and her little girl were pushing their cart across the road into the store. The little girl turned and smiled at me. I got a laugh and smile! I saw the cart she was pushing had my LAFOLOT Laughter Wellness big AD on it! I guess they didn’t have an AD to replace it and let mine on the cart from the last season! WHAT A GIFT!

So! Between the little girl toddler who PLAYED with me to get her pinwheel and the little girl showing me that I was getting FREE Advertising – they BOOK-ENDED a perfect evening of healthy laughter, fun and play!

SOMEONE OUT THERE IS LOOKING OUT FOR ME – THANKS! ;O)

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life in Amazement!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
…and don’t be afraid to do the crab sidestep with a toddler once in awhile
[this blog can also be seen on Vibrant Nation under blog name: Helenoflafolot]

It’s been a day of discoveries and surprising prosperity!

I started out the day balancing my checkbook and discovering a $10 subtraction error; then still showing a $21.21 difference in MY favor! This was interesting, because the numbers 12 and 21 have been appearing in my daily transactions a lot, lately!

I then gathered together some books I no longer needed and drove them over to donate to my local library; for a book sale they are having in June. Before I drove to the library, I stopped at a business to check in with its owner about a future workshop. I found a note on the door that the owner was at a meeting, but luckily, when I turned around – a person I knew who recently called to refer me to a possible future speaking gig was at the Stop Light near the corner, where I was standing!

I called over a Hullo! and we exchanged a few words, the light changed, and I left smiling at the synchronicity!

I then headed to my favorite Thai Palace restaurant for lunch. I was a little bummed out, because of having left so many magnetic bumper displays there, which get taken, but I never see them on the cars parked at the restaurant. Well – I thought too soon!
I went to sit in a booth and a group of 3 adults and a toddler were sitting in a booth back and to the right of me.
The little girl was fussy and started to cry (which is OK with me, that’s what kids do!). I instantly pulled out one of my ‘REFLECT A SMILE’ popsicle sticks with a little round mirror on the end. I use it to market one of my talks, my smile campaign and my website.
I asked the ‘mom’ if it was okay to give the little girl one? She nodded, okay. When I gave it to the little girl, she was all smiles! I also gave her one of my yellow, Smiley Face bookmarks.

Well what do you think happened? The mom said: ‘ARE YOU THE LAUGHTER PERSON whose advertising is out on the business card board?’ I said ‘Yes!’ She responded how great that was, asked me what I do, and her husband and friend affirmed they’d love to have me come over and host a Laughter Party! I asked them if they minded me talking to them since they were eating, they said no, not at all! They wanted to start having more ‘meaningful’ parties at their home with guest speakers.

I gave them a mini demo of what I do, then I sat down. The little girl’s mom then let me know that she had seen my advertising around the area, at other places, that I was becoming well known to them and that I was almost embedded in her mind! (WHY? was I worried about not seeing my magnetic bumper displays!)
I told her I also teach Good Hearted Living re: Compliments and Kindness. I told her: ‘You made my day! You gave me the gift of a compliment and the kindness to share your appreciation of what I do!’ I said: ‘That is priceless! Thank you!’

We went about finishing our meals and said our goodbyes. I then stopped at my local grocery store. I’m always looking for restrooms and had too much Iced Tea to drink so I ran to unload! ha ha Last time I used this store’s restroom, I found over seventy five cents on the floor! So, when I entered, I exclaimed – ‘I am prosperous!’ I looked down, no money. ha ha

So I went about my shopping. I had been wanting to buy three new litter boxes and had been having trouble locating them at the grocery stores. I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money due to downsizing and being in the middle of saving money for my move to lighten up my expense load. I couldn’t find the litter boxes in the pet supplies aisle. I finally asked the speedy checkout clerk. A young guy in ‘plain clothes’ (not in the store’s uniform) asked what I needed, when the girl I asked wasn’t sure. He took me to the pet aisle and I explained I hadn’t found any there. Then, I looked UP and saw them on a very high place. He announced, here they are; and they’re only 1.97 each! I said, ‘Well! At that price, I can’t pass it up – give me three!’ I then asked if he worked there. He noted he was a night shift employee. I said, ‘Well thank you so much for your help, HERE HAVE A BOOKMARK!’ HA HA
He laughed. I said, ‘I ‘ll let the manager know how helpful you’ve been.’ I said, ‘Sorry I don’t have more than the bookmark to give you!’ He responded, ‘Hey! It’s more than anyone else has given me today!’ We laughed.

I went to the checkout and let the girl know how thrilled I was with his assistance and that the cat litter pans were only $1.97 each! Well! She was on the ball! I didn’t even notice. She stopped me after I self-scanned two of them. They weren’t coming up at $1.97.

To make a long story come to a close (ha ha), she discovered they ‘were’ on sale but for $2.51 bonus buy with the store’s club card – which I had. So, 2 other cashier clerk supervisors later, I ended up getting one cat litter pan for FREE (for my troubles) and the other two at $2.51 each (normally $2.98)! I asked for a customer comment card, and put all their names on the card, giving them credit for their SUPER SERVICE!

So, I guess I was right after all! I AM PROSPEROUS AND WEALTHY! Clear out the emotional and physical clutter and open yourself to the gifts waiting to come your way in Speaking Gigs, discounts and Free Items!

Have a day full of surprising, magical discoveries!
Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
Live Life in Amazement!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation under blog name: Helenoflafolot]

Remember the song, ‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile!’

I had the opportunity to present my Helen of LAFOLOT Variety Show (singing, humorist story telling) to a Women’s church group, last Sunday. I was told the age group would be from 2 to 92! I said: ‘No problem! I can handle it!’ Well, it went beautifully! I allowed the ‘kids’ the opportunity to join me ‘on stage’ and be my backup singers/act. With ‘little instruction’ they WENT WITH IT: Smiling, Sitting and Looking Pretty, Dancing Around, etc. I received many compliments of appreciation after the show; thanking me for including the children. I said I thought they’d be happier being a part of it, rather than having to just sit in a chair. It was a win/win situation!

After I was done ‘doing my thing’, they had some fun games arranged with prizes. I was sitting off to the side in one of the ‘kiddie’ chairs, just relaxing and enjoying myself. Just like with wild animals or pets, when you DON’T PAY ATTENTION or GIVE EYE CONTACT – the shy animal will approach.

Well, a little, strawberry blonde, blue-eyed girl slowly walks over towards me and steps up onto a cart platform next to my chair. I smile and she just STARES! (HA HA) Don’t you just LOVE it when kids do that?

So I say, ‘Hi! How are you?’
She JUST STARES.
I say, as I put a SMILE on my face: ‘Can you give me a SMILE?’
She JUST STARES.
I say, ‘how about a frown? Can you give me a frown? ‘ I do my best pouty face frown.
She JUST STARES.
I say, ‘I know! What faces DO YOU like to make?’ [I'm thinking I'm a real smart one here, coming up with some wonderful method to get this child to respond!]
She JUST STARES!

*sigh … I’m running out of conversation, and this kid is continuing to JUST STARE!

So, I put a FROZEN GRIN on my face and say, through my gritting teeth: ‘Oh no! My mouth is stuck, I can’t stop smiling. Oh my! What am I going to do?’

She JUST STARES!

I continue that a few seconds longer and then RELEASE the SMILE with a look of relief, saying: ‘*PFEW! I thought my mouth was stuck! Glad it came loose!’

She JUST STARES!

*sigh sigh sigh … okay – one more try!
I put another FROZEN GRIN on my face, and go through the ‘stuck smile’ routine AGAIN [if at first you don't succeed, try try again].

I say: ‘Oh My! I’m stuck again with the smile! What am I going to do?’
NO RESPONSE – She’s just staring!

I say: ‘What if I SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE it? Maybe it will come loose?’
So I SHAKE my head side to side and release the SMILE. ‘Thank goodness!’ I say, ‘It worked!’

She JUST STARES!

BUT! A woman across the room who had been watching me with the little girl, tapped her friend on the shoulder as she saw me and LET OUT A LAUGH!

*pfew! I still got it! I may not have gotten the little girl to respond, but I got a smile and laugh out of an adult across the room!

So, wherever you go, whatever you do, DON’T FORGET YOUR SMILE! Sometimes, it’s the ONLY PROP you’ll have.
And, remember – ‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile!’ (as the song says)

Spread those ‘smiles by the miles’
Live Life! Laugh Often!
and maybe you’ll win a STARING CONTEST with a little 2 year old!

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Stay Sweet!
www.lafolot.com and can also be seen at: Vibrant Nation under BLOG name ‘Helenoflafolot’

I headed out to a Coffee House Open MIC night last Wednesday. On the way, I stopped by a local discount store to pick up some potting soil. At the shopping plaza, I saw about 7 baby geese being attended to by 3 adult geese! I thought this odd, since I had heard that geese mate for life. I was wondering if the mate to the new mother had died, and two other geese stepped in to help. Either way, the support and mothering going on for the 7 baby geese was endearing.

As I headed down the road to the Coffee House, I had to pass some ongoing major roadwork construction. There was a huge, 20 feet high crane next to a highway overpass. Traffic was being managed by the usual STOP/SLOW road construction workers. As I approached, I had a SLOW sign being held by the roadworker in front of me. So, I slowed down to let ‘HER’ know I saw it and wouldn’t run her down. Because I had stopped pretty far back, I gradually allowed my vehicle to creep closer to the worker, with plenty of room to spare.

Then, SHE held up 3 fingers and mouthed something to me. It looked like she was saying 3 Minutes and holding up 3 fingers. I appreciate road work managers/sign holders and had no problem with waiting. We had an incident where a local woman was killed due to having a steel highway support beam dropped on her car as she drove under an overpass. I wasn’t in any hurry and was just waiting.

Well, the female roadworker continued to hold up the 3 fingers and mouthed 3 minutes. I started to think there was a concern, so I rolled down my window and poked my head out the window with a questioning look. The female roadworker came over to my window and said: ‘It will just be 3 minutes.’ I said: ‘That’s fine.’ She started to tell me more about why I and the other traffic behind me had to wait. I smiled and said, ‘I’m okay with it, really!’ She said: ‘Well it looked like you were mad.’ I laughed and said: ‘That’s just my face, my mouth turns down at the corners, naturally.’ I said: ‘Don’t read people’s faces, their faces don’t always show what’s going on inside.’ She said: ‘Yes! I have that problem, too! People always think I’m mad!’ I laughed out loud and said ‘Hold on a minute!’ I pulled a SMILEY Face LAFOLOT bookmark out of my purse and handed it to her. She looked at it LAUGHED/SMILED and said: ‘THANKS!’

I had to laugh. If it would have been a man holding that sign, he would have just held the STOP/SLOW sign and not worried.

Put a CARING, NURTURING WOMAN behind the sign and she makes sure the folks in the cars in front of her understand WHY they are being inconvenienced and is concered about THEIR FEELINGS!

I had a nice time at the Coffee House Open MIC night. When I headed back home in the same direction, the same woman was there holding the STOP/SLOW sign. As I S L O W L Y drove by on the opposite side of the road, I rolled my car window down and waved S L O W L Y back and forth so she could see me. My car has LAFOLOT.COM advertising on the side, so she new it was me. She gave me a big SMILE, LAUGH, and a WAVE!

I’m sure she had CARINGLY told her next group of WAIT-EES that it would only be 3 minutes and not to worry!

Interesting ….

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com

The subject of this e-mail is a motto on my website (-when I’m not menopausal and acting like a fruitcake!) ;o)

I got to share my Helen of LAFOLOT Variety Show Singing and Humorist stories at a Mother’s Day event at Country Meadows Senior Living. There were only about 12 to 14 people there. The smaller audience was welcome, since larger audiences can’t always hear the karaoke and microphone combo unit I use.

There was a man named Marty and a woman named Mary sitting side-by-side. No connection, just happened to be sitting next to one another. WELL! They were singing out loud, right along with me! I sing songs from the 20s, 30s, 40s through the present. They know the words better than I do!

At the end, I had a spontaneous thought – I said: ‘I’m going to make t-shirts for the two of you! They’ll say M & on one t-shirt and M on the other!’ Marty and Mary LOVED the idea! They said they would wear the t-shirts and make sure to sit side-by-side if I came back to sing.

I made sure to tell them it would likely take a week, but I’d get the shirts to them. I got their sizes – L and M.

So, I DESIGNED the M&M logo – I made it a little different and with more color. One note: Marty of M&M with dancing musical notes underneath and the other said: Mary of M&M – it was within a red outlined circle with my LAFOLOT logo underneath.

WELL! I drove down and dropped them off this morning. I thought I’d just give them to the Activities Director but there sat a group of seniors waiting for an activity to start. MARTY’S EYES BEEMED! He even got a little teary eyed!

He was so thrilled! He said: ‘I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU REMEMBERED!’ I said: ‘I WOULDN’T HAVE PROMISED AND NOT STUCK TO IT!’

He was soooo moved – he shakily stood up out of his chair – used my hand to steady himself and ASKED if he could thank me with a hug! I thought that was so nice that he ASKED – I said sure!

Then – they told me where Mary’s room was – I encountered Mary in her wheelchair – heading back towards her room. Mary is very hard of hearing – so I bent towards her ear and HOLLERED that I had made her the shirt. She was ECSTATIC! She was so thrilled and couldn’t thank me enough! Mary told me, once again, how much she enjoyed my singing and hoped I would be back soon! WOW!

AW SHUCKS! I did it because I thought it would be a fun idea – and might get me back for more singing!
The reaction was PRICELESS! What a GIFT!
What more can I say!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com
[this can also been seen at Vibrant Nation Blog Circle name: Helenoflafolot]

Feeling down, feeling blue? Use a coupon! Menopause, allowing my Condo Board to ‘get to me’, etc etc etc

Been feeling like crap the past few weeks, some of it my own fault due to past dealings with my Condo Board and allowing myself to project even worse reactions from them …

So I go to my local office supply store: Office MAX

I’m excited because I have a ‘Buy $50 worth and get $15 off!’ This was great because my FINICKY printer/scanner was acting up! I had placed a new color cartridge in it a week or so ago and it was now REJECTING it!

Having a tech support background, I just didn’t feel like dealing with it anymore after much troubleshooting.

So, I’m thrilled that EVEN though I have to buy a new color cartridge, at least I’ll save $15! The cheaper brand was out of stock, so I had to buy the HP brand.

Well! I go to the checkout with my $15 off coupon card. The cashier goes to another drawer and pulls another card out to scan. She forgets to scan my $15 off card and doesn’t bother to scan my Office MAX Rewards club card.

Being over 50 and menopausal, I start to get instantly annoyed (good thing I kept myself in check)! She announces the price (without the $15.00 off!) I let her know.

She says: ‘Oh, I ALWAYS forget to scan those when I put them down.’ I kept my mouth shut – thank goodness!

Then, I also say – ‘You didn’t scan my Office MAX Rewards card!’ She responds: ‘OH! That’s OK, I scanned this other card!’ She was very proud of herself.

I said: ‘Well, how is the store going to know it’s MY rewards card if you scanned another one!’ Luckily – I’m still keeping myself in check.

She announces: ‘OH! THIS ONE IS FOR A $10 GIFT CARD SINCE YOU PURCHASED THE HP PRINTER CARTRIDGE!’

Thank God I hadn’t blown up at her! I’M SUDDENLY THRILLED!

WHAT A MOOD SHIFT! WOW! WAS THAT COUPON CARD POWERFUL! Whin the moment it took to swipe the bonus card, my Condo Board Problems went FLYING OUT my head and the $25 SAVINGS I was going to receive gave me an instant: ENDORPHIN BOOST!

I was all smiles when I left the store and got very productive when I arrived back home to my office!

So, feeling down, feeling blue SEE WHAT A COUPON CAN DO FOR YOU!

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often! and hold on to those coupons!
www.lafolot.com
[can also be viewed at Vibrant Nation under blog name: Helenoflafolot]

I had a little 7 lb Malti-Poo (Maltese-Poodle) named Freddie; who is now in doggie heaven. He was pure love! He loved being held! Family and friends loved watching him when I traveled. My one niece, Emily, wouldn’t put him down when she came to visit. Freddie was a ‘wonder dog!’ It was fun to watch him get lost in the snow due to his size and white fur.

Now, the important thing to note is, a dog is a dog, no matter what the size. One day, when I was attempting to groom him, he SNAPPED at me and growled. Well! I had taken a previous dog through training and knew I needed to not allow him to see my fear. So, what did I do? When Freddie Snapped, Bared his Teeth, and Growled;

1) I got a look of surprise with a smile on my face! [I DID NOT RUN AND COWER.]
2) I exclaimed: OH! YOU WANNA PLAY, DO YOU?
He stopped growling and baring his teeth. He looked at me with curiosity.
3) I had been drying him with a towel, so I got the towel and started to play ‘get the towel’ – I said: ‘You wanna play? You wanna play? Freddie immediately went into PLAY MODE! He forgot the growl and teeth baring; he learned that DOING THAT wasn’t going to threaten me and make me run.

I was then able to continue drying his fur after his bath.

The wonderful thing is, because other people expected him to be this cute, fluffy, bundle of joy; I had to remind them that he was first, a dog. So, when my mother watched him while I traveled; I let her know about the OPPOSITE reaction action if she decided to bathe or goom him, etc.

When I returned, my mom was excited to tell me that IT HAD WORKED. She said: ‘I did just as you told me and he started to play and stopped growling!’

I learned a big lesson by taking this approach with my Wonder Dog Freddie! I started to apply this same OPPOSITE REACTION ACTION when dealing with people.

If someone was angry or yelling at me, I wouldn’t cower in fear; I would take an oppposite reaction action and it would diffuse the situation, confuse them, and get them back on track.

I started a HA HA HELEN OF LAFOLOT SMILE CAMPAIGN when I first became a laughter leader and started my LAFOLOT business. I saw that if I SMILED at those approaching me; if they did not have a smile on their face – it created one. I started a Page out on Face book: I JOINED HA HA HELEN’S SMILE CAMPAIGN! I love seeing the OPPOSITE REACTION ACTION it creates on a person who is having a bad day; or walking with a frown.

My one sister commented that when her husband dropped her off at a building before going to park, a man who felt she was walking in front of his car started to wave angrily and indicate his dissatisfaction. My sister noted: “I decided to not react to his anger, I stopped and gave him a smile, and he stopped – confused.” Her opposite reaction action threw him off due to not being able to continue with his anger. He no longer had a recipient to the anger.

I don’t always practice this as well as I would like. On days when I’M THE GIVER OF THE UPSET, ANGER, OR FRUSTRATION – I am VERY APPRECIATIVE if the RECIPIENT gives me an OPPOSITE REACTION ACTION to help me to not continue in a negative direction.

So let’s all get out there and JOIN MY HA HA HELEN SMILE CAMPAIGN and practice OPPOSITE REACTION ACTIONS in our daily interactions. Let’s throw a little confusion into the mix and cause one another to ‘shake off the growls, teeth baring, and snapping’ – causing it to diffuse and end in a SMILE.

None of us wants to stay in those ‘OOPS DID I JUST MAKE A FOOL OF MYSELF’ modes.

Have a FUN day filled with OPPOSITE REACTION ACTIONS – for the better, of course!

Give a Smile, Get a Smile …
Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
[this blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation under blogger name: Helenoflafolot]

Having had the wonderful opportunity to become a Certified Laughter Leader, WLT; I learned of the many health benefits of Laughter Wellness. The one that I’m talking about in this blog is: Extended/prolonged laughter ‘LIBERATES INTERLEUKIN-2 AND OTHER IMMUNIE BOOSTERS.’ Basically, it’s like the high you get from jogging or the relaxation you get from basic exercise done on a regular basis.

Having had the wonderful opportunity in life to take advantage of mental and emotional health services, I learned so many wonderful TOOLS for staying on track and staying healthy! One of those tools is journaling. I enjoy reading a regular article written by Dr. James Rouse (naturopathic physician) in a monthly periodical I receive. I was THRILLED to discover the wonderful health benefits of JOURNALING!

Dr. Rouse notes: ‘Taking as little as thirty minutes on four consecutive days to write about emotional topics helped raise the IMMUNE-BOOSTING LYMPHOCYTE count in chronically ill patients. This powerful study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychosomatic Medicine, may help to illustrate how holding toxic emotions inside ourselves can breed desease.’

So, when you are worrying, obsessing, out of focus due to run on thoughts or just plain sluggish, depressed, ‘in a blue mood’ GOING MENOPAUSAL, etc

HAVE AN EXTENDED LAUGH
HAVE A HEALTHY CONVERSATION/THOUGHT DUMP WITH YOUR SPECIAL TABLET AND PEN

Basically – TAKE A LOAD OFF!

We get our physical household trash picked up weekly;
We separate the ISSUES, I mean plastics, paper, biodegradable trash -

Why not take a daily or weekly RECYCLING – TRASH THOUGHT ORGANIZING few moments to TAKE THAT LOAD off and make room for the next round of thoughts and activities that is waiting to CYCLE or RECYLCLE through your mind.

GET READY FOR YOUR HA HA HELEN OF LAFOLOT daily workout:

LAUGH
JOURNAL
BREATHE
RELAX
…have a New or Creative thought!
(recycle as needed)

This has been a Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT ‘non-medical/unofficial – just some thoughts’ blog moment.
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation blogpost name: Helenoflafolot