LAFOLOT

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]

GIFT OF THE TINSEL HEADBAND DEELY BOBBER
December 22, 2009

Heading over to one of my favorite business supply stores: A.C. MOORE Crafts; I parked at the far end of the parking lot. I was wearing my SKECHER SHAPE UPS and wanted to get some exercise, walking to the store.

I also like parking farther out in the lot, because of the shore birds. Yes! Even though we live ‘in-land’, shore birds hang out in the parking lot in the winter! They have food and a creek, nearby – so this has become their ‘chill out’ place. I love watching them interact with each other. They are used to the shoppers, as well as get excited when one of the residents of the area brings bread and stuff for them.

So, I start my trek towards A.C. Moore Crafts, hearing the familiar ding, a ling, a ling of the Salvation Army Holiday bell; getting the attention of shoppers to drop a donation into the bucket.

As a Certified Laughter Leader, my ‘yearly’ uniform headdress is a ‘tinsel deely bobber headband’. This is because I have stick-straight, fine hair and it doesn’t mess up my hair like a hat would. Being the Christmas Season, at the moment, I’ve been wearing it when I go food shopping or any other shopping.
Actually – I don’t need a reason, I wear it in the middle of the summer into restaurants! Ha Ha

So, as I approach the store and the Salvation Army volunteer sees me, she starts to smile and laugh. She calls out, ‘WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE?’ I walk closer and let her know, Oriental Trading Co., but would YOU like them, even though I have worn them?

She said YES, and smiled. I said, ‘Here, let me put them on for you!’ She had her hands full and was busy doing her volunteer work, so I didn’t want to interrupt her! She was a cute, a bit unkempt; her hair seemed as if it hadn’t been washed.

As I placed the Tinsel Deely Bobber Headband (it also has bells attached) on her head, I stated: ‘I now pronounce you QUEEN!’ She smiled and laughed, wore them with pride, as she rang her volunteer bell!

When I was exiting the store, I called out loudly as another customer was going by her: ‘Where DID you get that wonderful tinsel headband?’ She smiled and laughed, saying: ‘I WONDER!?’ Her eyes were sparking.

I teach the gift is in the giving. I love wearing those headbands because people give me a lot of smiles and laughs and odd looks while I’m wearing them and catching people off guard. I didn’t mind giving that up so this young girl could experience some of that herself. People tend to run in the opposite direction of the Salvation Army Bell ringers. Hopefully, the headband will draw more smiling, laughing face to her, this season!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! PEACE AND PROPERITY TO ALL, THIS SEASON AND INTO THE NEW YEAR!
HA HA Helen of LAFOLOT
Living Life in Amazement!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com

My younger sister recently made me aware of a new athletic shoe for women known as ‘Skecher Shape-Ups’. With taking an early retirement from State Government work and being on a limited budget while I start up my LAFOLOT business, I didn’t have the funds for this wonderful footwear.

I finished putting my recent blog-talk radio interview onto a CD so I could take it to my Mom’s apartment for her to listen to. I went to lunch, and read my daily meditation magazine while I was waiting for the very busy-but efficient server to bring my check. The meditation mentioned to ‘accept the good coming your way’ – in different words, but same thought. Basically, expect Luck!

So I headed over to my Mom’s. Being a Laughter Leader and speaking of: ‘Good Hearted Living ‘Forgiveness’ – I recently went over my last hurdle with forgiving my mother. It has taken 20 years, but I evolved a little at a time as I’ve healed my feelings and perceptions of my childhood years. This is a BIG thing, because for at least 25 years, I couldn’t stand to be near my mom, dealing with a lot of hate (her alcoholism, my abuse etc etc). Having reached pre-menopause this past year, becoming my mentally/physically disabled oldest sister’s Power of Attorney and Nursing Home Representative… it dawned on me one day: ‘How in the world did she do it!?’ (my mom, that is) That’s when I was able to go over the final FORGIVENESS hurdle with my mom. My mom had 7 kids, addiction of alcoholism, a mentally/physically disabled oldest daughter due to her being hit by a drunk driver at age 19, as well as having to take care of her father and mother (who had dementia and diabetes – passing on in 1982). I thought – I don’t have kids, I don’t drink, how in the heck did my mom do it? So I WAS GIVEN THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS towards my mom.

As a result, I have been able to give her little gifts like, taking a CD over to her apartment so she can hear me singing torch style music. I can let her know about my LAFOLOT business, see her excitement when the weather man interviewed me on television during his weather segment, and today – sit with her while she listened to my blog-talk radio interview. So, I can honestly say – I was given the gift of awareness and forgiveness and was able to give that to my mother, too.

With that said, my mother was never able to give emotional/mushy support but found it easier to give cash. This would make me angry, because I used to feel she was buying my affection with cash. As I started to heal, I realized that was her way of giving love and I should accept her gift, because I truly realized that the gift was in the giving.

So – why all the above information? When I went to see my mother, I put the CD in for her to listen to it, she listened intently – and then – I saw the outstretched hand. I was just thrilled she was happy listening to my interview and being proud of it. But, there she was – holding out money for me. I graciously took the cash, knowing THIS is what makes her happy, to know her children are happy and cared for. [My mom had always wanted to be another Shirley Temple, to tap dance and be on stage... I feel I've helped her dream come true with my singing, local amateur acting, and laughter leader status.]

So – my meditation/prayer/wish was answered from this morning. My mom had given me enough money to buy the Skecher Shape-Up athletic shoes I needed/wanted. I let her know that I was now going to be able to buy the shoes. She was thrilled (the gift was in the giving).

When I went to buy the shoes at our local BOSCOV’s Department store, it was very crowded. I started to play my SMILE CAMPAIGN GAME, sharing and receiving smiles as I walked through the busy store towards the shoe department in the back.

LUCK was hitting me from all sides! Just as the meditation had shared. I ended up sitting next to a State Government worker who is going to give my LAFOLOT Smile Bookmark business card to their Human Resource Dept for a possible future gig!

One of the shoe department salesmen advised me to put on both the shoes and walk up two flights of stairs in the middle of the store to test them. They are very different in their makeup and I wanted to make sure I could handle them. I gave him one of my Smile Face Bookmarks to hold as Collateral while I left the department to try out the shoes.

When I returned, I got talking to another customer who works at a local federal building. She was so excited, because they have lunch-n-learn programs where she works and she said she wants something fun to do when she retires (laughter leader). She said, ‘I was meant to run into you, today!’

When I picked out the pair of Skecher Shape-Ups I wanted, I kept them on and put my old athletic shoes in the box. My salesman had returned. I saw my ‘collateral bookmark still sitting there on the counter’ – I went to retrieve it when the first helpful salesman saw it. I said: Would you like to keep it? His eyes started to sparkle and he smiled like a little kid. It said someting like: You’ve got a great laugh! on it.

So, there we were, the two salesmen, and 3 other women at the checkout line. I said: ‘Would you like to do an ALOHA laugh with me? I went through my usual drill and by the second time, after I had them laughing and smiling already… on the count of 1, 2, 3 they all said: A-LO-HA ahahahhahaaaaaa. My salesman said: ‘This is a FUN lady!’

The second woman in line looked inquisitive, so I asked if SHE would like a Smile face LAFOLOT bookmark, and I gave her one of my pamphlets, too. She remarked that she was a nurse and might be able to bring me into her workplace!

So, there we were at the shoe checkout, laughing and smiling.

A WHOLE LOT OF GIVING AND RECEIVING OF GOOD HEALTH and, now, with my Skecher Shape-Ups – HEALTHY LOOKING GAMS!

Ha Ha Helen, out and about and looking good with her athletic workout shoes and healthy legs and laughter!

HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
www.lafolot.com

Another Ha Ha Helen sharing moment…  ;o) 

It’s an overcast, dreary day here in Central PA (USA), but I set out with the intention to light up some souls with my SMILE Campaign!

 After I had my healthy soup-salad meal at my favorite Olive Garden restaurant, I decided to walk across the shopping plaza and spread some SMILES at Wal-Mart.  I purposely parked at the far end of the parking lot so I could get in a good walk.

 I like going into stores around major Holiday Shopping times, not buy anything, but offer SMILES, and assistance, if needed.  For example, helping a mom with a crying kid by handing the child a SMILE Bookmark, etc.

 So, I entered Wal-Mart.  There was one of my favorite Wal-Mart greeters as I entered.  She is a lovely soul, always with a smile on her face.  I ‘lept’ through the doorway, announcing “Helloooooooo!”  She smiled at me as I flew by, on my mission.

 My mission:  See how many SMILES I receive in return for my smile.

A brief explanation of my smile game – which can be found on my website: www.lafolot.com is:   Give a Smile – Get a Smile earn 1 point, Give a Smile – Get a Smile and a verbal comment – earn 2 points!

 So, off I went into the store, snaking my way up and down aisles (heading back towards the restrooms, of course!) ha ha

 I became concerned!  It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day, and two days before the well known ‘Black Friday’ – when retailers expect their ‘books’ to go into the ‘black’ and out of the ‘red’ (debt), due to massive purchases for the holidays.

 I normally get a 99% return rate on my SMILES!  But, NOT TODAY!
Oh, my!  I thought, what’s wrong.  So, determined, I continued to walk through the store, giving my ‘soft, close-mouthed, smile’.   I actually got 4 points due to 2 gentlemen returning my smile, giving me a nod of the head and saying: ‘How ya doin’?' 

 I received only two other smiles in return!   IT WAS A SMILE EMERGENCY IN AISLE 7!!

 Was it the anticipated pressure of the Holiday Season?  Even one clerk at a counter looked down and away.   Was my zipper open? 

 Luckily, when I reached the Women’s Room – there was a toddler getting her diaper changed by her mom and Auntie.  When she was done, she was placed on the floor to stand on her own, and THANK GOODNESS she SMILED at me!   *pfew

There was hope, yet!

On my way out of the store, there was still a major lack in SMILE reciprocation!

I stopped to talk to my favorite Wal-Mart greeter on the way out.  She is a ‘very compact’ older woman, in a ‘Physical Assist’ chair.  She has the BIGGEST SMILE one could have!  A lovely soul!

I walked over to her and said:  ‘I’m a bit concerned.  I’ve been trying to collect points for my SMILE CAMPAIGN and … I proceeded to relay the lack of smile reciprocation, etc.’

Then, she said:  ‘I know what you mean!  I was NEAR TEARS an hour ago.’

I KNEW there was a reason I had taken that walk across the parking lot and visited this store.

I said:  ‘Well, here, let me help you out.  I gave her one of my bright, yellow, sunshine smiling face, LAFOLOT bookmarks with the saying:  LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!

Here face beamed!  She asked if I had another one to give to her associate at a counter near where she was sitting.  I DID, so they were both thrilled and smiling.

I said: ‘You have your work cut out for you!’  She said: ‘I know, it’s the stress of the upcoming shopping season.’

I said: ‘Well, may every smile you give be supercharged and light up each person who receives it!’

She laughed, thanked me and I left -WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE!

So – CALLING ALL SHOPPERS….. SMILES NEEDED BY THE MILES….
Get out there and COLLECT THOSE SMILE CAMPAIGN POINTS!
I’m sending out a smile campaign challenge to everyone I know to COLLECT AS MANY POINTS AS YOU CAN!

Shoppers…. turn up the corners of your mouths and LIGHT UP THE WORLD WITH YOUR SMILES!
 
Ka-Ching…. I can hear the sound of the smile points coming in as I finish typing.

Rev up those smile engines -  varoooooooom!

HAVE A HAPPY, BLESSED THANKSGIVING filled with Gratitude and Warmth!
Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often
www.lafolot.com