LAFOLOT

Sometimes, you don’t have a lot of control over a situation and using humor to diffuse anger, frustration, anxiety helps release the tension and bring peace, relaxation and good health back to your body.

There’s a sweet doggie across the road. Since he’s gotten to know me, he doesn’t bark at me anymore. But he barks a lot – so I WROTE THIS SONG!

Ode to Woody

MY NAME, IS WOODY MCBARKEN!
I LOVE TO BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK ALL DAY LONG!
MY NAME, IS WOODY MCBARKEN!
SO YA BETTER JUST MOVING RIGHT ALONG!
I LOVE TO BARK BARK BARK, YOU CAN SEE THAT’S NOT A LARK
‘CAUSE MY NAME – IS WOODY MCBARKEN
I LOVE TO BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK
ALL DAY LONNNNNNNG! *woof!

When life gets rough or brings you lemons –
turn it around with a silly song
and soon you’re body, mind, mental and emotional state will be
Back IN TUNE!

LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
Keep living life – and when all else fails – laugh off the stress in a healthy way!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com

10 minutes later – Update: LOL! At myself!
I write a silly song, write a silly blog – couldn’t figure out why the recycle truck was was sitting outside my place engine running running running – After 10 min and my cats besides themselves … I go out – see that the Recycle guy is inside the Barking Dog Woman’s front porch – sipping coffee – while her dog barks incessantly and the truck engine running. I ask him if there’s a problem or could he turn off his truck engine? He apologizes and leaves – I tell her to grow up and get dog training to learn how to train her dog. SHE JUST STANDS THERE AND SMILES. *sigh … need to forgive myself for getting so worked up. Let me go read my silly song, again. oy vey! That’s why I say – I teach what I need to learn! Live Life! Laugh Often!

Even with the beautiful weather, I was in a ‘ho hum’ mood, so I was thrilled to have a chance to DRIVE MYSELF HAPPY when I stepped out for some groceries (always a fun place to MINGLE!)

At the stop light near the store entrance, I saw a Sports Fan’s personalized license plate in front of me:

NYY GBAY (guess they may be a New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers Fan!)

Then, the car in front and in the left lane to me, had a personalized license plate that read:

JLRYLDY (Jewelry Lady – guess she liked making or wearing jewelry!)

So, thanks to the opportunity to DRIVE MYSELF HAPPY and get out of my ‘ho hum’ mood!

I got to apply my former profession technical support expertise by helping the head cashier and quick checkout cashier troubleshoot a system problem. They thought it was a debit card problem, I noticed it was a problem with slowing down during calculating customer savings and not noting them on the sales slip. A JOB WELL DONE BY HA HA HELEN, DON’T MENTION IT, GLAD I COULD HELP! HA HA

Speaking of humor vs. laughter. I saw an ambulance parked at the store on the way out. I turned to ‘JOKE’ (keep in mind humor is SUBJECTIVE) with a man walking out near me (turned out I knew him!) – saying: Guess someone had a heart attack when they saw the prices! – and I laughed. He agreed and smiled.

Then! I caught myself and said: ‘Oh! That’s not funny at all.’ He agreed. I said: ‘It’s more like dark humor.’ He agreed. Then, he said: ‘I was thinking it was the food!’ I laughed and said: ‘Yes, bad indigestion, that’s all it was!’

So a chance to practice my profession and note the difference between laughter wellness and humor. What one person finds funny, could trigger a negative response in another, due to personal life experiences. Ah! Ha!

As I drove off in my car, I noted the time on my car’s digital clock read: 3:10pm It was a HA HA HELEN OF LAFOLOT – ‘TIME TO LAUGH!’ – upside down and backwards it’s OLE’ – the Spanish Cheer! Translating it to a laugh as: OLE’ HEY! HEY! HEY! ha ha ha ha

So from ‘ho hum’ to ‘ut oh!’ or oops! to OLE’ Hey! Hey Hey! I was having a HEALTHY day!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life! and Laughing Often!
never know when it’s TIME TO LAUGH
or DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY
and always good to SPREAD SMILES BY THE MILES!
www.lafolot.com

I made the choice of taking an early, early retirement and living off a very limited income in February of 2008. I decided to start my own business due to my SCHOOL OF LIFE lessons and big AH HA! moment causing me to SHIFT my Perception of my Life and Personal Awareness.

Part of my growth, for the 10 years prior, was to get familiar with 12 Step Programs which involved letting go of anger and frustration with my personal awareness of a GOD. Suggestions came at me to ‘pick my own name’ for my higher power. At one point it was G.U.S. (Guidance, Understanding and Support), it then grew to WILSON (named after the friendly, kind-hearted, always ready with the helpful advice) neighbor on the sitcom HOME IMPROVEMENT. You never saw his face, but he always helped worked out their questions and problems – even if they had trouble interpreting what he was conveying.

Fastforward to September 2010. I am now into MOSEY-ING (is that a word) at my MOBILE Park. I’ve chosen over the years to release more and more material possessions, downsize and release physical as well as emotional baggage.

Lately, I’ve been jokingly saying I’m taking my lifestyle from the ANDY GRIFFITH show. As I was out in the beautiful weather, blue sky, upper 70s (fahrenheit), crickets chirping ‘Weed Whacka HA HA HAing’ my mini-lawn – I thought: I think I’ll rename my higher power ANDY GRIFFITH. HAHAHAHa

What did Andy do when ‘car thieves’ came to Mayberry R.F.D? Well the crooks didn’t know there was only one main road in and out of town. Andy just got in his patrol car, took a back road – and while the car thieves were racing to get out of town – Sherriff Andy was just Sitting on the hood of his car – waiting for them to come to him – since it was the only way out of town.

No stress, no worry, just calm, collected easy-going thinking – addressing the problem (was there a problem to him?) head on.

So, as I weed-whacka-ha ha ha’d my yard and started to clean up. I’ve started to sit on my freshly mowed/whacked lawn, I slowly, easily, no stress start to coil the verrrrry long, outdoor extension cord. I love that everytime I go to reuse it, it unravels easily.

When I did technical support, I saw how FAST technology was progressing. I feel there is good to technology; but that NOW – it’s nice to ‘take the Andy Griffith’ approach and kick back, slowly doing a task like winding the power cord neatly back into place.

I am enjoying doing things MORE SLOWLY and METHODICALLY – SMILING as I do them –
grateful for my mind which helps me to untangle the cord when it does get tangled.
grateful for the ability to weed whack my own yard -
grateful for the mind and physical ability to UNPLUG and work at untangling the weed wacking cord if I haven’t put it back together properly when checking the line feed.

Just like washing dishes by hand, and getting to watch the birds and butterflies outside my kitchen window, little tasks can take on CALMING effects and help to take a break from the FAST PACED technology zooming by us, today.

Just like ANDY GRIFFITH on Mayberry R.F.D. – taking time to SMILE at another driver at an intersection and DRIVE MYSELF and OTHERS happy – helping to deal with road rage, and getting them to get off a cell phone or stop texting –

ANDY GRIFFITH, WILSON, or whatever/whoever you call your Higher Power would enjoy MOSEY-ING at my mobile park, too – I’d like to think. *smile

Have a pleasant day, turn off the cell phone, toss it in the back seat while you drive, and stop and smile at someone at a large, traffic light intersection.

Mentally sitting on my porch, rocking and widdling and singing the Mayberry R.F.D. theme song …

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Stay Sweet!
Live life in A-MAZE-Ment – it’s how it’s meant to be lived – I think…
What do YOU think?
www.lafolot.com

Hmmm? How do you get off the Pitty Pot and out of the Pitty Pit?

1) Take a walk and see the beautiful sky I viewed yesterday, while walking to my mailbox! Just had to take this photo!

GLORIOUS Sky by Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT

2) Phone a friend – E-mail, works!

3) Read your wonderful e-mails from caring, witty friend, and funny comments shared by your Facebook friends!

4) Get some Healthy Laughing friends, whether they’re CERTIFIABLE, uh I mean Certified Laughter Leaders, like yourself, or not – to LAUGH with you!

5) Send a THANK YOU and note of gratitude for the laughter, smiles, and comments of concern to ALL.

6) Take a photo of your pretty plate of THAI food at lunch, and cause those around you at the restaurant to smile and laugh with you as you do so!

Ha Ha Helen's THAI Lunch

So, how do you get out of the Pitty Pot Pit? With all the Love, Gratitude, Compliments, Comments, Silliness and Laughter POURING into the PIT; you can’t HELP but FLOAT to the top and get SCOOPED out by all the LOVE!

Thanks to ALL!

Ha Ha ‘HUMAN AFTER ALL’ Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com

BEWARE! I’ve got a SMILE and I KNOW how to USE it!

This is HA HA Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT – making a suggestion to help your daily people passing experiences (PPEs) by FLASHING a SMILE!

For health reasons: A SMILE works better than a HANDSHAKE because it doesn’t spread germs or colds!

For confrontational meetings: It softens the expectations of the recipient of your request!

For Healing Reasons: A SMILE can instantly warm a heart/soul and make a person’s brain respond in a happy, healthy way – sending warm/fuzzy healing feelings within and without!

A SMILE warms the giver and the receiver!

Watch my latest mini HA HA Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT motivational/inspirational moment called: ‘SMILE at the OK Corral!’

I’ve got a SMILE BADGE and I KNOW how to use it!

SPREAD THOSE SMILES BY THE MILES!
DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY!
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com

HA HA Helen of LAFOLOT and Amazing Anna!

WOW! Life’s events never cease to amaze me!
[If my computer wouldn't have unexpectedly shut down -
If I wouldn't have left my house to drive to a new local diner -
If the diner wouldn't have told me they just had a power outage (fire trucks were rushing to the scene of an accident)]
If I wouldn’t have decided to head up the road in the other direction to Olive Garden Restaurant -

I wouldn’t have MET – AMAZING ‘HEALTHY LAUGHER’ ANNA!
[who was sitting outside the restaurant with her large-numbered party - FAMILY - for a 50th birthday celebration.]

As I was exiting the restaurant, a woman RETURNED my SMILE [there's my SMILE CAMPAIGN POINT!] I shuffled through my Yellow, Smiley Face bookmarks for one that had a comment about smiles; so I could reward her. I gave her one that said: ‘Smiles Spread Sunny Feelings all over the World!’

I told her she had just given me a POINT by returning my smile. She BEAMED!
Don’t you remember me? Aren’t you the woman that came to Bethany Towers for the laughter stuff?

WOW! I found out her name was ANNA. Anna had only ever attended ONE of my HEALTHY HAPPY HOUR Laughter Club events at a senior apartment building that allowed me to use it’s cafeteria in exchange for residents attending for free.

Anna proceded to tell me she couldn’t come back because of her Hernia.

BUT! She told me: ‘YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE I WENT TO YOUR LAUGHTER SESSION, I CAN NOW BEND AND TOUCH MY TOES!’

She proceeded to tell me: My friends and I do the Cell Phone Laugh all the time, when we are out and about!

She kept calling out to her family members, telling them to ‘COME OVER HERE, THIS IS THE LADY I TOLD YOU ABOUT, THE ONE ABOUT THE LAUGHTER!’ Then, she’d have me demonstrate.

So there we were, laughing smiling, some family members looking at us like we were nuts, but Anna was SO THRILLED to be able to introduce HA HA HELEN SZOLLOSY OF LAFOLOT to her family! I had no problem obliging!

I asked Anna if I could take her photo. She not only gave me permission to take the photo, she gave me permission to put it out on the net.

Here she is! AMAZING ANNA – who FIRMLY BELIEVES the LAUGHTER has now given her body the ability to allow her to bend over and touch her toes!

I salute lovely, amazing Anna – and thank her SO MUCH for the GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT and sharing her family, story and time with me!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often! …and maybe you’ll be able to touch YOUR toes, too!
Stay Sweet!
Spread those SMILES by the MILES!
www.lafolot.com

I tell people there is a LOT more MEAT to my MESSAGE than MEETS the Eye!
Live Life! Laugh Often! – as well as my Ha Ha Helen’s SMILE CAMPAIGN and DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY! Campaign

I always say, I ‘teach what I need to learn’ – I feel it’s how I come across as AUTHENTIC – sharing what I DO to WORK THROUGH my ‘OFF MOMENTS’ in the event it helps someone else.

For example: TODAY! All I can say is, my menopausal hormones, addictive behaviors are certainly having two year old temper tantrums inside me! I could tell since early this morning. I am AWARE – thank goodness!

1) Even though I was driving down the road to drop off a demo music CD that had been requested – my mind started to come up with negative scenarios of running into all sorts of problems. 12 Step Program folks will relate to that.

So – I had to – even though FEELING and being AWARE of that – place a SMILE on my face to ‘help me work through it.’ I also made myself AWARE of my AGITATED state of mind and became MORE PRESENT while driving.

Then – I had a WONDERFUL time at the Art Gallery where I dropped off the CD. It went beautifully and I shared a few laughs! *pfew! Thanks goodness I was aware and didn’t give into it.

2) I stopped at the grocery store to drop off a couple Full Belly Laughter flyers and pick up two items. I was doing REALLY WELL! Still feeling the ‘Mount St. Helen’s’ Volcano brewing inside of me from hormones, cravings, etc. – but being AWARE.

HOW WONDERFUL! As I was leaving the store with my mini-cart – a young man walking towards me FLASHED ME A SMILE! It immediately REFLECTED off my face back to him! [SMILE CAMPAIGN GAME PAID OFF!] Here I was, have a CRAPPY moment and I had CASHED IN MY POINTS I had earned from giving smiles! *sigh – it was a wonderful moment …

BECAUSE – I start to head out the automatic/electric doors and a guy in front of me in on his cell phone. He is STRUGGLING to take bags out of his mini-cart, while kicking the cart with his right foot to move it away from him – people walking all around him…

my MIRACLE MOMENT was gone in a blip of a second! I vocalized in a judgemental tone: ‘IF YOU GOT OFF THE PHONE, YOU COULD PUT YOUR CART BACK.’ I did a kindness and put his cart back with mine.

*sigh … As I turned to leave through the exit doors, he turned to me and said: ‘WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO SAY THAT? I MEAN WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY? IT WAS A BUSINESS CALL!’

I was SO PROUD of myself! I immediately planted a SMILE on myself and just SMILED back as he expressed himself to me. We we’re heading in opposite directions, so I just HELD MY SMILE and allowed him to express what he needed.

Did we agree? No. But there was no need to get into an argument over it.

WOW! What a rollercoaster up ‘feeling like crap, being aware, receiving a smile and a moment later going into another crappy moment but choosing to not allow it to escalate.’

Then, after I dropped flyers off at two other venues, a woman HELD THE DOOR OPEN FOR ME as I exited! I SMILED and THANKED her.

So, why am I sharing this? I like to share the GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY along with the miracles of how I go through my day. It’s not always perfect, I share a lot of the fun stuff –

But, perhaps, now you’ll see the PERSONAL POWER of my SMILE CAMPAIGN and DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY CAMPAIGN which help me to make my own world and other’s worlds a little brighter, moment by moment …

whether I’m the GIVER or the RECEIVER of the SMILE or Healthy Driving Moment.

Live Life! Laugh Often!
Spread those Smiles by the Miles! and
DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY!

Keep earning and saving those HA HA Helen of LAFOLOT SMILE CAMPAIGN points! Like me, you never know when you’ll need them!

Stay sweet!
Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com

UNBELIEVABLE!

An hour or so ago, I was driving through a local Plaza Parking Lot to go get a bite to eat.

I came across a very nice, high end, luxury vehicle parked in front of the Chinese Takeout place. The PERSONALIZED license plate noted:

IM NUD

Now, HOW would YOU pronounce that?

So, being ME, I couldn’t resist. No one was behind me, so I pulled slowly forward, rolled down my passenger side window -

The VERY POLISHED, WELL DRESSED, EYE-GLASS WEARING woman looked at me. I SMILED and said, ‘Well, I just had to check?’ She gave a questioning look. I said: ‘The license plate!’

She said: ‘Oh, you probably think it says I’m nude – but it says I’m Nud (pronounced with American English short U sound as in Nut).

I went silent and drove forward. It took EVERYTHING in me not to LAUGH OUT LOUD!

I give a talk called ‘Seeing with New Eyes’ and shifting personal awareness and perception. Guess she told me!

I Laughed out Loud and giggled in the car. I had to slow down and tell another driver passing me in the other direction. They laughed out loud.

Here’s the big BA DUMP BUMP and *rim shot

The number 5 is pronounced HA in Thai – I looked at my car clock and it noted: 5:55 – - I had to let out another HA:HAHA!

I think some silly laughter angel SET ME UP for THAT one!

Live Life! Laugh Often! Whether you’re NUDE or NUD – uh I mean or NOT!
DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com

Gotta LOVE how I’ve turned grocery shopping into a FUN activity – when it’s an activity I like the least!

Since it’s JUST ME and I work from home – I’ve made a fun, effective habit of INEFFICIENT shopping! By stopping by the grocery story every other day or so – for whatever item I currently need – I get more visibility and advertising time!

I have a LAFOLOT magnetic display on my car, a HA-HAHA license plate, etc. – I like getting out of the house and driving around so I get known. I go to a local grocery store where some of the carts still have my LAFOLOT, bright yellow background AD.

Yesterday, I stopped in and had one of my new: FLASH Someone …a SMILE! – iron on transfer – canvas shopping bags I created. I always look for my AD carts so I can ‘mess around’ with the folks and ask them if they recognize anyone familiar, since the AD has my photo.

First fun thing: I encountered a mom with two pre-teen boys. They were doing that thing where they FIGHT and WHINE over WHO gets to PUSH the cart? HA HA – I ran up and said (as I WINKED at the mom) – Nooooo Iiiiiiii Wannnna Push the Carrrrrrt! [the mom laughed, the one boy let go and the other kept pushing it! He wasn't going to give in, even with an over 50 menopausal woman getting in on the game!] Laugh out Loud!

Then, I went into an aisle and BINGO! I turned to my right and THERE I WAS! My AD and FACE were on the back side of the child seat in the cart. I said to the woman (who had a preteen son with her) – WOW! So YOU’RE the LUCKY ones today! She looked as I pointed to the AD. She stepped around the cart and laughed. She said to her son: ‘Come over here, do you recognize this person?’ He smiled (HUMORED us!) HA HA!

I saw a manager walk by and said: ‘WOW! As I pointed to the cart – this store has the BEST CART ADs!’ He laughed.

THEN! A Wonderful thing! I like meeting folks from different countries. I got to talking to a man stocking shelves. He was from GUYANA! What luck! I got to learn a lot about his country, directly from the source of someone born and raised there! I was blessed with his sharing of pride about his country.

Then, at the checkout, I joked with the cashier that I needed ASSISTANCE placing my two items (black pepper and paprika) on the conveyor belt. When she saw my FLASH Someone … a SMILE! canvas bag for my groceries – she exclaimed: WOW! WHERE CAN I GET ONE OF THOSE!

I said: ‘Do you REALLY like it? I just made it this morning!’ She said “yes!”
I said: ‘OK, IT’S YOURS!’ and gave it to her! The smile and thrill on her face was payment enough – of course – I asked her to use it to help me advertise and tell people about it. I also asked her to tell people about my website.

So, once again, I got to have fun, silliness, and get great information about a country, as well as a new fan – during one of my least-liked chores – grocery shopping! HA HA! Success!

Spread those SMILE by the MILES and you never know who you’ll meet while out shopping!

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

Wow! What an unexpected TREAT, yesterday when I decided to stop in at Olive Garden for their soup/salad deal! I was sitting in my booth when I heard the server say to his other table: ‘It’s your birthday, today?’ MY EARS PERKED UP! I happened to know that the restaurant had stopped their policy of Servers Gathering to Sing to Guests on their Birthdays.

WELL! I just COULDN’T allow this soul to not be SUNG TO on their birthday, while dining out! *tee hee Super HA HA HELEN of LAFOLOT jumped out of her booth (okay, slowly slid out). I had on my: ME! t-shirt. I took one of my HA HA HELEN on a stick “STICK WITH LAUGHTER” items out of my purse as well as a SMILEY FACE bookmark.

I smiled and said, ‘I’m sorry to bother you (as I held up my GIFTS), but I heard it was your birthday and wanted to sing the HA HA Happy Birthday song to you! It turned out to be two, ‘grey haired women’ out having a fun birthday lunch – one treating the other.

Luckily! They both smiled. My intention had been to just give the gifts, sing my little ditty and let them be. Well! They started asking me all types of questions in excitement about what I did! The other woman didn’t want to be left out – so I got HER a Ha Ha Helen on a Stick and a bookmark! She took it ‘hungrily’ even though they had just eaten.

She told me she had COPD, asthma and Depression (as her eyes teared). I jumped in and said: Well, then! Let’s get you laughing! (I told her about the precaution of laughing and asthma – she noted she was OK with laughing.)

I explained the physical/medical benefits and started telling them about my TIME TO LAUGH gimmick: Looking at the clock at 7:07 and seeing it as upside down and LAUGH OUT LOUD, the 4:45 (Shh) quiet laugh, and the 3:34 (hEE) mid afternoon giggle. They both loved it and she was laughing and giggling. I got to hear about her bird bath, and rabbits in the yard, etc etc. Her birthday friend said: THANK YOU, ME! – I laughed.

I ended up giving them a LAFOLOT pamphlet I had on me as well as my FULL BELLY LAUGHTER – Free – donate food item event. Turned out the one woman lived nearby the event!

Sometimes I’m told I’m too forward which has caused me to not approach people as much. But when I TAKE THAT RISK and discover that I:

1) not only got to sing the HA HA HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG (they were surprised I knew all the HA HA words!) to the Birthday Girl!

but

2) got to help a woman, teary eyed over depression, have some HEALTHY LAUGHTER as DESSERT after the meal she bought to help her friend celebrate her birthday –

I find that I am doing the right thing. These moments are priceless – I keep them in my golden heart pocket – where they warm me when I’m feeling the cold effects of criticism.

My lesson – FOLLOW MY HEART. Never know when my heart will lead me to another soul in need.

LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
Live Life in A-MAZE-MENT!
Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com