LAFOLOT

I note at the top of my LAFOLOT website: ‘A little kindness goes a long way…’

I started a Facebook page to make THE WORLD ‘AH! Ware’ of my simple, healthy socialization, self-esteem booster, personal recognition and highlighting tool!

HA HA HELEN’S SMILE CAMPAIGN GAME! LIGHT THE WORLD WITH SMILE POWER! SPREAD SMILES BY THE MILES!

When I was at a local SUBWAY for lunch, today; I happened to slightly turn to the right with a slight smile on my face, and a gentleman sitting at a table nodded to give me RECOGNITION!
2 points! I thought! Wow! MADE MY DAY! He had on a blue lab smock commonly worn in the medical profession.

After the Expert Sandwich Makers made my ‘MEAL DEAL’, I sat down in a booth. I immediately got out one of my Yellow LAFOLOT.com Bookmarks (with the SMILE GAME noted on the back) and walked over to his table.

I said: ‘Here! I’m a local Health & Wellness professional, and I have a SMILE GAME I play. I just wanted you to know, when you nodded and acknowledged me, you gave me ONE POINT! Thank you!’

I told him more about the healthy socialization simple tools I give people as well as the motivational speaking I do. I told him, they may seem fun, silly and a light-hearted – but there’s a REAL SCIENCE to it all, and it works! I’m a professional OUTLOOK SHIFT ENGINEER!

He then told me how he recently opened LabSolutions Inc., on Hartzdale Drive in Camp Hill, PA 717 810-8030 ( labsolutions1@gmail.com ). He said: I am passionate about my business, but I don’t have customers! I told him I network a lot and belong to the Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce.

I asked him if he had tried any marketing and advertising? I gave him some general ideas and tips and then I referred him to Ann Marie Brandt of TEAM BRANDT Marketing. He looked it up on his smartphone.

He was very passionate about his ‘family-oriented, friendly, casual environment and personalized approach to his Lab. He even noted he ‘makes house calls!’

I offered my servers as a ‘character-health and wellness event’ promoter – such as a parking lot – tent event, to bring awareness to his Lab. I noted maybe a bar-b-que and healthy laughter since it does the body good and makes for HEALTHIER BLOOD! He liked the ideas!

He left SMILING, after he shook my hand and I said: WHERE are your BUSINESS CARDS? He had to go out and get a business flyer from his vehicle.

SMILING and NETWORKING works! A LITTLE KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY…
What will come of it? WHO knows? and – let me tell you – “WHO” – whoever “WHO” is … seems to KNOW A LOT!

Working it and SPEADING SMILES BY THE MILES as I ‘LIGHT THE WORLD WITH SMILE POWER!’

Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT.com
Live Life! Laugh Often!
PLAY the SMILE GAME – let me know how many points you’ve earned in a day!

WORLD CHALLENGE! I DOUBLE-DARE ‘YA!

LIGHT THE WORLD WITH SMILE POWER!

Ha Ha Helen of LAFOLOT.com

OUTLOOK SHIFT ENGINEER! Hear! Here!

Live Life! Laugh Often!

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!

What a W.O.W. (World of Wonder!) moment I had at lunch!

I had stopped into a local SUBWAY owned by a business connection, Kathy George. For a Sunday, there was a crowd! I frequent this SUBWAY because Kathy’s manager, Alicia, put my HA HA HELEN of LAFOLOT picture on an 8 1/2 x 11 poster to help promote HEALTHY LAUGHTER along with SUBWAY’s Healthy Eating!

There was a couple with their daughter and her friend, in the line in front of me. The ‘girls’ were having fun picking out their sandwhich combinations. The daughter had on fun toe nail polish and had painted one foot! They were fun, free spirits! I loved it! They were SO POLITE! The daughter took time to ‘apologize’ to me for holding up the line! WHAT A GREAT SOUL! A TEENAGER! I said: ‘No problem! I’m in no hurry! Besides – THAT’S MY PHOTO UP THERE ON THE SIGN BY THE DOOR!

I pulled a couple bright yellow, LAFOLOT bookmarks out of my purse and gave one to the girl and her friend. I noted: I’m HA HA HELEN and on the back of the bookmark, it explains my SMILE CAMPAIGN! I told them: Whenever I give a smile and someone smiles back, I GIVE MYSELF A POINT! They smiled/laughed/thanked me and moved on.

After they paid, I made sure to tell ‘the mom’ I had given them bookmarks and gave her one so she would know where they got theirs, etc.

They family sat down to finish their sandwhiches. As they got up to leave, I smiled at the girl who smiled back. Her friend was directly behind her. The young girl stated loudly: I GOT ONE POINT!

W.O.W!!! My whole world lit up! My whole day had been turned around! I sat there in AH! MAZEMENT! with the BRIGHTEST SMILE ON MY FACE!

Without going into detail – I and other members of my family are very stressed at the moment dealing with a mom in hospice as well as an older, brain damaged sister in crisis.

This PRICELESS, SPECIAL MOMENT TURNED IT AROUND! I just SAT there in AWE!

I sometimes question, struggling financially at the moment, whether I should just CHUCK it all and go back to a cubicle job to pay off debt, bills, etc.

Then – something like this happens and I realize I’m following my PURPOSE!

As I walked to my car (LAFOLOT MOBILE) – I had to walk past the family’s SUV as ‘the mom’ was getting in the vehicle. I saw ‘the dad’s’ face and I SMILED! He smiled back. The back windows were open where the two girls were sitting.

I ANNOUNCED: ONE POINT!

As I made my way around the vehicle to get to my car – the back window rolled down and the daughter smiled at me announcing: I’M UP TO FIVE POINTS!

What can I say! I HAD SOLD HER ON THE BEAUTY OF THE IDEA! SHE APPROVED OF THE HA HA HELEN SMILE CAMPAIGN – POINTS GAME!

I told her: Do you want to know what I do with all my points? On a day when I can’t find my smile; and someone smiles at me first – KA CHING! I CASH THEM IN! She smiled broadly at the idea as they drove away.

ONE POINT! I THOUGHT! – and I let out a loud YES! YAHOO! YEAHHHH! WITH A BIG SMILE – AS I DROVE AWAY!

HA HA HELEN Szollosy of LAFOLOT.COM – OUTLOOK SHIFT ENGINEER!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
Lighting up the world – ONE SMILE AT A TIME!
Join HA HA HELEN’S SMILE CAMPAIGN! E-MAIL ME AND TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RESULTS!
IT DOESN’T COST ANYTHING! JUST SHARE YOUR SMILES!

As part of my DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY and SMILE CAMPAIGN, whenever I come to a stop at a long intersection traffic light, I put my red clown nose on, roll down the car window and stare at the car to the left or right.

Sometimes, I get a smile, sometimes I get a laugh, sometimes I get a straight, nonresponsive stare. All responses are OK! I encourage people to BE themselves!

Well, I need to make a personal note NOT to do this AFTER DUSK!

I came to a long traffic light intersection, saw a teenager sitting in the back seat with his parents in the front seats. I put on my red nose, rolled down the car window and looked at ‘the kid’ since their car was pulled up a bit farther than mine.

Uh oh! no response! I scared the young guy! The dad looks over and I SMILE with my clown nose on. He just looks flatly at me and alerts his wife! She looks over from the driving seat – the light changes and THEY TAKE OFF!

Laugh out Loud! Oh my! I guess they didn’t see my LAFOLOT.COM magnetic advertising sign on the side of my car; due to being pulled up farther than my car!

What can I say! I wonder if they were thinking, as they drove off into the sunset …. ‘Who WAS that Red-Nosed Woman?’

note to self: play drive yourself happy and smile campaign BEFORE the sun starts to go down.

Oh well …. it’s a DEEP subject!

HA H Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.com
Live and Learn and LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
Living life in AH! Mazement!
Silly me …

There’s something about getting a ‘gift’ tossed your way unexpectedly when you’re dealing with a lot of stress! Big Thank You of GRAT-I-TUDE (one of the things I teach that I need to learn) for an AH! MAZING! moment – WHERE? AT THE GAS PUMPS!

My tank was on empty, we had a couple ‘dumps’ of snow last evening and earlier in the day; I have a mother and sister in nursing and hospice care -

so what do I encounter when I finally get out to fill up my tank?

A man stops and smiles after paying for his fuel. He says: Are you a speaker? I answer ‘yes’ and ‘smile’ as I see that he’s noticed my magnetic car advertising.

To make a long story short – in addition – I’ve haven’t been able to keep up with my business handlings as well as I would have like; due to a lot of family needs surfacing (relocating my mom, closing down an apartment, closing out an assisted living apartment, etc.)

WHAT? Do I find in the small container I keep on the floor near my passenger seat (for business supplies) – A FULLY PACKED PAMPHLET about what I do! Miracle of Miracles! So he got to take a lot of information with him; in addition to what I shared face-to-face.

Somebody is watching out for me through all the ‘not fun stuff’ going on (which is one of the things I teach – how to work through or should I say RIDE through, more easily!)

AH! MAZING! Oh! Yes! and due to my radio commercial station forgetting to contact me regarding continuing my AD – they automatically offered me a FREE WEEK of Advertising!

AH! MAZING! Go figure! I certainly DO Live Life in AH! MAZEMENT! Have to shake my head side to side and smile and laugh over this day and this week!

AH! Yes! I can’t forget to mention the DRIVE MYSELF HAPPY moment I encountered, when I stopped at a shopping plaza parking lot; afterwards, and saw the license plate: JOYN-LIFE ‘Joy In Life?’ or ‘Join Life’ – no matter how you SEE it; it was a message gratefully received!

Full of it – GRATITUDE and AMAZEMENT, that is!

May you find – amidst some of the ‘overflowing piles of laundry of life situations’ – that you are being entertained by angels, unawares.

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.com

Just in case you need a smile – I’m sharing one with you right now.

I got a call from a woman representing PA Retired State Employees (PARSE), yesterday. I am scheduled to give a talk on Laughter Wellness in February.

The woman introduced herself and said: I don’t know if you know this, but Betty Hummel – who originally talked to you about our February meeting – died in December of cancer.

WHAT A SHOCK! I had just met Betty at a Business Womens’ meeting a few months ago. Betty approached me after I did my laughter wellness talk; loved it and asked if I’d come to a PARSE meeting (it paid decently). She had a great smile, was easy to talk to and MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL and PRICELESS! I had talked with her on the phone and exchanged a couple e-mails to coordinate the event. She MADE IT EASY.

Well, the woman who called me had found out by accident when she called the Betty’s number. This woman then worked with the family to pass over Betty’s notes. This woman said Betty had kept detailed notes and all the items we discussed were in a folder.

While I only met Betty for less than 5 minutes – she will be remembered by me as long as I have memory. Just like Mary Kopp, who I meantion in my Bea Gaude’ Youtube video – Betty was a BRIEF BLIP OF A PASSING in my life – but made me feel like a MILLION by appreciating, approaching and SMILING her way into my heart – for that moment.

I will dedicate that PARSE presentation and her POSITIVE PERSONALITY and Winning Smile.

I posted a longer note about it on Facebook. I was bummed when I thought no one had read it. I got up this morning and saw a note from a FB connection who said: ‘I was meant to read this. I have stage 3 breast cancer and I leave everyone I meet with a SMILE…’

I work with a lot of seniors in this Laughter Leader/Motivational Speaker and Singer profession. While it is difficult finding out that a new ‘friend’ has passed; I am grateful for having met them for the blip of a moment out of their lives.

GRATEFUL for having met BETTY HUMMEL!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.com
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!

A HA HA Helen – healthy socialization outing event. HA HA!

Once again, because I dislike crowds and grocery shopping (especially around holidays) – I made the statement as I started to MANEUVER through the post-holiday grocery shoppers:

I AFFIRM I AM GOING TO HAVE A FUN SHOPPING EXPERIENCE! (in my head – not out to the crowd! ) ;o)

I saw a man trying on sunglasses at the display. I picked up some items and he was still there as I was passing by. He had a pair on with a big, blue, cardboard tag hanging off to the left side.

I looked at him and said: ‘THEY LOOK GREAT! I ESPECIALLY like the BLUE Tag hanging off the side! It BRINGS OUT the COLOR in YOUR EYES!’

He took them off, smiled and THANKED ME! He started to tell me how he was bummed that he had sat on his sunglasses in his truck, this morning. I said: ‘Oh, I know, your FAVORITE pair!’ He said: ‘These will do’ and we went on our merry ways.

I am A-MAZED at how total strangers not only respond but get into conversations with me, openly sharing!

Then – in my car – I was at a long intersection stop light. BECAUSE I’VE BEEN in a buggy, stressed out mood lately – I decided to SNAP OUT OF IT – Put on My Clown Nose – and held my stare pose at the woman driver in the car to my right (another turning lane – where you sit for about 4 minutes). I do this as part of my Drive Yourself Happy and Smile Campaigns – as a stress reliever; and to get people ‘out of the driver fog’ and more attentive once the light changes.

She looked at me -
I smiled –
I waved (due to tinted windows)

She kept a set look on her face and turned away.

WONDERFUL! I thought! It’s what I teach! BE who YOU need to be!
I smiled to myself – thinking –
isn’t it wonderful!
Making the offer – and the other soul can make their own choice on how they want to interact or not – the other driver shouldn’t have felt she HAD to smile or acknowledge me. We all have choices in life. I teach a concept called PEER POSITIVE – living your OWN life and not allowing OTHERS to DICTATE how you live it.

TWO examples of HEALTHY SOCIALIZATION –

not forcing feelings on anyone and not allowing anyone to force feelings on me.

LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!
and feeling good about my HA HA happenings ….

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.COM
Live Life in A-MAZEMENT and be the best YOU you CHOOSE to be!

I have ‘A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way…‘ at the top of my website. It’s
because, when I’m having a bad day, and someone does the littlest thing: share a
smile, hold a door, etc. IT TURNS MY DAY AROUND! I always thank the presenter
of the kindness; and let them know they made my day!

Well! I was driving in a shopping plaza and noticed the obviously weary
Salvation Army Bell Ringer – out in the cold. She was getting up from taking a
rest on the curb.

I am short of funds – but I pulled my vehicle to the curbside -
rolled down my window -
reached over to my passenger seat for the:

Dollar Store FELT, DEER ANTLER HEADBAND WITH BELLS (I had been using the last
two weeks to attract smiles/laughs)

and I HANDED it to her through the window. HER FACE BEAMED A SMILE!

I said: Here, these oughta make you feel better and attract more donations!

You would have thought I had given her gold! She took them and reached her
gloved hand into the car to shake my hand and wish me a Merry Christmas!

*sigh .. last year I gave my tinsel deely bobber headband to the Salvation Army
worker outside the same store and got the same reaction! I wrote a blog called:
Gift of the Tinsel Deely Bobber Headband

This is what I share in my motivational-inspirational talks -

it doesn’t take money to make someone’s day -

the LITTLEST, SIMPLEST things bring the BIGGEST, HEART WARMING smiles.

I live life in A-MAZE-MENT! There was a book written called ‘Don’t sweat the
small stuff.’

On the other hand – I TRULY FEEL it’s THE SMALL STUFF – the Positive Side of it
all – that LIGHTS UP THE WORLD!

“Lots of LITTLES make a BIGGLES of GIGGLES and SMILES!” – my latest Ha Ha Helenism.

…I’m smiling … and it feels good.

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT.COM

[it feels good because it's been a stressfull 2 years w/ my oldest brain damaged sister (as a result of being hit by a drunk driver was she was 19 - now age 63) going into a Nursing home and this past week - helping two other sisters get my mom over to an assisted living building. In the middle of it all - the fire alarm went off at the new place IT WAS A MESS! My blood pressure has been all over the place ...]

I REALLLLLLY NEEEEEDED THIS SMIIIIIILE OPORTUNITY – I’m grateful it POPPED into my lap this evening.
Grateful for the gift of the deer antlers with bells! Oh? Wasn’t it for me?

Teaser: ‘…and as I was exiting the grocery store, a tall, model-like woman was browsing the flowers and balloons display in her 4 1/2 heels! WHAT A WORKOUT!’

I used to really dislike grocery shopping. Now, I PURPOSELY do ‘frequent’, ‘inefficient’ shopping so I HAVE to go back more frequently! Nuts? Oh, no! There’s a ‘madness to my method!’ HA HA!

Being a newly independent business owner, it give me more visibility! Since I work from home, it gets me out of the house for FUN socialization! Why? because I talk to people at the grocery store, joke and spread compliments and smiles!

Today, I was nearing the end of an aisle when a young woman stops her cart – OBLIVIOUS – blocking my exit. She didn’t notice me and proceeded to slowly walk around her mini-cart and reach on the bottom shelf for the plastic iced tea container. FUNNY PART WAS – the mini-cart was loaded with 6-packs of soda all around the top and bottom edges of the cart.

I ‘just stood there’ watching. I found it funny. She was moving in slow motion, oblivious. She finally noticed me, and apologized. I laughed, smiled and said “Oh! don’t worry – I do laughter wellness for a living and I was getting a kick out of watching the whole thing!” The HILARIOUS part was, she was double-checking that the iced-tea was INDEED sugar free! HAHAHAHA – she had tons of sugary soda in the cart! (I know – it could have been for several different people, it was just funny.) We talked about food carton labeling a few seconds and went on our merry way.

When I got over to the dairy aisle, I noticed a woman with beautiful, long, healthy, black, shiny hair! I have a cosmetology license, so I KNOW healthy hair when I see it! I said: ‘Excuse me, I don’t normally do this, but I have to tell you you have the most beautiful, shiny, black hair I’ve ever seen! What do you do to it?’ She was an woman possibly in her lat 30s or 40s. She said: ‘Oh! I’m getting it ALL CUT OFF for LOCKS OF LOVE!’ [I was impressed!] She said: ‘I never use hot blow dryers on it.’ It was amazing!

Besides making ‘frequent’ trips to the grocery store (on a daily basis), I also walk from one end of the store to the other – not in a down and up the aisle pattern. Why? It GETS ME MORE EXERCISE and I feel SILLY doing it! It’s fun! I make my Grocery List in my head by getting the first letter of each item needed and making a word out of it! For example, yesterday it was WAT or TWA (Trans World Airlines!) HA HA Water, Apples, Tea bags! I just remember the word or phrase and off to shop I go!

IT’S FUN, SILLY and puts a smile on my face as I remember my items without writing them down! It’s a GREAT EXERCISE for THE BRAIN, too!

As I checked out, I wished the Indian/American cashier attendant Hello! in HINDI (I know a couple Phillipine/American women there, also – so I get to with them Hello, Goodbye, Thank you in their languages, too!)

As I walked towards the exit, I see a TALL, Model-like young woman in Shoe Heels that were almost as tall as me! They must have been 4 1/2″ heels! Talk about A HEALTHY WORKOUT while BALANCING on those things! I left the store in my SENSIBLE SNEAKERS with a SMILE on my face!

Here’s to healthy, happy, inefficient, social grocery store shopping! HA HA HELEN of LAFOLOT style!

Spread those SMILES by the MILES!

and DRIVE YOURSELF HAPPY! to the grocery store!
www.lafolot.com
Live Life! Laugh Often!
Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT