A Bit Bizarre

If you were wondering, Beautiful People, what happened to our last Tuesday of August get-together, King Arthur has an answer for you, or, rather, the incomparable Sir Richard Burton playing the lead in Camelot.

Yes, I know “it sounds a bit bizarre,” but to accommodate some Lasting Joy club members, we have made “summer linger till September.” I hope it does not inconvenience the rest of you, Beautiful People!

As you see, we are still meeting on my home ground, South Beach. A great big THANK YOU goes to Batya Galloni Brud for designing our flyers and sharing them on social media! Requisits for remote access will be posted closer to the event, as usual.

Meanwhile, I received quite a few comments about last month theme “First Love Yourself.” Isn’t it not only “a bit bizarre,” but also quite a bit egocentric? One of the most used and misused Shakespeare quotes is To thine own self be true.  However, as it often happens, this is not the end of the sentence! Here is a bit of wisdom Polonius imparts to Hamlet in Act 1 of the tragedy:

It follows, then, that first we have to learn to be mindful of our own qualities and explore our own hearts and souls. As a talented poet and a dear blogo-friend Chuck remarked,

If you know yourself

You will know the truth you need

and know it’s enough

You can enjoy Chuck’s poetry at    https://poetscornerblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/haiku-if-you-know-yourself/.

Next Tuesday, we will practice mindful exploration of ourselves, starting with this checklist:

You’ll be surprised how many of these you possess! And if you think you don’t – not yet, mind you! – here is another bit of wisdom from yet another wonderful blogger, or rather a team called Lemonade Pink:

To sweeten the new beginning, and to bring us into the spirit of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, we will be making Deconstructed Honey Cakes (list of ingredients will be posted closer to the event).

Are you doing your homework, Beautiful People? Remember to recall times when you were joyful and allow those feelings of “Inner Joy” to flow from your head to your toes.

You can always reach me at drdolly_lastingjoy@yahoo.com and by Skype at drdolly613.

Remember: happiness is a choice – choose to be happy today!

A Piece of Cake – Book Review

I don’t usually do book reviews, Beautiful People, but it is my honor and pleasure to talk to you about this book called 365 Days of Happiness by Jacqueline Pirtle that was send to me with a request to review.  Under the title, there is a tag line Because happiness is a piece of cake. Is it? You’ll have to start reading it to find out. A very pretty light blue cover with a yummy cupcake garnished by red hearts attracts the reader’s attention, reinforced by a very cute bookmark – a miniature silver cupcake on a blue ribbon. Happiness promises to taste deliciously sweet!

The book is “A step-by-step guide to being happy.” It contains 365 inspirational messages and practical exercises designed to engender a joyful state of mind – one for every day of the year. Essential ingredients of the delightful cake of happiness, such as love, kindness, and gratitude, are promoted through brief, succint daily messages, to wit:

• I love my new day.
• Kindness opens hearts!
• Be blissfully yourself!
• Notice and feel all of the magic in the air, sounds, and colors!
• This is your day! BE and live it in a “high for life” frequency”!

Each day’s message ends with an energetic affirmation “This IS happiness!”

Jacqueline Pirtle’s book is your personal happiness coach and cheering section for every day of your life. It is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/365-Days-Happiness-Because-happiness/dp/1732085102.

 

We Can Fly!

Caling all supermen, superwomen, and generally, all super-people! I got news for you: I believe you can fly.
At our July get-together, we have practiced learning to F.L.Y.  This is what you do:

Breathe slowly and deeply. Repeat:
 I unconditionally love myself, even though I am not perfect.
 I love myself, even though I have faults and limitations.
 I love myself, even though I make mistakes and errors.
 I love myself, even though I feel envious.
 I love myself, even though I lose my temper.
 I love myself, even though I overeat.
 I love myself, even though I don’t utilize my time in the best and wisest ways.

 (Zelig Pliskin, Life Is Now)

We had 22 Beautiful People joining us by remote access – wow! Thank you for staying up due to time difference and participating! If you were unable to attend in real time, here are the videos:

As always, we have also created scrumptious desserts – individual no-bake Mojito Verrines in wine glasses. You can watch them being made in the next video. Full recipe is posted here.

Your homework for next month is to recall times when you were joyful. Allow those feelings of “Inner Joy” to flow from your head to your toes. Let my dear friend Alex Fox help you!

You can always talk to me privately via e-mail drdolly_lastingjoy@yahoo.com or by Skype drdolly613. Your comments are also greatly appreciated!

Remember: Happiness is a choice – choose to be happy today!

 

 

Do You Love You?

Here is an incredible concept for you, Beautiful People: “When people have unconditional love for their own essence, they will be kind, and generous, and compassionate” (Rabbi Zelig Pliskin in “Life Is Now”).
But I am not perfect, and neither are you, and neither is anyone else, and it’s OK, because…

if you love yourself, even though you are not perfect, then you will love other “non-perfects” the way they are.

Tomorrow, at our July Lasting Joy Club get-together, we will practice a step-by-step technique designed to help us grow into self-love.

Your homework was to think of something you can do for self-improvement and picture yourself actually doing it. We are excited to share these experiences!

As always, we will also be making an exciting dessert, a No-bake Mojito Cake Verrine.
If you are joining us by remote access,you will need:
– Graham crackers or any bisquits
– Real or non-dairy cream cheese
– Real or non-dairy sour cream or youghurt
– Sugar or substitute
– Real or non-dairy whipped cream
– A nice bunch of fresh mint
– Limes
Remote access information is coming up in a separate e-mail. Meanwhile, Beautiful People,

Do get in touch by e-mail drdolly_lastingjoy@yahoo.com or by Skype drdolly613.
See you tomorrow, and remember:
Happiness is a choice; choose to be happy today!

Goal!

What are your goals and how do you go about reaching them? Do you get frustrated and stressed out along the way? Everybody does! Our June get-together was inspired by a great blogger Phoebe at https://phoebemd.com/2018/06/26/taking-control-of-stress. Watch our videos and practice THE POWER OF CHANGE.

As more and more people are walking in, I want to thank all of you, Beautiful People, who have found us at our new location, as well as all 19 of you who have bravely stayed up at our new meeting time to join us by remote access. We are growing and gaining momentum, and it is all because of you, your participation, and your support!

As we are discovering that a positive change is just as much of a stressor as a negative one, we are learning to access the power of change. Practice with us!

Following the exercise, a club member gets her courage together and communicates her need. Watch how her request inspires everybody to brainstorm and come up with helpful suggestions. Meanwhile, we are ready to play ball – Chocolate Halva Balls! Detailed recipe is on my cooking blog, Kool Kosher Kitchen, right here. 

It certainly feels good to know that you have done something for your fellow human being. Access this feeling when stress moves in on your serenity and joy. Your homework for next month is to think of something you can do for self-improvement.  Picture yourself actually doing it!

I am leaving you, Beautiful People, with a word from someone I personally consider the best football player ever, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to the world as Pelé:

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

Feel free to reach out to me at drdolly_lastingjoy@yahoo.com or by Skype at drdolly613.

Remember: Happiness is a choice; choose to be happy today!

 

 

Y’all Come Here, You Hear!

The change is happening, it is happening today, and you want to be a part of it!

Join us by remote access, wherever you are – it’s free:

Please join our meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/539014645 

You can also dial in using your phone. 
United States: +1 (571) 317-3129 

Access Code: 539-014-645

More phone numbers
Australia: +61 2 9087 3604 
Austria: +43 7 2081 5427 
Belgium: +32 28 93 7018 
Canada: +1 (647) 497-9391 
Denmark: +45 32 72 03 82 
Finland: +358 942 72 1060 
France: +33 170 950 594 
Germany: +49 691 7489 928 
Ireland: +353 15 360 728 
Italy: +39 0 247 92 13 01 
Netherlands: +31 202 251 017 
New Zealand: +64 9 280 6302 
Norway: +47 21 93 37 51 
Spain: +34 932 75 2004 
Sweden: +46 853 527 836 
Switzerland: +41 225 4599 78 
United Kingdom: +44 330 221 0088 

First GoToMeeting? Let’s do a quick system check:https://link.gotomeeting.com/system-check

 

Join us by phone or by internet, and if you want to create a totally delicious, chocolaty no-bake vegan dessert, this is what you need:

• 2 cups raw sesame seeds
• 1 cup dates (preferably Medjool)
• ½ cup unsweetened cacao powder
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Agave

A little bit of rum wouldn’t hurt either, just to pre-soak dates, of course! And take your minds out of the gutter: we mean Medjool dates, Beautiful People!

Reach out to me at drdolly_lastingjoy@yahoo.com or Skype drdolly613.

Remember: Happiness is a choice; choose to be happy today!

The Power of Change

It’s not easy, but then nothing in life that is worthwhile comes easily! You have to work at it, put in a conscious, mindful effort. We are going to learn and practice THE POWER OF CHANGE at our next lasting Joy Club get-together, on Tuesday, June 26.

The first change coming your way is a change of venue and time. We are meeting on my home ground, at Chabad of South Beach, 320 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, and we are meeting at 7:00 PM.  It should not make a difference to those club members who are joining us by remote access, and I will post remote access information tomorrow.

As always, while we are sharing, discussing, and practicing new happiness techniques, we will be making something joyfully delicious and definitely chocolate.

See you there, Beautiful People, and remember:

Happiness is a choice; choose to be happy today!

Talk to me at drdolly_lastingjoy@yahoo.com or Skype drdolly613.