LAFOLOT

So – as the story goes – Charles Fogarty walks into a SUBWAY and a woman sitting at the front window table says:

‘Are you John Fogarty?’ (she noticed the JOHN FOGARTY … Custom Homes cap he was wearing).

He responds: “Why yes! How do you know me?’ (as he walks towards her to shake her hand.

She responds: “I’m Psychic! Plus, I saw it written on your cap!’ (she smiles)

I ‘YAM’ HA HA Helen of LAFOLOT, and I love talking and interacting with total strangers in a fun way.

I later found out, per this man, he calls himself a: ‘FUN FINDER!’   Can I spot them or what?

I found out ‘he’ is CHARLES Fogarty, very PROUD brother of THE LATE ‘JOHN FOGARTY’ who donated money to a BOY SCOUT Camp in Sunbury, Pennsylvania; to allow for a ‘dining hall’ to be built!

He was accompanied by another gentleman who had been a local troop scout leader for almost 20 years!  I learned they had stopped by to pick up two dozen cookies to take to the DEDICATION of the DINING HALL which his brother had made possible!

Another wonderful thing; one of the sandwhich artists at the SUBWAY got to let Charles know that HE was an EAGLE SCOUT!  What a coincidence!   I also live a couple homes away from a proud father of an Eagle Scout!

I let Charles know that I ‘YAM’ a Certified Laughter Leader who present laughter wellness to folks.  He seemed to feel he had heard of me from some friends in the area!  I started to explain the AH-LO-HA ha ha ha laugh to Charles, when, I didn’t have to even finish!  He had never heard of the ALOHA LAUGH EXERCISE, but he just let the laughter flow out of him, easily!  I told him he was a natural!

That’s when he told me he was a FUN FINDER!

Well! What do you know!  A whole lot of HEALTHY, FUN, APPRECIATIVE, PROUD people walked into a SUBWAY today – and accidentally/on purpose – ran into eachother!

That’s the SPIRIT!  The Spirit of Laughter!  Drawing folks together in HEALTHY SOCIALIZATION!

That’s what I do …  DO WEAR IT OUT!  HA HA HA HA HA …   it’s healthy!

What a great GIFT for this man’s brother, John Fogarty, to leave behind for the SUNBURY BOY SCOUT camp!

Enjoy the fresh cookies!

HA HA Helen of LAFOLOT (Outlook Shift Engineer! Hear! Here!)

Live Life! Laugh Often!

2-4-6-8! TIME 2 MEDITATE! [using a digital clock display]

8:06 = BOG [Bogged down, emotionally, physical clutter, etc.? ]

8:07 = LOB (shift your outlook-see it upsidedown & backwards on the display) … LOB SOME HEALTHY LAUGHTER INTO THE AIR! Release that Stress!]

8:08 = BOB [Do some physical activity! BOB up and down! Watch the movie: 'What about Bob? and learn to 'take baby steps'. ;o) ]

8:09 = GOB (Shift your view upsidedown & backwards – GOBBLE GOBBLE – STRUT YOUR STUFF! You’ve done a good job, taking that first step to release that Bogged down feeling! Started Healing!]

8:10 = 0LB (shift your view upsidedown & backwards) [OH! WELL! Be! Let It Go and Just Be!] *smile …. SEE! It’s E-Z to SHIFT YOUR OUTLOOK with a healthy Outlook Shift and Laughter Meditation!

HA HA Helen of LAFOLOT.com – Outlook Shift Engineer! Hear! Here!

Ever hear the joke: ‘What is God’s phone number?
Punchline: ‘Et cum spiritu tuo’ 2-2-0

I awoke in the early hours, this morning with the phrase tu tuo flowing out of my mind.
My first thought was the response from the Latin Mass: et cum spiritu tuo (and with your spirit)

I couldn’t think of the initial Latin Statement that preceded that response. But, being the silly soul that I YAM! … I often substitute silly, nonsensical phrases into music – so I went with: OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE! et cum spiritu tuo! (It’s actually: Dominus vobiscum – et cum spiritu tuo)

Translation: EVERYONE COME IN FREE! The Spirit is With You! HA HA!

Then I looked at my digital alarm clock display and it read: 2:20 (two-two-oh!)
Oh! the synchronicity! *hee hee! I think I was being entertained by ANGELS Unawares! CHERUBS, I’ll betcha! HA HA

For whatever it’s worth – it’s on in HOW you SEE it! It’s been a rough couple years, dealing with purposeful and not purposeful challenges and changes in my career and life path. At time, it all seems so rough, tough and dark … but I’M COMING OUT OF THE DARK! … as Gloria Estefan sang!

I choose to see this ENLIGHTENMENT as the message: Stop seeing things as so dark – look at it from a PHresh, PLAYFUL, Childlike Game! Life isn’t as DIFFICULT as you SEE it! It’s time to COME OUT! COME OUT! WHEREVER YOU ARE! OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE! SPIRIT IS WITH YOU! There is LIGHT! There is FREEDOM!

It’s all in how you SEE IT! So, I’m going with the message from the PLAYFUL CHERUBS awakening me in the early hours, … or was it MY CATS? ‘WHO’ knows … Don’t know where WHO lives … so I’m just GOING TO LIVE FREE and EASILY – and FLOW IN THE SPIRIT!

I’m going to “Get into the SPIRIT” of the GAME OF LIFE! OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.com
Outlook Shift Engineer! Hear! Here!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
and take TIME TO LAUGH and see Life from a PHresh Outlook!

I used to think, I COULDA HAD A V8! *Smack in the forehead.
Now, I see, I COULDA JUST DONE ‘THE ERICA METHOD!’

Felt this note from my friend, Erica, was BLOG-WORTHY!
So yesterday (3/11/12) was a good day.

Not because anything particularly good happened.

But in a nutshell, here’s what happened:

I had decided before to try and not be so mean and vulgar in language when dealing with other drivers.

Well, on Sunday, I didn’t lose my temper once. (I blamed it on listening to an old choir cd.)

And I was just calm, and positive, and happy. Wouldn’t you know, I got all the way from Shellsville, along Old Jonestown Road, across 39, continued on Old Jonestown Road, stopped at the one awkward stopping intersection, crossed Rte 22, continued on Old Jonestown Road to Nyes Road, to Union Deposit Road, to East Park Drive to the Giant store, and I only hit ONE red light…it was the left turn to turn onto East Park Drive before turning into the Giant (foodstore…not really big human)!

I figured I had some sort of good karma going.

And then instead of getting frustrated trying to look for a spot right up as close as I could get, I picked a nice one (wasn’t even a pull through) a bit of the ways out thinking “I’ve got good legs. I can walk it. I am thankful I have two good legs and to celebrate I’m going to walk the extra distance.”

Then on my way across the parking lot I saw an older (75-85 year old) lady slowly pushing her cart away from her car and towards the cart island/return (whatever it’s called). I said to her, “Excuse me, are you done with that, because that’s just the size shopping cart I want to use. Can I take that for you?” With a smile on her face she thanked me and turned back towards her car. She mentioned how nice the weather it was and I wished her a happy day.

Yesterday was FILLED with instances like that! All day! I just did little things for people, and enjoyed their smiles in return.

And I kept my calm.

I didn’t get frustrated at other drivers.

I let others go first.

…and it was a good day!

Just thought I’d share that with you.

Erica

passed on by: Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.COM
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
Live Life in AH! MAZEMENT!
Be in AWE of it ALL!

What a W.O.W. (World of Wonder!) couple of days!
Needness to say, it’s been a SUPER challenging past week (mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually!) –
luckily we have a ‘FAMILY TEAM’ working to help my oldest, brain damaged sister ‘Dolly’ (as a result of being hit by a drunk driver when she was 20 – now 63), as well as my 86 year old mom who is currently in hospice.

It’s been a year of challenges, frustrations, and dissapointment – HOLDING ON – knowing that SEEDS have been planted and are GERMINATING – ready to BLOSSOM and grow my LAFOLOT.COM business. I AFFIRM THIS!

I have newly title myself: OUTLOOK SHIFT ENGINEER! If the TITLE fits, WEAR it!

Heres the AH! MAZING! NARRATIVE of KONTAGIOUS KINDNESS events and OUTLOOK SHIFTS since yesterday!

I had a dental appointment yesterday morning at which I received a coupon attached to an 8 1/2 inch sheet of paper. I was ‘dissapointed’ because I thought the dental hygenist said she would give me a coupon for anti-bacterial mouthwash – all I saw was a coupon for dental floss. But I chose to be grateful.

OUTLOOK SHIFT: I took the coupon sheet to the grocery store, and when I went to fold and tear the coupon at the perforation; I FOUND OUT THERE WAS PRINTING ON THE BACK – and THAT’s where the mouthwash coupon was! SILLY ME! It just took an OUTLOOK shift to discover THE GIFT! When I used the coupon, the grocery store DOUBLED it’s value and the coupon maching SPIT OUT (no pun intended re: the mouthwash) – ANOTHER $1.00 off coupon for the same produce – not expiring for 3 months! Woo Hoo!

Last evening, after leaving my mom’s hospice room and having to help her eat (this is not easy for me emotionally nor physically) – I stopped at a local 7-11 Convenience store to pick up a Hotdog and Fritos for dinner. The owner of the store knows me as a frequent customer. HE GAVE ME THE HOTDOG FOR FREE! What a kindness! We never know what people are experiencing in their lives – that GESTURE was PRICELESS!

I got up this morning and sang my own made-up song, chants about everything I was grateful for. The shower, the water, my hair-blow dryer, etc etc.

When I went to visit my sister in her nursing home I found an older couple sitting near the lobby front door. Even though it was 10 A.M. – he kept greeting everyone with GOOD AFTERNOON because he thought it was funny! I had my clown nose with me – so I put it on and he and his wife laughed!

When I went down the hall towards my sister’s room – the PHYSICAL THERAPY staff were helping a senior woman go through Plastic Cones – to learn how to maneuvre her walker. They said: OH NO! YOU CAN’T JUST WALK BY! YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONES! I slipped my clown nose out of my pocket – put it on my face and OBLIGED! They laughed and thanked me.

I found my sister, relaxed, content and resting on her bed. She was happy to get her wristwatch back after a recent stay in the hospital. We had a nice visit.

On my way out, I told her PHYSIATRIST that I ‘VALUED’ his intentions and actions in trying to assist my sister with her mobility, etc. I hear THE HOKEY POKEY being played on a piano and followed the music into a senior/group event being held by two women (one singing, one playing the piano). With my clown nose, I entered the event and they stopped and smiled. They allowed me to join in and physically do the hockey pockey for them – while it was replayed.

I left the building feeling good about having entered with a positive outlook shift – my family having been challenged recently re: my sister’s care.

When I got to the grocery store after that – I saw A FANTASTIC deal on a HUGE SIZE box of cat litter. I’m really hurting financially – so it would have been a good buy – but TOO HEAVY for me to lift. I said that out loud in the aisle – JOKINGLY – and another woman shopper – without skipping a beat – LIFTED THE HUGE BOX OF LITTER INTO MY SHOPPING CART!

I told her I have on my website: A LITTLE KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY! She had done a great service and unexpected kindness for me! I gave her 3 LAFOLOT bookmarks. She was thrilled because she had just bought a book at a 2nd hand book store! Since I work at this store, I mentioned HER KINDNESS to one of the management and they said they would offer her a discount coupon for having helped me!

KINDNESS IS KONTAGIOUS!
You never know when THAT SMALL GESTURE is helping someone with BIG BURDENS in their life.

Thanks to ALL THE ANGELS that presented themselves to me this past week! Sending thoughts of healthy laughter and smiles out to all!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.COM
OUTLOOK SHIFT ENGINEER!

Being a ‘professional’ (HA HA) laugher – it’s interesting when I’m ‘out in public’ and I’m BEING HUMAN! I tell people, ‘I teach what I need to learn and share because I care!’
I ventured out to see the HARRY POTTER final movie, yesterday.

I checked the theatres and times before I left home. I even purchased my ticket ON-LINE so I wouldn’t have to wait. I left my house early, as the theatre-tickets sight suggested. HA HA HA – THE JOKE WAS ON ME! I’m smiling – because these situations give me GREAT IDEAS for talks and blogs!

I get in line to present my ‘printed proof of ticket purchase.’ There are only 2 ticket buyers in front of me. The show starts at 1:00pm and it’s 12:45pm. I hear the man (with his wife and one kid) at the ticket window. He states: ‘I’d like 7 tickets for the 4:15pm Harry Potter movie.’ Well – 5 minutes go by and he is still at the window and the line isn’t moving????

Yes – I’m getting CURIOUS – it’s HOT – it’s HUMID – I’m MENOPAUSAL – enough said. *smile!

Finally – another employee comes to the second ticket window and sells one ticket – but – YEP – YOU GUESSED IT! THERE’S A PROBLEM! HA HA HA HA HA (no – I wasn’t laughing – but I had to keep myself in check) – I’m HA HA HELEN! of LAFOLOT! *smile

So I say to the mother and son in front of me, in line: ‘I worked at a theatre box office when I was in highschool. All you did was give the money and get the ticket, I’m not understanding what’s going on?’ Basically – there are SO MANY PURCHASE options nowadays, etc. – you can’t just easily walk up and buy a ticket! Evidently, the man buying the 7 tickets had made use of ‘a bunch of options’ from ON-LINE deals, so it was taking the window clerk a long time to process it.

The woman and her son BEHIND me in line said out loud: ‘OH! YOU’VE JUST GOTTA LAUGH!’ I turned around, SMILED and showed her the front of my t-shirt; it noted: FLASH someone a SMILE! www.LAFOLOT.com I said to her: Hey! I’m a PROFESSIONAL Laugher – I TEACH this stuff – and I’M having a bit of trouble! Of course the LAUGHTER was helping us to deal with it.

FINALLY – I was NEXT at the opposite ticket purchase window. Yes – the man buying the 7 tickets for 4:15pm was still waiting for a result on his request. *SMILE BIG! HA HA

What happens? I walk up to the window and the girl starts to walk away! My eyes go big and I quickly step back – concerned I’ll lose my place in line! She says: No, it’s OK – I’m just changing the printer paper.

OHHH! NOOOO! Not that – my mind is saying inside as I keep a straight face.

She takes my PROOF OF PURCHASE printout, my credit card and driver’s license as proof and HITS PRINT on the computer.

OK – GUESS WHAT HAPPENED! OH COME ON! *SMILE! THE PRINTER DIDN’T WORK! No entrance ticket for me!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA – OK, today, at this moment, I’m NOW LAUGHING!

She says: It’s OK – as she sees my eyes go big and my face frozen. I’m realllly trying, really am.

She says: Go ahead in, I’ll let them know it’s OK, you’re OK to go. Ask me why I wasn’t TRUSTING at this point?

YES! I made it in! It was like making a goal at a Football, Hockey or Soccer game!

My INNER-CHILD WAS ROARING! Yes! I had made it past THE DEMENTORS!

THIS HARRY POTTER FAN – a.k.a. GRIFFINDOR SCHOOL – wise woman had OVERCOME the OBSTACLES and TRIUMPHED above the evil ticket window gremlins!- by the way – THE MOVIE ROCKED! YES! WOO HOO! Loved Mrs. Weasley and Neville Longbottom in the movie!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.com – Living, Learning and Laughing … through it all.

My family is in the process of vacating my mom’s apartment, now that she’ll be in assisted living. She’s currently at a Rehabilitation facility, recovering from pneumonia. Here’s how to get through the stress with a smile and a chuckle.

PILLOWS AND CUSHIONS LIKE PLAYING ON THE ELEVATORS, TOO!

When I was entering my mom’s former apartment building (to meet the Salvation Army donation pickup folks) – there was a sports car parked with the license plate: V8 HAHA ;o) I’m thinking V8 cylinder engine and the driver is laughing about ‘eat my dust’. ;o)

It put a smile on my face!

When the Salvation Army truck arrived and the 2 guys decided to take the sofa and love seat loose cushions and throw pillows first; along with the 2 end tables …

the one guy pressed the HOLD button on the elevator; and they went back to get one more pillow and cushion. When I went out to follow them down from the 8th floor – they were both still standing outside the elevator.

It took me a few minutes, after I went to get on the 2nd elevator – to realize – THE DOORS HAD SHUT AND THE STUFF WENT DOWN ON ITS OWN- TO THE NEXT ‘CALLED’ FLOOR!

the HOLD button hadn’t worked! The guys were standing there helpless.
I told them I’d follow it down –
problem was – people trying to get on the FULL elevator with pillows/cushions/ tables – were stopping the elevator I was on – HA HA!

The one guy got on and said … there are … I SAID, I KNOW I KNOW – LOL! it’s mine … *smile

When I got to the lobby – there were other seniors socializing and talking. One woman hollers over: IS THAT YOUR STUFF…
I interrupted Yessss – It’s mine! LOL!

When I pressed the button to try to get the elevator to come back – the doors were just opening and a SMILING SALVATION ARMY guy was now on the elevator with the stuff!

IT WAS SO COMICAL – LIKE A SCENE OUT OF THE CAROL BRUNETT SHOW with Tim Conway!

Nothing like getting a GIGGLE when dealing with Family Stress (moving an 85 year old mom’s stuff who is currently in Rehab – recovering from pneumonia).

PRICELESS! The story – not the assisted living and medical care! *pfew!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.com
Live Life! Laugh Often! Even when the pillows and seat cushions decide to take a joy ride on the elevator!

Wow! What a day of Xtreme, Xtra-special Synchronicity!

After 3 attempts, my MOBILE LAFOLOT – HEALTHY HAPPY HOUR event produced visible success! YES! The backed-up, rush hour traffic gave me plenty of willing participants with whom to share Healthy SMILES and some LAUGHS!

I even sold a ME! T-shirt to a local business man walking by; as well as had a DRIVE THRU inquirer to WHAT was I ALL ABOUT?

The irony about the drive thru soul was; he was taking a balloon home for his teen daughter’s birthday; and had just come from a work event where they received t-shirts that had the words: KEEP SMILING written on the upper back!
I gave him a Stress Reliever Pinwheel, my TIME TO LAUGH game sheets (one for his teen daughter) and my SMILE Campaign game sheet.

Some folks rolled down their car windows to share a big, bright smile!
Some folks smiled, waved, nodded or beeped as they drove by!
It was WONDERFUL, HEALTHY interaction for their drive home after a day at work or school!

THEN! Here’s the Xtreme synchronicity part! I had stopped at a local grocery store earlier in the day to get approval to Camcord – Grocery Aisle Dancing – for The Levity Project’s latest micro-movement. I specifically asked if a fun, fan, cashier worker named ‘Anika’ would be working that evening. The courtesy desk wasn’t sure but said I was welcome to come back.

XTREME SYNCHRONICITY! As I had on my turn signal to turn left through non-stop, busy traffic to get to the store – an SUV stopped and a hand waved at me to ‘go ahead’.

After I turned, the SUV followed behind me into the grocery store parking lot.

I found a PERFECT close parking spot near the entrance and the SUV had to park farther away. I got out, opened my back car door to get out some LAFOLOT Smiley Face Bookmarks to give to anyone who would be willing to DANCE WITH ME in the AISLES. I also had my camcorder with me.

As I closed the car door – who is walking towards me in the parking lot?
ANIKA! The fun, fan, of LAFOLOT Cashier! She was NOT in her work clothes!
I LOOKED IN AMAZEMENT! I said: ‘I can’t believe this! I came here SPECIFICALLY to find out if you were working!’ I said: ‘It’s GREAT you aren’t in your work uniform so there are no restrictions!’

I explained the project to her and she was ALL FOR THE GROCERY STORE AISLE DANCING. I asked her if she minded if it was just the two of us if we couldn’t find anyone else? – No problem! [Here's the video!]

XTREME SYNCRONICITY NO. 2 – She was with her dad! He didn’t want to dance, but he agreed to be the videographer!

HOW PERFECTLY, SYNCHRONISTICALLY, BEAUTIFUL WAS IT ALL?

My wish is that you – AND I – can see the BEAUTY of SYNCHRONICITY in ALL days – no matter what!

Blessing to all that come across this blog -

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Truly – Living Life in A-MAZE-MENT!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com