LAFOLOT

MOTIVATIONAL/INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKING:

• CHURCHES
• ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS
• BUSINESSES
• CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES – REENTRY SUPPORT SITES
• SCHOOLS
• ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/RAPE RECOVERY CENTERS

Unsolicited feedback from speaking engagements:

“Yours is one of the few talks I’ve ever remembered.” Mark Downey

“Thank you for speaking at the Loyalton Assisted Living Sunday service. We really enjoyed your talk! I think everyone there left with something to take with them. We’d love to have you again. Elaine Hoover – Outreach coordinator

Helen, Thanks so much ! It was a delight to hear you this morning and to hear your very poignant and cute stories, filled with true meaning… Carole Knisely

Qualifying myself as a speaker:

My academic background consists of:
Bishop McDevitt HS, Honors/Academic studies with the invite to join the Honor Society. (1974-1977)
Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 3.2 GPA
Harrisburg Area Community College, Phi Theta Kappa – Alpha Nu Omega charter member and first Public Relations Officer – Chapter’s role is ‘service to the community’.

(pending) Member: AATH (Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor) 2010-2011
Mechanicsburg, PA – Chamber of Commerce (2009, 2010)

I’ve appeared on stage in local, volunteer theatre productions with Oyster Mill Playhouse and Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg, PA as well as took voice and acting classes with Open Stage of Harrisburg, PA.

I come from a background of challenges that I’ve overcome, to become an independent, empowered, enriched, successful woman. I had very strong, giving, hardworking parents, one of which struggled with alcoholism. I have an older sister who is mentally/physically disabled as the result of being hit by a drunk driver in the mid-1960s (I was 8 yrs old, at the time). I am also an incest survivor.

I am grateful for all the giving supportive people, counselors, 12-Step Programs, self-help books and loving friends who walked along side me in my journey to learn to live my life with awe and gratitude.

I no longer ‘carry’ these labels as a burden, but embrace them as ‘gifts’ that I value and treasure! I choose to use this newfound knowledge to motivate and inspire others to LIVE THEIR LIVES! AND LAUGH OFTEN!

I embrace life and our differences by interracting with people and learning about their cultures, languages, etc. by learning to say ‘Hello’, ‘Goodbye’, ‘How Are You’ and ‘Thank You’ after earning their trust. I started a ‘SMILE Campaign’ which has brought many shining facial and verbal responses to me, as a result. Total strangers respond and brighten my life, when they return a smile!

Sample talks and brief descriptions:

SEEING WITH NEW EYES
I speak from the heart, from personal life experiences – helping others to see how to approach life and get through what appear to be challenging life occurrences, but are actually gifts – by ‘seeing with new eyes’, shifting one’s perception. I share ways for others to see life’s hurdles from a different perspective, in order to see the Gift of Life!
Inspired by a statement that came to me during prayer/meditation: “I Choose to feel what I need to heal, I choose to face what I need to replace.”

LIFE IS A SONG
I also speak on the parallels of the world living in rhythm, blending and making beautiful, colorful, diversified music! Quite a powerful talk – incorporating music theory with eliminating prejudice, racial bias, gang mentality, etc., and replacing with synchronization, respect, and tolerance. (Great for schools and correctional institutions.)

REFLECTIONS
I like presenting this talk to cherished, valued seniors who are such a gift to us through their wisdom of the years. It’s also great for anyone who is physically or emotionally limited, whether due to being imprisoned through the legal system, or by limited physical movement, or due to age limitations. I talk about Reflections INWARD through thoughts, as well as Reflections OUTWARD through physical gestures. It’s quite a LIBERATING talk!

REPLACING WHY? WITH WOW!
Learning to live life in a-MAZE-ment! Living in AWE of it ALL! Being grateful for all the unexpected surprises around every corner.

LIVING ON THE ‘UP BEAT’ - I love comparing life to music! This talk deals with approaching life from an ‘Up Beat’ perspective vs. a ‘Down Beat’ approach. This is a talk you need to FEEL to relate! Trust me, you don’t need to know anything about music!  

PEER POSITIVE! – Be a true Peer Positive vs. sticking with the old ‘peer pressure’. Hear and discuss how to be a support rather than a weight to others’ dreams, as well as your own!

Careful, the Children are Listening! – Actions speak louder than words. How we can impact future generations by how we speak and act. Discusses becoming self-aware and really looking at how we impact children on a day to day basis. Helen discusses personal life experiences, from a slightly humorous side, as she recollects hers and other children’s adult influences.

PRICELESS! – How valuable are you? Do you know your true self worth? (This talk was inspired by Helen meeting a beautiful soul named ‘Mary’ who was known as a Bag Lady or Street Person. Mary, a woman of great value! Never having been forgotten.)

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! THE CLIMB! – Isn’t it all about the journey? Great talk and discussion on what strengthens us, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

WHAT’S COOKING? – Just as we mix ingredients in everyday cooking; what ingredients are we putting into us and our everyday life experience to create a cullinary masterpiece or a flattened soufle’? What’s brewing or stewing inside, you? How to create the perfect recipe for a new you!

BUILDING BLOCKS? – A whole new twist to ‘when life gives you lemon, make lemonade!’ When you’re feeling blocked and life throws block after block across your daily life path; why not get creative and build something new with those blocks? It may lead you in a new and exciting direction! Let’s Play!

Contact Helen Marie Szollosy at (717) 542 6127 for availability and negotiable fee based on size of event, organization, frequency, etc. No event too small or large. Or, e-mail Helen Marie Szollosy at: HELENOFLAFOLOT@YAHOO.COM