LAFOLOT

Whenever I present a ‘Laughter? Let’s Get Serious!’ talk, I also present ‘Good Hearted Living Principles’ based on a book by Steve Wilson, CSP. I talk about how you don’t need money to give a gift!

1) Give the Gift of Laughter!
2) Give the Gift of a Smile!
3) Good Hearted Living deals with giving the Gift of: Compliments, Flexibility, Gratitude, Kindness and Forgiveness.

None of the above require the exchange of paper money or the economy to be boosted in order to BOOST SOMEONE’S SPIRITS!

Instead of business cards, I give out Business BOOKMARKS! My bookmarks are bright yellow (yellow agitates the brain and inspires learning!). I included a silly, smiley face on all my bookmarks as well as ways to create a happier, more positive life through my list of suggestions on the back of the bookmark.

Whenever I am out and about, I LOVE sharing my SMILES (part of my SMILE CAMPAIGN) as well as my Bright, Yellow, Silly, Uplifting Bookmarks to brighten people’s days!

I always ask permission from a nearby parent; but when a child is crying, fussing or having a bad day – or bad time communicating their needs; I walk, run, or waddle over – put a silly smile and big eyed look on my face and ask: WOULD YOU LIKE SOME HELP GETTING YOUR SMILE BACK?

Usually, the child gets quiet (probably out of the shear fear of encountering a strange adult! HA HA HA), the parent askes if they would like the bookmark, they nod or reach out and I ask: Has this helped you find you smile again? Can you show me you smile? Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t and THAT’S OKAY!

So COMICALLY, ECONOMICALLY it doesn’t cost even a PENNY for me to make these colorful business bookmarks that – in a PINCH (if you are PINCHING PENNIES) – BOOST THE SPIRIT, MOOD, DAY of the recipient.

So, one silly, smiley, yellow business bookmark at a time – I’m doing my part to comically boost the Emotional Economy of the public.

It’s a SILLY JOB, BUT SOMEONE’S GOTTA DO IT! Who ‘da THUNK a little piece of yellow cardboard could have so much comical-economical power!

Have a silly, smiley, laughter filled, comically-economically boosted kinda day –
HEY! Why Not? It’s HEALTHY!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
Spread those SMILES BY THE MILES and make the inner light SHINE of everyone you meet!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION under blogger name: Helenoflafolot]

Finally settling into my new modular home after letting go of my condo and putting it on the market –
this has been a day full of surprises!

I tend to have premonitions. I thought this morning, ‘I need to move some of my LAFOLOT Live Life! Laugh Often!’ inventory’. As I was getting ready to leave my favorite Thai restaurant, Thai Palace – the owner/chef peeked out of the kitchen: ‘Do you have any more of those T-Shirts he asked?’ His cute daughter, Elizabeth was there also. YES! I said! Then, I realized he was talking about the new, ‘ME!’ t-shirt I had created and was wearing.

What size? I asked. XL – Yes – I had one in my stash in the car! So I sold him a ME! (LAFOLOT) t-shirt as well as an “I Love to LAFOLOT and GIGGLE, too!” shirt for his daughter, in exchange for a free lunch, tomorrow! I love bartering t-shirts for Thai food!

Then, I headed up the road to complete a few more errands. On the way home, I stopped at a Burger King drive-thru for a soda. My throat was feeling crappy from the hot/humid/allergin-ridden air. It was really hot, even with the A/C, waiting behind one other car. Seemed like it was taking awhile for their ‘fast food’ order. I got my money ready, pulled up to the window and the girl announced: ‘HERE! IT’S FREE! SINCE YOU HAD TO WAIT SO LONG!’
WOW! What a nice surprise!

I instantly thought of the ‘Good Hearted Living Principles’ by Steve Wilson, CSP (my Certified Laughter Leader teacher). I thought, Thursdays may be for Kindness; but we need a day for SURPRISES! Then, I realized, the SURPRISE is the RESULT of the KINDNESS for the recipient!

As I got to a major intersection traffic light, traffic in front of me was doing the usual STOP, Look and make a RIGHT turn on RED – which is allowed in my neck of the woods. So, I did the same. Well, BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
I automatically screamed and my hands almost flew off the steering wheel! A car was directly on my bumper! From WHERE had it come?

That was my LAST SURPRISE! All I have to say is, it’s best not to do a strong, loud, BEEP when something like that happens. I certainly didn’t pull out in front of anyone on purpose. It looked like I had the ‘all clear.’ Plus, traffic was at a stand still due to another red light up the road and traffic having to merge. No one was going anywhere fast.
So, I don’t really know why the vehicle that beep, did so loudly and aggressively, since we both had to slowly merge into the congested traffic.

So SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE as Gomer Pyle used to say! Some from a psychic premonition, some from a treat for being nice and waiting patiently and some from aggressive, angry drivers –

either way – my blood is pumping and my heart is functioning fine! Thank you very much!

Have a happily, surprising day!
HA HA Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!

[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION under blogger name: Helenoflafolot]

Did you know there is a ‘Law of Average’ or Standards? It applies in Interior Design, when drafting and indicating counter heights, seat heights, ceiling heights, etc. It applies in school systems, noting whether we fall above or below average on a grading scale. It applies when a child is born, relating to their height, weight or mental/emotional capacity.

I write in my book, ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’, that we may tend to unknowingly show bias or prejudice, and the best way to deal with it is talk openly. I suggest asking questions and becoming more familiar with cultures, non-average folks so that we may educate ourselves and break down barriers.

Yesterday, I had another ‘OOOPS I DID IT AGAIN!’ moment relating to making an ‘Assumption’ about another human being. Luckily, I was able to talk openly and educate myself, thank goodness!

I was sat at a booth at a local restaurant. About 6 feet across from me, in another booth, was a family consisting of the mom, dad, and two young boys. I already knew what I wanted, so I was just staring off into space. I suddenly noticed ‘more movement’ out of my left eye. The one boy was ‘playing peek-a-boo’ with me! I LOVE playing with kids when they initiate play out in public, being bored with their families. Babies do this a lot, by looking away from their parents and observiing with big, wide eyed looks as they absorb all the ‘new stuff’ they are seeing and experiencing.

So, my first thought was: ‘this boy seems too old to be playing peek-a-boo, but I’ll go along since he is having fun!’ So I put some silly grins on my face, he ducks and hides behind his daddy.
He pops his head out again, and I give him a wide open-eyed look! He ducks and hides.
He makes another appearance and I hide my face with the menu. He is giggling, hiding, popping up, and smiling.
Life gets too serious, too fast – so I love doing my part to allow kids to be kids and have fun!

All the while, I’m thinking – FOR THIS KID’S HEIGHT (here I go with my assumption and LAW OF AVERAGE), he seems to be a 7 or 8 year old playing PEEK-A-BOO like a little two year old!

Well, I’ve had many opportunities to assist parents with crying toddlers by offering them one of my SMILEY Face bookmarks. When the child sees it, their face lights up and they get curious. It usually stops them from crying.
So, in this case, even though this was a happy BOBBING, PEEK-A-BOO child, I offered him a SMILEY Face bookmark (actually my business card), and gave him an extra for his brother. The parents thanked me, and we went back to our own table space.

A little later, I asked the boy (who I ASSUMED was about 7 or 8 years old), ‘did you READ the back of the bookmark?’
[It has wonderful positive statements about having a fun, healthy outlook on life.]
The mother looked over and said:

HE’S ONLY 4, HE DOESN’T READ YET. [There's the LAW OF AVERAGE!] I ASSUMED he was older, even though I thought his behavior a bit juvenile! This child was almost 4 feet tall and was 4 years old!

I could have smacked myself. I said to the mother: ‘My he’s tall for his age!’ [COULD SOMEONE STUFF A SOCK IN MY MOUTH!]

We are all so unique and beautiful, but we have this LAW OF AVERAGE on which everything is based. I got treated differently because I was short, fat and female – when I worked in a technological environment. My age also came into play due to the field in which I worked. I talk a lot about this LAW OF AVERAGE in my book, by giving examples of scenarios experienced by friends.

I am making a judgement about myself. My book is about AWARENESS and Appreciating Life in All its Forms of Expression. I just had another dose of, ’step out of your Law of Average awareness and open your mind to other possibilities’ Helen. I’m glad the mother was comfortable enough to talk with me. I’m glad the boy was COMFORTABLE enough with himself to feel free to PLAY LIKE A FOUR YEAR OLD even though people may see him as a seven or eight year old.

Like Forest Gump said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates’ – there’s a wide variety, full of wonderful flavors. Life is a Song in the Key of Love, full of wonderful variations on musical themes, with a wonderful mix of musical notes.

I got to HEAR THE SOUND of a TALL FOUR YEAR OLD while he MOVED FREELY in life, BOBBING up and down, around his daddy, feeling free to play PEEK A BOO with an over 50, menopausal women.

He held no bias towards me! He just saw a PLAY PAL – not a short, fat, 51 year old, menopausal woman!

Thank you beautiful four year old boy for accepting me as I am and showing me how to do the same. Angels come in ALL SHAPES AND SIZES!

Highlighted Helen of LAFOLOT
Be in AWE of it ALL!
Make Life a Song!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog may also be seen at Vibrant Nation under blogger name: Helenoflafolot]

I was blessed to have the opportunity to give a LAFOLOT Laughter Wellness demo at our local ‘The Healthy Grocer’ store this past Tuesday. They open their lunchroom to ‘alternative healers/wellness’ folks to demonstrate their gifts.

I entered wearing my ‘now unofficially trademarked’ Tinsel Deely Bobber Headband. A store clerk approached me as I went up to talk to my contact and asked: ‘Are YOU the laughter wellness person?’ I said: ‘What makes you say that?’ Greg, ‘The Healthy Grocer’ wellness program coordinator said: ‘She asked how she’d know you. I told her, don’t worry, you won’t miss her!’ HA HA – Good thing I remembered to wear the tinsel deely bobber headband into the store!

I encountered a blonde hair, blue eyed, wide-eyed with a BIG SMILE little toddler as I was waiting for folks to arrive. Kids tend to think I’m a clown just because of my head gear! I had one of my LAFOLOT Stress Reliever Pinwheels with me, and I was making it twirl around. The little girl was EYEing it. When she and her mom and grandmom went to check out – I held the pinwheel out towards her. (I had already given her a smiley face bookmark.) It was hilarious – we started a TODDLER vs. SILLY ADULT PERSON – dance. She took two steps forward, two steps back! So I did the same. She giggled. I started a sideways crab walk movement, continuing to hold out the pinwheel towards her – then I’d step back. She mimicked me. She giggled. So we shimmied forward and back, sideways and back till I finally stretched long and forward so she would take the pinwheel. She accepted it with a big smile! Her ‘mommy’ told her to say thank you! It was the funniest thing! I love playing with kids and their shyness…OR WAS SHE PLAYING WITH ME AND MY ADULTNESS?

I had two wonderful attendees at my program. One was named IDA and she was professionally trained as a clown known as CHARITY! We had healthy fun and they took smiley bookmarks to pass around, LAFOLOT pamphlets, LAFOLOT canvas shopping bags, as well as wanted to bring me to their church to do a program or a Full Belly Laughter Club! It was a success!

When I left, I stopped at our local ARBYs. I ordered a small drink and decided to order the cheese sticks. When I got to the window to pay, the guy asked: ‘Did you get your drink yet?’ Well no – so I answered. (this made no sense but I just went with the flow) I had agreed to donate a Dollar to Big Brothers Big Sisters so I was gathering my quarters together. A girl came to the window and asked if I was a motivational speaker? She had seen my LAFOLOT Magnetic advertising panel on the side of my card. I said YES! and gave her a few SMILEY FACE bookmarks (I don’t use business cards). I let her know it would be fun to bring me in for an emloyee meeting, etc. She was excited. Then, the young guy who had asked about the drink gave me my ‘BAG’ with my order. As I pulled forward I reached into the bag and it didn’t feel like cheese sticks. I had been given a roast beef sandwich! HA HA HA – I just continued on home! There was too big a line of cars at the drive thru to go back and I was tired!

I had to drive through the GIANT Food Store parking lot to get to an exit with a traffic light, for ease of getting across the roadway in the opposite direction. I had paid for Shopping Cart advertising at this store for two seasons, but had to stop due to lack of funds. As I stopped at one of the ‘customer crosswalk’ indicators, a mom and her little girl were pushing their cart across the road into the store. The little girl turned and smiled at me. I got a laugh and smile! I saw the cart she was pushing had my LAFOLOT Laughter Wellness big AD on it! I guess they didn’t have an AD to replace it and let mine on the cart from the last season! WHAT A GIFT!

So! Between the little girl toddler who PLAYED with me to get her pinwheel and the little girl showing me that I was getting FREE Advertising – they BOOK-ENDED a perfect evening of healthy laughter, fun and play!

SOMEONE OUT THERE IS LOOKING OUT FOR ME – THANKS! ;O)

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life in Amazement!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
…and don’t be afraid to do the crab sidestep with a toddler once in awhile
[this blog can also be seen on Vibrant Nation under blog name: Helenoflafolot]

Remember the song, ‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile!’

I had the opportunity to present my Helen of LAFOLOT Variety Show (singing, humorist story telling) to a Women’s church group, last Sunday. I was told the age group would be from 2 to 92! I said: ‘No problem! I can handle it!’ Well, it went beautifully! I allowed the ‘kids’ the opportunity to join me ‘on stage’ and be my backup singers/act. With ‘little instruction’ they WENT WITH IT: Smiling, Sitting and Looking Pretty, Dancing Around, etc. I received many compliments of appreciation after the show; thanking me for including the children. I said I thought they’d be happier being a part of it, rather than having to just sit in a chair. It was a win/win situation!

After I was done ‘doing my thing’, they had some fun games arranged with prizes. I was sitting off to the side in one of the ‘kiddie’ chairs, just relaxing and enjoying myself. Just like with wild animals or pets, when you DON’T PAY ATTENTION or GIVE EYE CONTACT – the shy animal will approach.

Well, a little, strawberry blonde, blue-eyed girl slowly walks over towards me and steps up onto a cart platform next to my chair. I smile and she just STARES! (HA HA) Don’t you just LOVE it when kids do that?

So I say, ‘Hi! How are you?’
She JUST STARES.
I say, as I put a SMILE on my face: ‘Can you give me a SMILE?’
She JUST STARES.
I say, ‘how about a frown? Can you give me a frown? ‘ I do my best pouty face frown.
She JUST STARES.
I say, ‘I know! What faces DO YOU like to make?’ [I'm thinking I'm a real smart one here, coming up with some wonderful method to get this child to respond!]
She JUST STARES!

*sigh … I’m running out of conversation, and this kid is continuing to JUST STARE!

So, I put a FROZEN GRIN on my face and say, through my gritting teeth: ‘Oh no! My mouth is stuck, I can’t stop smiling. Oh my! What am I going to do?’

She JUST STARES!

I continue that a few seconds longer and then RELEASE the SMILE with a look of relief, saying: ‘*PFEW! I thought my mouth was stuck! Glad it came loose!’

She JUST STARES!

*sigh sigh sigh … okay – one more try!
I put another FROZEN GRIN on my face, and go through the ’stuck smile’ routine AGAIN [if at first you don't succeed, try try again].

I say: ‘Oh My! I’m stuck again with the smile! What am I going to do?’
NO RESPONSE – She’s just staring!

I say: ‘What if I SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE it? Maybe it will come loose?’
So I SHAKE my head side to side and release the SMILE. ‘Thank goodness!’ I say, ‘It worked!’

She JUST STARES!

BUT! A woman across the room who had been watching me with the little girl, tapped her friend on the shoulder as she saw me and LET OUT A LAUGH!

*pfew! I still got it! I may not have gotten the little girl to respond, but I got a smile and laugh out of an adult across the room!

So, wherever you go, whatever you do, DON’T FORGET YOUR SMILE! Sometimes, it’s the ONLY PROP you’ll have.
And, remember – ‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile!’ (as the song says)

Spread those ’smiles by the miles’
Live Life! Laugh Often!
and maybe you’ll win a STARING CONTEST with a little 2 year old!

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Stay Sweet!
www.lafolot.com and can also be seen at: Vibrant Nation under BLOG name ‘Helenoflafolot’

The subject of this e-mail is a motto on my website (-when I’m not menopausal and acting like a fruitcake!) ;o)

I got to share my Helen of LAFOLOT Variety Show Singing and Humorist stories at a Mother’s Day event at Country Meadows Senior Living. There were only about 12 to 14 people there. The smaller audience was welcome, since larger audiences can’t always hear the karaoke and microphone combo unit I use.

There was a man named Marty and a woman named Mary sitting side-by-side. No connection, just happened to be sitting next to one another. WELL! They were singing out loud, right along with me! I sing songs from the 20s, 30s, 40s through the present. They know the words better than I do!

At the end, I had a spontaneous thought – I said: ‘I’m going to make t-shirts for the two of you! They’ll say M & on one t-shirt and M on the other!’ Marty and Mary LOVED the idea! They said they would wear the t-shirts and make sure to sit side-by-side if I came back to sing.

I made sure to tell them it would likely take a week, but I’d get the shirts to them. I got their sizes – L and M.

So, I DESIGNED the M&M logo – I made it a little different and with more color. One note: Marty of M&M with dancing musical notes underneath and the other said: Mary of M&M – it was within a red outlined circle with my LAFOLOT logo underneath.

WELL! I drove down and dropped them off this morning. I thought I’d just give them to the Activities Director but there sat a group of seniors waiting for an activity to start. MARTY’S EYES BEEMED! He even got a little teary eyed!

He was so thrilled! He said: ‘I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU REMEMBERED!’ I said: ‘I WOULDN’T HAVE PROMISED AND NOT STUCK TO IT!’

He was soooo moved – he shakily stood up out of his chair – used my hand to steady himself and ASKED if he could thank me with a hug! I thought that was so nice that he ASKED – I said sure!

Then – they told me where Mary’s room was – I encountered Mary in her wheelchair – heading back towards her room. Mary is very hard of hearing – so I bent towards her ear and HOLLERED that I had made her the shirt. She was ECSTATIC! She was so thrilled and couldn’t thank me enough! Mary told me, once again, how much she enjoyed my singing and hoped I would be back soon! WOW!

AW SHUCKS! I did it because I thought it would be a fun idea – and might get me back for more singing!
The reaction was PRICELESS! What a GIFT!
What more can I say!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com
[this can also been seen at Vibrant Nation Blog Circle name: Helenoflafolot]

Don’t you just LOVE synchronicity?

I’ve gone from being in the dumps and ‘whoa is me’ thinking to, gratitude for all those routing for me, to WOW! the planets seem to be going into alignment if I’d just open my eyes and look as well as stop and listen!

This past week, I have had new friends and aquaintances contacting me in various ways, to help me spread my passion and intention to others! Besides Syn-chro-ni-ci-ty – I’ve opened to Re-cep-ti-vi-ty!

While all these GIFTS I was given by friends may not all bring in income, THEY DO allow me to share my passion.

“MY GREATEST JOY IS MAKING SOMEONE’S DAY!”

My intention is to: MOTIVATE and INSPIRE others!

As a result of one friend, I am going to get to sing a song I am PASSIONATE about; ‘Life is a Song’ – at a local Interfaith Service on Monday, May 3, 2010 in Harrisburg PA (USA). I will get to spread my passion of ‘Appreciating Life in ALL its forms of EXPRESSION; being in AWE of it ALL’ with people from various faiths, beliefs and ways of life. We will all be appreciating, sharing and listening to one another.

On Tuesday, May 25, 2010 – I am going to get to share my PASSION of LAUGHTER WELLNESS as a demonstration at a local ‘HEALTHY GROCER’ store in Camp Hill, PA (USA).

In October, I am going to get to share my discovery and PASSION of SHIFTING my PERCEPTION and AWARENESS via my talk and workshop titled: ‘SEEING WITH NEW EYES!’

As a result of my local Chamber of Commerce providing a Marketing Strategies meeting yesterday morning; I now know ways to improve my marketing and advertising practicies. I also made new contacts for future events that will CONTINUE to allow me to share my PASSION about ‘Seeing With New Eyes!’, ‘Life is a Song in the Key of Love’ talk on Diversity as well as my program ‘Laughter? Let’s Get Serious!’

I am AMAZED and in full appreciation of all the wonderul SYN-CHRO-NI-CI-TY going on around me as I am open to RE-CEP-TI-VI-TY to the WONDERFUL WHOOOOOOSH of love, support coming to me from the Universe, Spirit, God… whatever term you may ‘BE FREE’ to use.

I read my daily meditation while sitting at lunch. I had posted a note about a farrell cat of mine finally TRUSTing me enough to sit near me on the sofa. The daily meditation was about TRUST! SYN-CHRO-NI-CI-TY!

At lunch, I sat in a booth behind two high-powered, financial business men in their crisp white business shirts, strategizing, talking upward movement, and hearing one man say: ‘I KNOW I can make $250,000 more next year!’ WOW! What a statement! To have said it with such solid affirmation and knowing it to be TRUE! The next part of the meditation talked about being OPEN to RECEIVING all that is there for you to receive. To NOT see life from a PLACE OF LACK. To see life as being able to provide all you need.

SYN-CHRO-NI-CI-TY – sitting behind these gentleman, listening and learning as they talked. I had my own one-on-one educational seminar going on!

I LOVE sharing my passion of MAKING a PERSON’s day and I got to do that several times this past week!
Last Friday I attended an inspirational movie night. I am such a people helper, with my theatre background I offered to ‘entertain the crowd’ while the gentleman setting up the movie projector was waiting for folks to arrive. As a result, a woman who plays flute for local senior homes asked for my business card; to possibly team up in the future!

As a result of that I got into a wonderful discussion on the psychology of color with a gentleman at the event who was also aware of color psychology! I purposely made my business cards into YELLOW Bookmarks! Yellow agitates the brain and inspires learning so the bookmark falls in line with wanting to motivate and inspire people! I also love sharing the bookmarks because they have POSITIVE statements and bright, cheery smiling faces that I’m told, MAKE PEOPLE’S DAYS! While I was talking to this gentleman, a congregant from my church happened to show up at the event; having a SMILE on her face as a result of seeing the yellow, smiling bookmark! So, I gave HER one which put a SMILE on HER face!

I was THRILLED sharing my PASSION because I have a SMILE Campaign that talks about reflecting and sharing smiles!

When the movie was over, I was looking for a place to give my donation for the event when I overheard a mother PROUDLY talking about how TALL her son had grown in such a short time! I got to joke with them about him being taller than me at such a young age. I was THRILLED to be able to share a: ‘LAUGHTER OPENS THE MIND!’ smiley, yellow bookmark with this young man! I LOVE motivating, inspiring and MAKING THE DAYS of youth! I felt the young man could use the bookmark and be inspired as he read – sometimes it’s not easy being a teenager!

The next day, I went to a local restaurant and got to MOTIVATE and INSPIRE and MAKE THE DAYS of a young woman (cheerleader) who wasn’t afraid to LAUGH OUT LOUD amongst her friends!

Don’t be surprised! I have been known to wear my ‘tinsel deely bobber’ headband while dining out or while going grocery shopping! I had given and received

I AM HA HA Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT – my INTENTION is to MOTIVATE and INSPIRE others; my PASSION is to MAKE PEOPLE’S DAYS!
I LIVE MY PASSION and my INTENTION!
LIVE LIFE! LAUGH OFTEN!

…and yes, it’s OK to approach me out and about and call me: HA HA HELEN – I take it as a compliment and it MAKES MY DAY!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
www.lafolot.com

Friends and family have been encouraging me to put my creative characters and motivational/inspirational messages out on You Tube.

I talk about appreciating life in ALL its forms of expression; being in AWE of it ALL!

I have been hearing back from women, men and teens all over the world about their appreciation of my self-expression in video and blog form.

It’s funny, because I look at the videos and photos and see a short, fat, woman with no lips, a big menopausal abdomen, large forearms and gobble gobble neck –

BUT! When folks see me they say: YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL!

So I KEEP ON spreading my message of ACCEPT LIFE in ALL its forms of expression –

don’t crawl into a hole because you don’t FIT THE NORM.

GET OUT THERE AND BE THE ‘ME’ YOU WERE MEANT TO BE!

Here’s my Creative, Menopausal Woman over 50 video I submitted to The ELLEN Show for her: Write a World Domination Theme Song contest.

Not bad for a White Hungarian Rapper? My darker complected friends get a kick out of my rhythm and rapping abilities! I get it from my HUNGARIAN ANCESTORS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Gm37ku7zw

I hope you can get to the video link, above! If not, my channel on You Tube is HELENOFLAFOLOT – just type it in the search box and look for the video called: DomEducate

I’M VERY PROUD OF IT!

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often! (Live in AWE of it ALL! and Make Life a Song!)
www.lafolot.com
This blog can also be seen at Vibrant Nation under blog circle name: Helenoflafolot

It’s April 18, 2010 and I’m having a SILLY SUNDAY!

The first clue about this Sunday being SILLY and SPECIAL was the fact that BOTH my Alpha female cat ‘Kitty’ and my Alpha male cat, ‘Buddy’ decided it was OK for both to come and sleep on the bed with me at the same time! Is the world coming to an end? What a miracle!

I spent the morning relaxing and listening to the Sunday morning jazz stations ‘mellow music’ show. Ahhhhhhh -
While listening to the music, I opened Facebook and checked on my ‘Life is a Song‘ coupon special, book AD. I was getting ‘clicks’ and all was well. I hone my marketing and advertising skills by making general observations about Facebook activity, so I spent some time doing that.

Then it was time to get out of the house and make use of my A.C. Moore Craft store, fifty percent off coupon, that so diligently gets e-mailed to me every Sunday morning! I’m a VALUED A.C. Moore club card holder, you know! I AM SPECIAL! But first, lunch at Olive Garden! Going out to eat works well for visibility in my marketing and advertising.

I like to park farther out in the parking lot when I make the trip to these two places so I get some exercise. So I treck over to the restaurant which has a 15 minute wait; but that’s okay because I get ‘face time’ and unexpected advertising when I sit in the lobby and wait with the crowd. Marketing marketing marketing! While waiting, we heard ‘CRASH’! I announced: ‘YEAH!’ The one host looked at me. I said: ‘Well, it’s done, why get worked up? Just sweep up the glass! He revealed to me that it is such a common occurrent, when he is waiting on tables and entire trays go crashing to the floor, he doesn’t miss a beat with his order taking!

I had been given one of those beeper disks that is supposed to light up and buzz when it is your turn to be seated. One of the friendly hosts called over to me: ‘Helen, you should have ‘GONE OFF’.” I looked up and laughed! I pulled the device out of my pocket, it wasn’t flashing or buzzing. I respond: ‘Well, I’m in a good mood at the moment, I don’t have any need to GO OFF on anyone!’ (insert smile or laugh here) When I handed it to her, THEN it started it’s commotion! Too late buzzer-lightup thingy, I’m already getting seated!

I got one of the young, handsome, great smile, servers and had a nice lunch. Over the half-wall from the niche where I was seated (containing 3 other tables) was a family with toddlers. You could hear the fun, giggling, and squeels of the kids. A new couple got sat when I was almost finished. At one point, the little girl let out such a squeal of GLEE that it shreeked through the area. I just laughed out loud, because I thought it was fun. The lady across from me winced. My handsome, friendly, great smile server brought me my check along with a ‘Comment Card’. This was new. ‘OOOOOOH! A CHANCE TO WRITE SOMETHING SILLY’, I SAID! He just laughed, not being worried.

I had my daily meditation magazine with me, so I joked I was going to pull a profound quote out of the periodical and write it on the card. I was laughing and chuckling as I wrote on the back: ‘THE OBSTACLE IS THE PATH.” Tao Then I noted he was a friendly server and had a great smile! ha ha ha Enough SILLINESS there, I left and headed over to A.C. Moore Crafts to use my coupon!
woo hoo!

While getting my walking exercise in, returning my periodical to my car so I wouldn’t have to take it into the store; I heard a vibrating, rumbling noise. I looked up. I saw a truck with an appliance in the truck bed, with bubble wrap all around it. The bubble wrap was making a buzzing noise like when you put a baseball card clipped to a bycycle tire spoke as a kid.

I waited for the man to get out of his truck and hollered: ‘Sir! You ought to drive your truck all around more and have some fun with the bubble wrap making that buzzing noise!’ He smiled and laughed, agreeing with me. He said he had heard it and it reminded him of the baseball card bit on bycycle tires, too!

As I got to the A.C. Moore store entrance, a husband was DUTIFULLY leaning against the stone pillar in front of the store. His wife was shopping in the bins outside the store. I called out: ‘Sir! Just keep holding that column up for me while I shop in the store!” He smiled and said he’d do his best!

I got the chance to give a plug for my book, when I went to the checkout! I forgot I was wearing my AD button: ‘LIFE IS A SONG IN THE KEY OF LOVE’ by Helen Marie Szollosy, www.lafolot.com. The cashier was looking at it with a quizzical look on her face.

[an aside: When I was in a woman's clothing store the day before, the sales clerk said, as she prepared a changing room for me: 'Your name's Helen?' 'Yes.' I answered. Wondering how she knew? Then, last evening, I went to an art gallery showing. An artist I was talking to said: 'I know I've seen your name in an e-mail I received recently.' I laughed and said: 'Oh! You're reading my book advertising button!' I forgot my name was on it! Plus, I was thrilled someone had forwarded and e-mail or youtube video of mine to her!]

I said, ‘OH! That advertises my book.’ She was excited, ‘You wrote a book?’ ‘Yes!’ I was thrilled for the opportunity to toot my own horn! It ‘just so happened’ – tee hee – that I had my mini-marketing tools for my book in my purse! I whipped one out and gave it to her; explaining it was about ‘appreciating life in ALL its forms of expression.’ I mentioned it was an autobiographical/philospophical discussion on learned but not felt, bias and prejudice. Her face lit up! She was a caucasian woman and told me her husband is African-American. I let her know that book was about ALL types of bias. I gave her a couple more marketing cards and told her to feel free to pass it on.

She asked if the book was in stores, and I let her know it was self-published, it could be gotten at my website, that I had had a book signing in Carlisle, PA , recently, etc. She thanked me and I left.

When I made my next trip to the grocery store, I got to have more fun. When I got to the dairy section to pick up eggs, an employee had a HUGE cart filled with eggs, as he was stocking the area. I walked around the cart, he was sitting on the floor. I said: ‘I SEE YOU ARE UP TO YOUR ARMS AND LEGS IN EGGS!’ He started to laugh and said: ‘Hey! I like that! That’s egg-actly what I am!’

So, finished with my SILLINESS, I headed home, with a smile and a chuckle.

MAY YOU ENJOY A SILLY DAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE!

Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Live Life! Laugh Often!
and let your silly side out and keep your sunny side up!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be seen at VIBRANT NATION under blog circle name: Helenoflafolot]

Each day, I am more and more amazed at the synchronicity happening in my life! I am to the point, when I get up in the morning and experience what I see as a challenge/block/frustration, by the time lunch comes around; I am reading about the SOLUTION in my daily meditation magazine! Then, I have to laugh out loud! It’s gotten to the point that I want to PEEK in the daily meditation magazine to SEE what is in store for the day; BUT that would spoil the surprise! Kinda like read the last page of a book before you get to enjoy the journey within! Some days I feel like I’m in the ‘Groundhog Day’ movie with Bill Murray!

I had a BIG AH HA, part II – today. It’s said we ‘teach what we need to learn’; I am doing this big time! Around age 49, I had a big AH HA! moment; as a result, I was able to move forward in my life, stop hiding, see my life as the gift that it is, and START LIVING!

This resulted in me taking early early retirement from my 28 1/2 year job on a leap of faith, starting my LAFOLOT business, starting my website and setting the intention to Motivate and Inspire others through Speaking, Singing, Writing, and Laughter Wellness.

My first big talk was called ‘Seeing With New Eyes!’. This talk was an off-shoot of my big Ah Ha! moment. I saw that the talk was so flexible as to be given in many different venues. My ‘teaching what I needed to learn’ was coming out no matter HOW I expressed myself! I realized today, when talking with a friend, that it EVEN came out in my book: Life is a Song in the Key of Love OR Growing Up With the Embarrassment of Prejudice. The intention of the book is to appreciate life in ALL its forms of expression; to be in AWE of it ALL. Once again, as I talked to my friend, I had to LAUGH OUT LOUD at the synchronicity! It seems no matter what I undertake, the idea and lesson appears to come out as: SEEING WITH NEW EYES!

As I read my daily meditation today, the first quote JUMPED out at my EYES! “We are all like flies crawling across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We cannot see what angels and gods lie underneath the threshold of our perception.” William Irwin Thompson
I had to LAUGH OUT LOUD! There it was, again!

I then recalled how I spent a majority of my life Doodling EYES whenever I was bored in school. Everytime I had a chance to doodle, I was doodling eyes! I wondered WHY I had chosen THAT particular doodle, but then the thought would leave. Then, I had the AH HA moment PART II! Was my life purpose or intention to SEE things from a DIFFERENT AWARENESS; a DIFFERENT PERCEPTION? This is what I talk about in my presentation.

The songs I sing have to do with SEEING life in a NEW LIGHT; SEEING things turn around. I was in total A-MAZE-MENT today as this new AH HA came flying at me!

I had been very depressed the past couple days. I choose to be aware of depression, talk and write through it. I also choose to cry in order to process my feelings; as well as whine if necessary. I feel by going through the process; just as with a cold or flu – I can then move forward. I feel if I HOLD IT IN, it never leaves. So, I allowed myself to feel the depression and cry at breakfast as well as whine. When I allowed myself to whine, I started to LAUGH; realizing how I sounded like a little two year old. But, it was OK, because of the AWARENESS and being able to SEE myself from a DIFFERENT ANGLE or PERCEPTION. I could SEE myself depressed, FEEL for myself in that moment and help myself to LAUGH and start to LIGHTEN myself up!

I was able to START MOVING FORWARD and prepare for my next day’s event. Then, as I read the daily meditation at lunch; the day even got better! It talked about not giving one’s power and personal energy to people and things outside ourselves. I immediately thought of how I was giving my energy/power to the Condo Board where I live. I was allowing my frustration with the board to take hold of my feelings. AH HA moment! I then realized, when I had gone to Boiling Springs, PA (USA) Children’s Lake, yesterday – I was SEEING another solution by watching the fish in the area feeding water into the lake.

I was standing on the bridge, watching the fish just hover in the water as the inflowing CURRENT (energy) washed around and THROUGH them (their gills). They didn’t FIGHT the CURRENT, but allowed gentle movement (as they used GROUP ENERGY by clumping together) to stay in one place while the FOOD, WATER, CURRENT, ENERGY flowed around and through them.

I thought! Smack myself in the forehead! OPEN MY EYES! There I was HIDING from the Board, RUNNING from the Board, ALLOWING them to EXPEND my energy! I was ALLOWING them to MOVE ME in directions I didn’t want to go, zapping me of my energy!

Once I read this, realized about the doodling eyes, was REMINDED of the lesson I TEACH, but also need to LEARN; I GOT MY ENERGY BACK!

So, after having finished packing my ’stuff’ for my event tomorrow; as well as having had the ENERGY and TIME to get organized, make more items to GIVEAWAY and advertise my LAFOLOT business –

I’d say THE EYES have it! … focused in the right direction of thought, for the moment, until I decide I need another lesson!

Highlighted Ha Ha Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Living Life in A-Maze-Ment!
Being in AWE of it ALL!
Live Life! Laugh Often!
www.lafolot.com
[this blog can also be found at Vibrant Nation under Blog Circle name: Helenoflafolot]