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"Happiness is a decision." by Lionel R. Ketchian

as quoted in The Oxford Dictionary of American Quotations. In the book: Food for Thought published in 1989
and quoted in The New York Times article on April 17, 2005.

Watch: THS 79. Happiness Decision by Lionel Ketchian - YouTube

"And there were always choices to make. Every day, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision, a decision which determine whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner Freedom; which determine whether or not you would become the plaything of circumstance, renouncing freedom and dignity to become molded into the form of the typical inmate."

"...in the final analysis it becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner decision, and not the result of camp influences alone. Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what will become of him - mentally and spiritually. He may retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp."

- Viktor Frankl from Man's Search For Meaning

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Happy U - Free Classes!

Unconditioned Happiness!

Monday, December 29th

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET.

Conference Call Number: 605-472-5758

Enter this access code: 921864#

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Being charged for phone calls?

Avoid charges by calling this

phone number: 716-293-9726

then entering 605-472-5758

then enter code 921864#

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If you have any issues regarding your experience

with the conference reach out to:

Free Conference Call directly at (844) 844-1322

Or email: support@freeconferll.comenceca

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Happy U is the Happiness School of

Continuing Higher Education by Lionel Ketchian

IT’S NOT WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, IT’S WHAT YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO LOSE YOUR HAPPINESS TO.

YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO LEARN TO KEEP YOUR HAPPINESS NO MATTER WHAT.

HAPPINESS IS A LANGUAGE YOU CAN LEARN IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

IT’S ALL ABOUT HAPPINESS!

“Happiness is an inner state of well-being that enables you to profit from your highest thoughts, intelligence, wisdom, awareness, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values.” – Lionel Ketchian

YOU CAN BE HAPPY RIGHT NOW AND FOR EVERY MOMENT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Being Happy is the most powerful skill you can learn.

Happiness empowers greater insight in each of us to further a collective vision of world peace.

Happiness is power!

Stop giving your power away.

Happiness becomes you!

Your reasons to take part in this course.

You will be better able to:

Become a happier person.
Become a better person.
Improve the management of your emotions.
Become more emotionally competent.
Learn new problem solving tools and techniques.
Eliminate half your problems.
Increase your intelligence.
Feel more positive emotions in your life.
Become resilient.
Learn to heal.
Become peaceful.
Enjoy sustainable happiness for a consistent life.
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POWER LUNCH IN PERSON MEETING

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH!

Wednesday, January 7th, 2026

MEET EAT & GREET! Join us for monthly meetings to gather and eat together and discuss tools, techniques and ways to free ourselves from many of life's problems and challenges. We discuss the concepts that will empower you and benefit one another.

First Wednesday each month, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (come when you can, leave when you like.)

Meeting Place: Osaka Hibachi Buffet (Chinese Buffet) 955 Ferry Blvd, Stratford, CT 06614 (The Dock Shopping Center)

www.osakahibachibuffet.com

Cost: $17.00 for lunch and $16.00 for seniors.

Price includes tax and tips.

Happiness Club meets in the party room!

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Hartford Happiness Club Meeting

Be the change you wish to see.
Be the change for GOOD.

A Conversation with
Audrey Carlson & Lionel Ketchian

Thursday, January 8th, 2026

7:00 - 8:30 PM Eastern Time

Click the Zoom link below to join the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83274390958?pwd=OG1VclhmTWgvbDM2Y09KZG1BUGk4dz09

Meeting ID:832 7439 0958

Password: Happy

Please note: we will not be meeting in person this month.

Only Zoom. The country club will be closed.

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Be the change you wish to see.
Be the change for GOOD.

In a world that is changing faster than ever, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, divided, or uncertain about what comes next. Yet in the midst of all this movement, there are timeless truths—truths that guide us back to who we really are and what really matters.

In a recent conversation between Audrey Carlson and Lionel Ketchian, two voices deeply committed to healing and human goodness, one message rose above all others:

Be the change you wish to see.
Be the change for GOOD.

This isn’t just an inspiring quote—it’s a call to action, a reminder that transformation begins with each of us.

Responsibility: The Starting Point

Real change begins with taking responsibility for our own thoughts, behaviors, and choices. Audrey and Lionel emphasize that responsibility is not about blame—it’s about empowerment. When we accept responsibility, we reclaim the ability to shape our experience rather than wait for the world to shape it for us.

Being responsible means asking:
What can I do right now to bring more peace, clarity, or compassion into this moment?

Obligation: Showing Up for One Another

Obligation can sound heavy, but in this conversation, it carries a different meaning. It’s about our duty to humanity, our natural pull toward connection and support. We are not meant to live isolated lives. We thrive when we feel seen, valued, and supported—when we show up for others and let them show up for us. Obligation becomes powerful when it’s rooted in love, not pressure.

Goodness & Kindness: The Universal Language

Goodness is who we are at the core. Kindness is how it expresses itself in the world. Audrey shared stories of how a single act of kindness can shift an entire day, an entire outlook, even an entire life. Lionel reminded us that kindness is not just something we give—it’s something we cultivate inside ourselves.

Kindness costs nothing, yet it has the power to enrich every life it touches. Goodness is our birthright; kindness is our gift to others.

Awareness: The Key to Inner and Outer Change

Awareness is where growth begins. Without awareness, we repeat old patterns. With awareness, we become conscious creators of our lives. Lionel speaks often about the importance of “noticing”—and in this conversation, that idea took center stage.

Awareness allows us to:

See ourselves clearly
Understand others more compassionately
Respond rather than react
Choose peace over conflict

With awareness, every moment becomes an opportunity to choose better.

Togetherness: The Heart of Human Progress

We are stronger together than we will ever be alone. Audrey and Lionel reminded us that togetherness is not just physical—it’s emotional, spiritual, and communal. Healing happens in community. Hope grows in connection. Change becomes real when we walk the path with one another. Togetherness allows us to rise above fear, division, and misunderstanding.

Be the Change for GOOD

In the end, the greatest lesson learned is simple:
We create the world we live in—through our thoughts, our choices, and our actions.
If we want a world filled with kindness, we must practice kindness.
If we want a world built on goodness, we must embody goodness.
If we want a world united in compassion and responsibility, we must start with ourselves.

Audrey Carlson and Lionel Ketchian encourage each of us to become stewards of positive change—not someday, but today. Because in a changing world, the most powerful force of all is the person who chooses to be the change for GOOD.