LAFOLOT

I am blessed to have had an AH! HA! Life Changing Moment at age 49 (now age 53). I am now able to appreciate all life expression without fear! I used to have an extreme fear of bees and spiders (as well as other insects) – to the point of almost wrecking my car; or hitting/whacking others if they were nearby when I freaked out!

So, I walked over to our community mailboxes a bit ago. It is overcast and drizzly-rainy out. There tend to be big black and yellow, wood boring bumble bees that live around the mailbox roof covering. I am able to freely walk over, and allow them to BEE *hee hee.

It is interesting that I used to also not relate to the clothing color combination of black and yellow, I didn’t like the way they looked together. Once I had my AH! HA! moment, the IRONY is … my business logo colors ended up being black lettering on yellow background!

I also learned, through color psychology years ago – yellow agitates the brain and inspires learning. It is a good color for schools.

Well, today – when I went to the mailbox, I had mailed a letter and retrieved my incoming mail. As I was walking away from the mailboxes, I heard a familiar ‘HMMMMMMMM’ (buzzzzzz). It wasn’t one of the wood boring bees. I could tell the difference in the hmmmm/buzzzzz.

Listen to me! *hee hee I NOW SPEAK BEE LANGUAGE! HA HA! I realized a little honey bee was ‘checking me out’!

I RESPECTED the BEE, allowing it to EXPRESS its life in its own NATURE – NATURALLY *hee hee

I KNEW it had caught the scent of my hair care products, and was checking to see if I was a flower, etc.

So, I STOPPED
I PAUSED
I SMILED as I listened to its HMMMMM….
I SAW it slowly flying off to my left
I FELT it checking out my hair …

SOMETHING SMELLS ‘FUNNY’ perhaps it was thinking. Well! I AM KNOWN AS HA HA HELEN!

Then, I noticed it flew away.

I SMILED as I continued onward, reviewing my mail, as I walked towards my home.

How wonderful to just BE with the BEE, respect it, and BE at PEACE.

HA HA Helen of LAFOLOT.com
guess I smell FUNNY! HA HA
Outlook Shift Engineer! Hear! Here!

I wrote a book called: Life is a Song in the Key of Love or Growing Up with the Embarrassment of Prejudice. I note that bias, prejudice and stereotype may be ‘handed-down’ through generations; without being questioned. The bias, stereotype, or prejudice statements or actions may be repeated over and over; but not FELT. I suggest doing a self-review of how YOU feel or THINK based on your own life experiences, and not based on something held onto by generations past.

I like using right brain, creative methods to get serious points across. In my book, I make reference to sheet music.

Now, I’d like to suggest another method! WHAT Fairy Tales, Fables or Labels are you receiving or giving out, that you may want to RE-VIEW? rePHresh your thinking, reLOOK, reVIEW, step back and SEE aNEW! WHO are YOU? How do YOU feel?

Get rid of the False Fairy Tales, Fables and Labels, OH MY! Why? Because Fairy Tales and Fables are written to TEACH LIFE LESSONS. Are the ones you are holding onto, or creating, a TRUTH for YOU; or were they handed to you by a peer, family member, etc. who had a life experience that doesn’t resonate with you?

I give a talk called: PEER POSITIVE! I talk about letting go of the PEER PRESSURE and PEER FEAR and becoming PEER POSITIVE! Peers may hold one another back due to personal life experiences that caused them to shrink back or give up a goal. Their own fear translates into an intention to protect you from having their same, fearful or uncomfortable life experience. But! It doesn’t have to be yours.

So, what are your FAIR TALES, FABLES AND LABELS? OH MY! Make a list, check it twice, and see if the Action/Reactions in your life are FALSE Fables or Tales that need to be ‘TAIL WAGGED’ and swiped away from your everyday interactions. Create peace within you, and work towards a world of peace.

… and they lived happily ever after!

HA HA Helen Szollosy, OUTLOOK SHIFT ENGINEER! Hear! Here!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com

I work parttime as a greeting card management employee at a local pharmacy. I was near the sound card section one day, and a woman around my age (possibly 50s) said: “I bought my dad one of those sound cards for his birthday, one year. When he opened it, he thought he heard someone screaming outside; and called the police!” It was funny and frustrating for her at the same time.

For an elderly person with slight hearing loss, and brain deterioration, the sound card was a challenge!

Yesterday, I was doing my job when I heard two, senior-women opening sound cards, giggling, gasping and having a joyfull time LISTENING to them! I normally let the customers alone, but saw they were having so much fun, I went over to tell them the above story.

When I got to them, I realized the one woman was PHYSICALLY sightless. They chuckled at the story, and I showed them where they could find additional sound cards, for their enjoyment!

I then thought: ‘Customers look at the cost of the sound cards and walk on by. They are a couple dollars more, and to a PHYSICALLY sighted person, aren’t as valuable. I realized, to a PHYSICALLY sightless person, the SOUND cards are PRICELESS!’

It’s all in HOW you SEE it!

I write about this in my book: LIFE IS A SONG IN THE KEY OF LOVE or Growing Up with the Embarrassment of Prejudice.

I am grateful to Darryl Duke, author of ‘Why I Pray in the Shower’, for being brave at sharing his challenge with color blindness. I had been putting off writing this blog, and his open sharing gave me the boost I needed! I said to Darryl: ‘Who the HECK is ‘NORM’, anyway? DARE to be DIFFERENT! LIFE expresses in a VARIETY of ways, just like MUSIC! Be a SHINING STAR and be OUTSTANDING in the FIELD! Holy COW! Don’t ‘DIS’ yourself stating you are LACKING due to your differences from THE NORM (majority of life expressing in a specific way). I just don’t see any DISabilities. Color or inner sight, which is RIGHT or wrong? NIGHT blindness, COLOR blindness, RIGHT or WRONG blindness, WE ALL just ARE – STARS shining and twinkling in different levels and magnitudes! It’s all in the ATTITUDES; a VARIETY of LIFE EXpression allows for LOVE in the world. We have the ABILITY to be LOVING to use our individual GIFTS and WAYS of EXpressing Life to ASSIST and not DIS one another. … shall I talk ‘futher’?’

Do you SEE, HEAR, FEEL, SENSE my point? There is NO ‘NORM’, NORM lives in the North Pole with Santa and left the building along with ELVIS. We HAVE the ABILITY to ADAPT to ALL ABILITIES of LIFE EXPRESSION!

Instead of using RED to indicate danger, using a sound as well as another visual indicator allows us to ALL be ABLE! Traffic Light intersections now have SOUND indicators to alert persons when it is okay to walk, as well as the GREEN color light, as well as a FLASH indicator on the RED light to indicate the need to STOP.

We are progressively SEEing, through INNER SIGHT the ABILITY we have as HUMANS to SEE the VARIETY of ways we can MAKE LIFE A SONG! Kids have had GERANIMALS with special TAGS to note which shirts and pants LOOK well together – there’s NO reason the SAME shouldn’t be done for ADULT clothing purchases!

Taking it a step further, to a PHYSICALLY sightless person – it doesn’t matter if the shirt colors or patterns match the pants or skirt! SEE! If the majority of the world were PHYSICALLY sightless, we wouldn’t put such an emphasis on THE FASHION INDUSTRY! It would mainly be about comfort and warmth and coolness pertaining to body protection due to climate.

Interesting, when you SEE it with a PHresh outlook!

Helen Marie Szollosy, Outlook Shift Engineer! Hear! Here!
www.lafolot.com

One of the many gifts of life, is to hear/feel the purr of a cat as they appreciate your attention!
My cat, Kitty, is currently walking across my arms and desk as I try to type! PURRfect!

NOTICE ME! APPRECIATE ME! She is saying … (OK – it’s a SCENT and ownership thing, but IT’S ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, NO?) YES!

What a purrfectly, purriceless day I have had so far! I stopped at a business associate’s KATHY GEORGE’S SUBWAY at Windsor Park to be serviced exquisitely by familiar, friendly staff! Thanks to CHRIS for making my favorite, flat bread sandwich PURRFECTLY!

While there, a friendly, not afraid to dance to the music customer, noted that he was a teacher and gets his kids to dance with him! As a result, I got to ‘work it’ and ‘network’ by telling him, and demonstrating to him, my Have a Great D.A.Y. (Dance And Yodle) uplift your mood movement! He appreciated it, I gave him two of my LAFOLOT, Yellow Bookmarks/Business Cards! How PURRfect! A Possible Program may be scheduled!

I then headed over to Hampden Center Plaza where I found a PPTP! (Purrfect Place To Park!) next to the DOLLARTREE where I buy my ‘Adult Professional Stress Reliever Tools’. Okay, they are pinwheels to some, but it’s ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT THEM! Luckily! They were back in stock after the winter! The friendly, helpful manager/cashier took care of me PURRfectly, gave me further information about getting my BALLET GIRL RHINO TOY – video out on the DOLLARTREE site! I told him how I am improvisational, and to prove it, I bought 3 items from Dollartree and made a LEARNING LESSON-AWARENESS video out of them! It goes with the theme of my book: ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’ about appreciating life in all its forms of expression!

When leaving the parking lot, I saw a Purrsonalized License Plate: SMYLE How Purrfect was that?
Going with my LAFOLOT Drive Yourself Happy! motivational method!

When I got home, I checked my mailbox to find an early birthday card from a friend. Friends are PURRFECTLY PURRICELESS! My friend, Dona, had sent me a card noting: ‘Keep in Mind Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backwards!’ How PURRfect was THAT to go with my OUTLOOK SHIFT ENGINEERING lessons on seeing LIFE from a PHresh Outlook! It’s ALL in how you look at it!

When I opened the card, I had a HEALTHY LAUGH OUT LOUD! She had sent a refrigerator magnet with a PURRFECTLY STERN, GRUMPY ‘appearing’ cat with the caption: ‘This IS my happy face…’

How PURRfect to go with my story of how my SMILE CAMPAIGN started, with people assuming I was mad or grumpy just because of my normal facial expression!

A PURRfectly PURRiceless day full of beautiful SERVICE, NETWORKING and PURRecious, PURRiceless friends!

May you have the kind of day that makes you want to PURRRRRR.

Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT.COM
Outlook Shift Engineer! Hear! Here!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
It’s ALL in HOW you LOOK at it…

In honor of all the amazing work and awareness brought by MARTIN LUTHER KING, his family and others of his time period –

I wanted to Honor this day by bringing awareness of my book: LIFE IS A SONG IN THE KEY OF LOVE or Growing Up With the Embarrassment of Prejudice

The ‘thought’ for the book came to me back in 1999 during a New Year’s Church Service – ‘Start the New Year Fresh’ – church prayer/meditation regarding – our New Year focus. I was sitting quietly when the thought: ‘Growing Up With the Embarrassment of Prejudice’ came to mind.

I progressively started to write thoughts, notes, and quotes, etc. as I planned the book. It took me 9 years to write the book – because I wanted it to come from a POSITIVE space and not seem whiny nor negative. In my own growth and awareness – I found MY SINGING VOICE! In the process of finding my voice – I discovered the song from the 30′s: LIFE IS A SONG

There is a line in the song: Let’s Take Our Hearts and Dip them in Rhyme

THAT WAS IT! I thought! THAT’s how I can TURN THIS AROUND!

I wrote this book based on comparing LIFE to SHEET MUSIC! That a prejudiced/biased world would sound MONOTONE!

By Appreciating Life in ALL its forms of EXPRESSION (as well as showing RESPECT) – we can MAKE LIFE A SONG!

My book is available at: www.lulu.com/hszollosy or locally from me at: www.lafolot.com/books/
It is also available on www.AMAZON.COM – books – search on Helen Marie Szollosy.

I know some of you have already read it and given me WONDERFUL feedback! Thank you so much!

The book deals HEALTHILY and CREATIVELY with treating ALL LIFE Expression with respect … noting my oldest sister with brain damage as a result of being hit by a drunk driver … or think of a child from a challenged household – with hygiene issues – being bullied at school for BEING DIFFERENT… or a person with dimentia – not aware of the present … it’s more than just religion, culture, skin color, gender bias …

IF YOU FEEL SO MOVED – PLEASE SHARE MY BLOG … it’s OPTIONAL …

I have seen so much in the news about racist comments, bullying, brain damage, and other bias. I feel there is a stronger need for me to promote my book – and I don’t currently have the funds.

Thank you for any support. Again, it’s OPTIONAL … whatever works for you! IN ACCEPTANCE AND PEACE …

Highlighted Helen Marie Szollosy
Living BOLD and in ITALICS!
Make LIFE a SONG!
Be in AWE of it ALL!

I was working at my parttime HALLMARK Helen job, yesterday. I’m helping out a
fellow Hallmark card ‘lady’ while she’s on vacation.

As I walked down the main aisle, I saw a woman ‘SIGNING’ with one hand as she
held her ‘Wireless Device’ out from her.

I love talking to everyone and anyone when I am out and about. I have learned
how to say: Hello, Goodbye, How Are You? and Thank You! in many different
languages and dialects. I like to let people know, I’m willing to take a step
over the barrier to learn more about their culture, etc.

When I saw this woman, there was NO BARRIER, (I have a cousin who is Deaf and
I’ve learned the Alphabet and a FEW signs). I wasn’t READING what she was
saying, because I don’t know enough to be able to do that – and it would have
been an invasion of privacy. For anyone who is concerned.

I walked toward her in AH! MAZEMENT! of this wonderful device – and signed: H,
I (HI!) I indicated I was going to SAY HELLO to her friend on the phone. She
noted they had hung up.

I signed: MY COUSIN IS DEAF (I use this opening line when approaching someone
sho is signing, so they know I can speak, hear and that they may know my cousin
from their community meetings, of which I’m aware.)

We ‘talked a little bit’ – She knew I couldn’t sign MUCH. She helped me with a
few signs. She showed me her ‘phone’ – that there is a new APP known as TANGO
that allows someone who is deaf – to get a FULL SCREEN conversation window – in
order to communicate just as a speaking/hearing person would with a cell phone,
etc.

She was very excited, as was I! We communicated with BIG FACIAL expressions and
minimal signing – she read my lips as I spoke -

I agreed that I was AH! MAZED! Why? Prior to personal computers and e-mails -
the deaf community had to use an oversized, bulky machine in the home known as a
TTY. It limited communication; because of not being able to use phone for voice
communication.

I KNEW INSTANTLY – WHY she was SO EXCITED!

HOW WONDERFUL! This DEVICE – courtesy of Steve Jobs and those in the wireless
technology field – have now:

Brought the Deaf Community and the Hearing/Speaking community TOGETHER -
HEALTHILY – SOCIALLY with this WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DEVICE!

I had been concerned that cell phones, texting, etc. were creating an
ANTI-SOCIAL atmosphere – taking away proper grammar, developing an entire new
language of TEXTING – etc…

and – once again – I’m learning to BE FLEXIBLE and GROW ALONG WITH IT – seeing
how these WONDERFUL CHANGES are BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER who would not have been able to communicate, before?

Since computers and e-mails – I can now – easily communicate with my cousin, NO
PROBLEM!

and now – we can TANGO! DANCE! and communicate VISUALLY via wireless devices
that allow the DEAF community to wirelessly communicate on the run!

I AM SO EXCITED BY ALL THIS! TALK ABOUT BRINGING THE WORLD TOGETHER!
FEEL THE TINGLE AND THE EXCITEMENT!

Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT.com (Outlook Shift Engineer!) typing with a smile and a big laugh out loud in her heart – IMAGINE THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL!

While at a ‘quick checkout’ at the grocery store, after a young gentleman noted to his buddy that he needed a penny to finish his payment, he said: ‘Pennies don’t have any value any longer, I wonder why we still use them?’

Being openly friendly when out in public, I turned, smiled and said: ‘Ohhh! But they have GREAT value! When you FIND a LUCKY PENNY, and you give it away to someone else the penny becomes PRICELESS!’ The gift is in the giving.

He smiled, agreed with me and repeated as he wheeled his cart out past me, PRICELESS!

Value, worth, of ourselves or an object – it’s all in how you LOOK at it.

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.COM
Specializing in rePHRESING thoughts and New Outlooks!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
Live Life in AH! Mazement!
www.lafolot.com

I felt so good yesterday! Before my major AH! HA! HA! HA! Appreciation of all forms of life expression moment – in 2009, I had a terrible fear of bugs!

NOW! I can watch a spider in admiration and gratitude!

NOW! I can allow a bee to breezily buzz by me and SMILE!

NOW! I can pick up an ear whig and take it outside!

YESTERDAY! (It is below freezing winter weather here) – I went to grab hold of a pot handle from my dish drainer at the sink. I felt something sort of crunchy. Not till I put the pot on the counter, did I realize it was a stink bug!

IN THE PAST! I WOULD HAVE SCREAMED! JUMPED! ALMOST HURT MYSELF with unwarranted bug fear.

The new AH! HA! Helen stopped – looked at the bug in distress. It had fallen on it’s back and was wiggling its legs frantically.

I didn’t panic.

I tried to gently help it over with my hand; it didn’t work.

I used a fork to go to help it and the LITTLE STINKER GRABBED ON WITH ALL ITS LEGS! TO ONE OF THE FORK TINES!

What a SMART STINK BUG I had stumbled across!

I SMILED!

I walked it out of the kitchen and put the fork near my umbrella plant so it could have a safe haven (it was way too cold outside and with it surviving this long, it deserved to live out its life!)

It didn’t want to let go of the fork tine.

I tried a new position and held the fork upside down underneath the plant branch and SMART STINK BUG walked onto the branch! This bug DESERVED to live out its life!

Here’s to the WONDERFUL, SMART STINK BUG that allowed me the pleasure to REAFFIRM my AH! HA! release of my bug phobia, appreciation of life in all its forms of expression; and demonstration that I was indeed – LIVING LIFE! AND LAUGHING OFTEN! at the miracle of it all!

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.COM
Living LIFE in AH! MAZEMENT!
Living BOLD and in ITALICS!

Never underestimate (the person standing next to you), never judge a book by it’s cover; and as I talk/teach/write about: Look Out! It’s LIFE, with a Fresh Outlook! You are in the presence of ONE AMAZING WOMAN! Ha! Ha!

I parked my car in a busy hospital parking lot this afternoon. It has my LAFOLOT business display on the side of the car; so people instantly don’t take me too seriously. Imagine that!

I was getting some ‘SILLY STUFF’ out to wear and take into the hospital with me, while going in to visit my mom. A car pulled in next to me – and it ‘wasn’t just WHISTLIN’ DIXIE!’ let me tell ya!

I had to laugh when the high-pitched tone/squeel was coming from the engine under the car hood. The mid-Eastern looking man was puzzled. I said: I think it’s in the ‘KEY OF E’ and I perfectly matched the tone with my voice. HA HA! I know THIS wasn’t what he wanted. LOL!

He said: ‘It just started this morning, I don’t know what it is!’
I said: ‘I’m pretty sure it’s the FAN BELT. ‘ All you need is some wax or soap on it and it will probably stop squeeling.’

He LOOKED at me, but didn’t question. [SMART MAN!]
I said: ‘I used to help my dad with his car fix it stuff, that’s an EASY one.’ I said: ‘Open the hood while it’s running and we’ll be able to tell right away if that’s it.’

He didn’t question and SURE ENOUGH – I said – ‘Here, see – this is the belt and LISTEN TO THAT! THAT’s where the sound is coming out!’ He was thrilled! He closed the hood.

I said: ‘You could just go to PEP BOYS car parts, pick one up and they’ll put it on for you in their garage bays at the store. Low cost!’ I said: ‘Now if your car were to just SHUT OFF – that would be ELECTRICAL – maybe the spark plugs.’ ‘I know THAT much.’

He said: ‘My Air Condition hasn’t been working.’ I said: ‘Is it working at all? thinking Freon’ He said: ‘No, not at all.’ I said: ‘Then I’d think THAT was part of the electrical circuit area, too – I would focus on taking it to an auto electrician.’

He shut off his engine and closed his car door saying: ‘I NEVER THOUGHT A WOMAN WOULD KNOW THESE THINGS!’

[I'm 5'2", 51, overweight, menopausal and heterosexual - just FYI] I responded: ‘I write and talk about not labeling and judging people. You NEVER KNOW what’s beneathe the surface!’ He smiled as he walked towards the hospital entrance.

I finished putting on my: Tinsel Deely-bobber headband, Smile Badge pinback button, gathering a couple Spread Smiles by the Miles Flags and Stress Reliever Pinwheels and headed for the main hospital entrance. OH! and wearing a SMILE on MY face, too!

OOH! WAH! DARN, I’M GOOOOOOD! HA HA!

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
only BEGINNING to skim the surface of my AMAZING CAPABILITIES! Hee! Hee!
www.lafolot.com
Appreciating LIFE in ALL its forms of expression!
Author: ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love!‘

I had a big AH! HA! ha ha moment at age 49. At that point, I stopped EXISTING and HIDING and chose Life! I chose to start Living! Hence, my motto: Live Life! Laugh Often! [there's a lot more meat to my motto than meets the eye!]

I wrote a book called: ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love!‘ It’s about appreciating life in ALL its forms of expression. I no longer have a fear of insects; where once I would have screamed and hit the person nearest me just to get away from a bee or spider – I can now allow a Bee to buzz near my ear, as I smile – and I can allow it to walk on me freely – to allow it to BE. I can rescue a spider or thank it and appreciate the work it is doing to remove other bugs from my home. I am in AWE of all Life! [keep in mind, I'm still human and still make a fool of myself on occassion!]

I awoke this morning and was inspired to write these words. May you be blessed this day and always with a life filled with Peace. Be Aware of the PRESENT, it’s a GIFT!

LIFE!

I am in AWE! RESPECT!

by: Helen Marie Szollosy 11/9/2010
Living Life in a-MAZE-ment!
Living BOLD and in Italics!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com