Sonya Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want, lists eleven strategies to construct a happier life.
Have these strategies played a part in your life?
Are there some of these strategies that you would like to incorporate or increase in your life?
1) Count Your Blessings, 2) Practice Acts of Kindness, 3) Nurture Optimism, 4) Learn to Forgive
5) Increase Flow Experiences (you are so absorbed in what you are doing, you don’t notice the passage of time)
6) Invest in relationships, 7) Avoid over thinking (about the bad stuff in your life)
8) Savor life’s joys, 9) Take care of your soul, 10) Commit to your goals,
11) Use your body (getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, meditation, smiling and laughing)
The cover of the Winter 2011 edition of Reform Judaism had the following similar strategies for living a happier life.
Have these strategies played a part of your life and/or would you like to incorporate or increase these strategies in your life?
1) Cherishing relationships, 2) Nurturing the spirit, 3) Engaging in Tikkun Olam, 4) Sharing pleasures,
5) Finding blessing in adversity, 6) Living God, 7) Showing gratitude, 8) Exercising Virtue,
9) Accepting one’s lot, 10) Connecting with a community of faith,
11) Living with intention, 12) Cultivating the heart
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Men's Club Shabbat Friday, March 9
6pm- Congregational Dinner
7:30pm- Services
Contact Dan Esser if you would like to have a part in the service. esserdan@gmail.com
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Men's Club Book Group
Monday, March 12, 7:30pm
Reading The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum
Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
Take part in a great discussion, Have a bit of snack. Then help us choose a book for our next meeting. You will find a warm welcome!
Description of the book: Pulitzer Prize–winning science journalist Blum (Ghost Hunters) makes chemistry come alive in her enthralling account of two forensic pioneers in early 20th-century New York. Blum follows the often unglamorous but monumentally important careers of Dr. Charles Norris, Manhattan's first trained chief medical examiner, and Alexander Gettler, its first toxicologist. Moving chronologically from Norris's appointment in 1918 through his death in 1936, Blum cleverly divides her narrative by poison, providing not only a puzzling case for each noxious substance but the ingenious methods devised by the medical examiner's office to detect them. Before the advent of forensic toxicology, which made it possible for the first time to identify poisons in corpses, Gettler learned the telltale signs of everything from cyanide (it leaves a corrosive trail in the digestive system) to the bright pink flush that signals carbon monoxide poisoning. In a particularly illuminating section, Blum examines the dangers of bootleg liquor (commonly known as wood, or methyl, alcohol) produced during Prohibition. With the pacing and rich characterization of a first-rate suspense novelist, Blum makes science accessible and fascinating. -- Publishers Weekly
MEN'S CLUB
Our mission is for doing both modest mitzvah projects as well as socializing together at Temple (Rejuvenated 1987). The MC (co-) president has seat on TBE board, which meets monthly -we can provide an advance written report. Also a seat on the TBE Executive committee.
Book group , on a Tuesday 7:30 PM, monthly (since July 2005) Talk , typically the first Monday of the month, 7 -9 PM (since Jan 2007) Ushering for High Holidays , we schedule 3-5 men to pass out & collect prayer books in the lobby, for the 8 services (for evening & morning each early & late). Sukkah set-up & take down, usually the Sunday before Sukkot, its modular & takes just 1 ½ hrs for 6, we also supply corn stalks & sponsor treats for classroom decorators, its stored in boiler room, built by MC in 1998. Sisterhood joint event , we co-plan, for members, (typically brunches) in December. Mitzvah Day , now in March, volunteer plus provide & serve AM snacks. MC Dues , $20-25 annually, prepare mailing to all Temple men & keep list of members. We make regular contributions for Temple initiatives & needs (like the AED/training, the Yerusha fund in honor of Larry Kohn, gifts honoring B’nai Mitzvah & confirmands). MC Shabbat , typically in February/March -Friday PM, preceded by a congregational dinner, we distribute about 15-20 honorary parts for the service. Purim carnival (mainly even years) we do advance set up the games which are staffed by the school, co-plan food including hot dogs, snacks & beverages. TBE annual meeting , mid May, give brief report about MC. Mallard game outing -for all Temple, provide snacks (summer, since 2005). Porchlight Men’s Shelter -we supply, prepare & serve dinner on a 5th Wednesday, each summer, since 2008. Also we assist Social Action on any other 5th Wednesday. Retreat, w/ annual business meeting, plan gathering (summers, since 2007). MC High Holiday honors , work w/ Religious Practices -contact active men in August & honor w/ a part in HHD service.
Other activities: Poker night, occasionally, for all Temple men, typically a Thursday 7:30 -10 PM Movie or Game night option. Fire pit, an October option, at the Goodman Campus Join all- Temple in summer camping & winter retreats Join a project or suggest a new one
Interested in Joining? Please click HERE to download registration form.
MEN'S CLUB TALK
The Men 's Club Talk generally meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 pm. This program is designed to allow the Men's Club members to get together and share about meaningful topics that affect their lives.
MEN'S CLUB BOOK GROUP
The Men's Club Book Group generally meets one Tuesday a month at 7:30 pm. The book selection are announced at least 1 month ahead of time. It's a great way to keep current on great reading and share your thoughts and ideas about the books with other members.
Men's Club Game Night- First Thursday of Every Month, 6:30pm
Join the Men's Club for an enjoyable evening of strategy board and card games and fellowship in the Temple Beth El Social Hall. Games will be available, but you are welcome to bring any games you are interested in playing. Some refreshments will be provided.
Contact Jeff Schigiel at schigiel@gmail.com or at 358-2988 with any questions. Also, please contact Jeff if you are planning on attending and would like the door code.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What kind of games will you be playing?– The focus of the game night will be on modern strategy board and card games. In the last ten years hundreds of innovative and new board and card games have been released. We will go beyond the traditional games such as Risk, Scrabble and Monopoly and play modern or designer games such as Ticket to Ride, The Settlers of Catan, Dominion, Power Grid, and Puerto Rico. The following is an excerpt from an on-line article:
So... what is a designer board game?
Glad you asked.
The Settlers of Catan, originally published in Germany in 1995 and then translated to English and imported to the United States by Mayfair Games, is the game that introduced many English-speaking gamers to the world of designer games.
Settlers includes many of the elements that mark the best of the genre: relatively simple rules, deep strategy, excellent replay value, and appeal to both hardcore gamers and casual gamers.
It's worth noting that while these games are often referred to as "German games" or "German-style games" -- properly noting a strong relationship to the country of Germany -- such a reference doesn't necessarily mean that a game was designed by a German. Alan R. Moon is an American who designs German-style games, such as Ticket to Ride and Elfenland. And Sid Sackson's classic Acquire fits comfortably into a discussion of such games.
If you're completely unfamiliar with designer games, it may take some time before you start to understand why these games have caught on with so many players. But if you make even a minimal effort to learn about them, I can almost guarantee that your gaming life (and, thus, time spent with family and friends) will be much richer.
I am not good at strategy games will I still enjoy these games?– Absolutely. Being good at playing the games is not a requirement to having a good time. The point of game night is to interact with others at TBE, make and develop friendships, share in enjoyment of playing the game, and just having fun. This is not meant to be a highly competitive game night and atmosphere.
Should I brink my own games?– I will be bringing some games from my collection each session. You are welcome to bring any game or games if you wish. However, please be aware that there isn’t a guarantee that the game will be played the night you bring the game. Whether we play the game you bring or not will depend on how many players are available and what the group wants to play. That said, we will make every effort to get a variety of games that people bring played. If you do bring a game, please be prepared to teach the game.
I don’t know how to the play these games. Should I still join in?– Absolutely. Game rules can range from very simple to complex. This group will generally focus on getting easier games played. Jeff is prepared to instruct the group on how to play the games he brings. Anyone who brings games should be prepared to teach the game.
Will there be snacks and drinks?– The men’s club will be providing some snacks and drinks. If you have any special requests please let Jeff know. You are welcome to bring any drinks or snacks you want as well.
How long are the games? How long will game night last?– Games usually will usually last one half to two hours not including instruction time. The length of the evening really depends on the desire of the people attending. Jeff’s experience with game nights starting at this time is that they usually end between 10 and 11 pm with people leaving early as needed.
I can’t make it there by 6:30 or have to leave early, but I still want to join in. Is it okay for me to arrive late or leave early?– Yes, please contact Jeff in advance to be sure you have the code to the doors. In addition, please keep in mind that games may already be in process when you arrive so it may be a challenge to start a game until a game in progress ends or until another person shows up. Also, you may want to let Jeff know in advance as we may be able to play shorter games earlier in the evening anticipating your arrival. Please avoid leaving a game while it is in process as that usually forces the game to end prematurely. If you need to leave at a certain time, please let the person explaining the rules know so he can advise you on whether it is okay for you to start the game or if it is better to just observe that session.
Will game night be a regular Men's Club event?- Yes. Men's Club game night will be a monthly event the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 pm.
