 37 Socially Distant Valentine’s Day Ideas February 12, 2021  Hello Sojourners,
Ah, the month of love. Indeed, one of my favorite months of the year. Why? Because love is who we truly are and what does make the world go ‘round. I cannot think of anything that is not fixed, comforted, or enriched when viewing the world through the lens of love. My favorite quote comes from 1 Corinthians 13, which ends with “and now these remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
A bit of personal news, on January 31st, I completed an intensive two-year mindfulness teacher training program with renowned Drs. Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. As part of the closing session, we were asked to consider the two most important lessons to impart as teachers. For me, your thoughts and actions are both your choice and responsibility. Second, let go of how things should be and open yourself to possibility.
Happy Valentine’s Day, my sweet readers.   P.S. Vaccine update: Global Vaccine Timeline Stretches to 2023. P.P.S. Please share 8 Good Things with your family, friends, and colleagues. It may brighten up someone’s day. Perhaps, even help somehow live life a little better. 8 Good Things is a curated newsletter of inspirational and informational articles, videos, and quotes. If my thoughts about an article or video interest you, please click the ‘source’ button (e.g., NEW YORKER) to learn more. If you come across a story you would like me to consider sharing, please send it to explorer@sojourn-intl.com. This newsletter comes out once every three weeks. 
 37 Socially Distant Valentine’s Day Ideas This article has fantastic ideas, no matter what your Vday relationship status is this year. Ideas that are super athletic to super intellectual to super sexy. If you are solo, read 5 Ways to Be Single and Happy on Valentine’s Day.  The Everygirl’s 28-Day Self-Love Challenge 
 30 Best Valentine’s Day Getaways in America There is still time to plan a spontaneous romantic getaway if you are up for it. The list here includes going to the town of kisses, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Then, there is the American version of France’s City of Love, Paris, Texas. A little north of me, in my home state, is the infamous palatial Hearst Castle set in the idyllic oceanside town of Cambria, California. You will not be able to go into the castle. However, you certainly can go for a romantic beach stroll at sunset. You may even see some whales offshore.  10 Spectacular Stargazing Events to Watch in 2021 For the stargazers, mark your calendars. Lots of star-power activity happening in the sky this year. Yesterday, there was a conjunction between the brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! The next big celestial event will be March ninth, when Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn will be almost perfectly aligned. Find out when lunar and solar eclipses, planet conjunctions, and meteor showers happen this year.  Explore Greece The Sojourn Explorers team can help you plan a spectacular trip. 
 55 Valentine’s Day Movies to Remind You That Love Isn’t Dead The Vday season would not be complete without watching a rom-com or two, right? And since we just had our elections, The Most Popular Rom-Coms by State During Valentine’s Day Last Year.  25 Great Writers and Thinkers Weigh In on Books That Matter This article is a hundred and twenty-five year old New York Times tradition. On this list, you can imagine, are great literary luminaries, starting with H.G. Wells (1913.) You may also be surprised to see a few other people you would not typically associate with literary greats. The article ends by asking for comments on writers who have inspired you.  To Know Yourself as an Artist If you are a fan of The Four Agreements by best-selling author Don Miguel Ruiz, you may want to check out his latest book, The Actor. Here he talks about finding a voice that is genuinely yours, authentic to you. How? You start by listening. As a companion to this article, take this fun creative test from My Creative Type. My test said I am an adventurer with high creative energy levels, a spirit of curiosity, and play.  10 Classical Concerts to Stream in February Make yourself a nice dinner, pour a glass of wine, and enjoy some great music on Vday. A little percussion, a little symphony, a little opera, the choice is yours. Sojourn Programs  Come sit with me! I am now doing LIVE meditations on Insight Timer. You can also join my meditation circle. Meditation is our Wellbeing Silver Bullet.  I have recently been writing video content for a new mindfulness productivity app, Centered. The app is designed to help you reach a Flow State while you work. You can use the app to organize your day’s tasks. They also play music to keep you focused as you work, or you can bring in your own Spotify playlist. At the start of each day, the app offers videos with productivity tips, inspiring quotes, and mindfulness techniques to help you work smarter. Check it out. Sojourn Getaways Camino De Santiago | Spain September 19th – 29th, 2021  I really love this pilgrimage. I genuinely think what you experience on this journey is a metaphor for how life can and should be lived – with a warm, welcoming heart. I have thoughtfully curated a transformative journey covering the last 100 kilometers of the Camino’s most popular route, The French Way. I also chose this route because it is doable for almost anyone, no matter their age. Picture Perfect Holistic Safari | Zambia + Malawi November 8th – 19th, 2021  I have partnered with our Zambia + Malawi specialist to curate and guide a photographic safari that combines everything you want in an African adventure through a mindfulness lens. Please join me for this unique small group sojourn. It will give you something to look forward to this year! Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp | Serengeti | Tanzania  Entering through the Serengeti’s Southern Gate, stay at the Ewanjan Tented Camp. Amid this game-rich area are twelve comfortably appointed tents. The sunsets here are so relaxing because no one else is around. It is as if you have the African bush all to yourself. Special Guest Invitations | Through March 2022 Twenty-five percent discount for stays of four nights or more. Fifty percent discount on the second night for stays of two or three nights. First child (5-15yrs) sharing a room with one or more adults is complimentary. Honeymoon Special Groom’s first night is complimentary. The bride enjoys a fifty percent discount with a minimum five-night stay. The Great Elephant Adventure | Kenya Amboseli National Park + Laikipia Plateau + Maasai Mara 12 Days | You Choose Your Dates  The Kenyan bush is an awe-inspiring sensory landscape that is humbling to experience. The most iconic way to travel is to move every few days and set camp like the old explorers, except with more creature comforts. I am offering an extraordinary photographic mobile safari camp experience that can be curated to your desires. No detail is too small or unimportant. This adventure is perfect for families and small groups. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru | Maldives Forty Percent Discount Offer  Dive into some of the most beautiful waters in the world. The Maldives’ nation islands is an archipelagic state in South Asia with one thousand one hundred and ninety-two islands, located in the Arabian Sea’s turquoise waters. If this sounds dreamy, because it is. This paradise has been open to travelers since July 15th, 2020. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has gone to great lengths to ensure your stay is safe, protected, and sublime. You can also split your trip with other resorts. I am happy to curate an experience that is the perfect social distancing getaway — here is one possibility. Special Guest Invitations | Through Jan 2022 Forty percent off all rooms types when you book before March 31st, 2021 Blackout dates, December 24th, 2021 – January 5th, 2022 Viceroy | Bali  I first came to Bali when I was utterly off-kilter and in need of a reset. The ridge outside of Ubud, where this family-owned jungle retreat is located, was the antidote for my tired spirit. Perfect for these post-COVID times as well. They have a private helipad so that you can be transported from the airport directly to this slice of Eden. For a bit of inspiration, read my article (originally published by Lightworkers), What the Balinese Can Teach Us About Happiness. Special Guest Invitations | Through March 31st, 2021 Sixty percent discount on one or two-bedroom pool villas with no cancellation fees (up to seventy-two hours ahead of scheduled arrival.) Arctic Quest | North Pole Launches 2023  This pioneer’s adventure to the North Pole in a modern airship is getting a lot of attention. It is one of the most extraordinary and unique travel experiences you will ever have in your life. Many travel dates are already sold out! The airship has eight cabins and can accommodate up to sixteen passengers. Prices will go up the closer we get to the launch in 2023. If you are interested, book now. Sojourn Cares   Between May 17th and Thanksgiving, 2020, I walked 1000 Charity Miles for Stand Up To Cancer. I took to the foothills in my Los Angeles backyard. I hiked almost every day to support patients and caregivers with COVID-19. On Christmas Day, I pledged to walk another 1000 Charity Miles. So far, I have now walked almost 220 miles.
My fundraising page from the last 1000 miles is still open. Every donation is meaningful to those in need. Bless you for caring. Joyous  Jolene This rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” by a South African youth choir will make you smile. Picture Perfect  “Zelia de Carvalho Morley, 106, gestures before receiving a shot of Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac vaccine at the retirement home where she lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 20, 2021. De Carvalho Morley lived through the 1918 flu pandemic.” Meditative  A morning bird feeder in Costa Rica, near Nuevo Arenal. Twenty-four minutes of serenity. Art & Science of Happiness in Action  Random Acts of Kindness The invitation is to promote kindness in the world while boosting your happiness by doing five separate acts of kindness on Valentine’s Day.
One. The acts of kindness can be big or small. They can all be for one person or different.
Two. After each act, write down what you did in a couple of sentences and how it made you feel.
Why this works: This happiness invitation makes you feel good about yourself and become more aware of positive social interactions.
Time Required: Varies | Frequency: As much as you want Thoughtful  “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.”
“The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other ~ Rumi
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ~ Charles M. Schultz Stay safe. Stay well.  Maria Baltazzi PhD, Conscious-Centered Living | MFA, Film Emmy-winning TV Producer | Happiness + Mindfulness Teacher Transformational Travel Council Advisor Seven Continent Marathon Walker ABOUT Every three weeks, we bring you eight big ideas to help you live better. Each edition selects topics that reflect The Sojourn Experience’s desire to serve the greater good, both inwardly and outwardly. We are a conscious-centered company with three portfolio brands. The first is Picture Happiness: Take a Shot, which focuses on the art and science of happiness and mindfulness. The second is Sojourn Explorers, which curates transformational travel experiences to extraordinary places around the globe. Part of the money for each trip goes to nonprofit organizations we support. The Sojourn Media Group looks to create partnerships with writers, producers, and directors to get their projects sold to production companies and various platforms. Special thanks to Astrid Martin, article and video content research, and Michael Tobias, editorial review and formatting, for their ongoing contributions to 8 Good Things.  Let us know your favorite things from this week. Share how your perspective changed this week. |
Erin F.
“Your opening comments... ‘Let there be a pandemic of compassion, love, and gratitude’ made me a bit emotional and hopeful this morning.”
Jim B.
“I can’t think of a better time for your
8 Good Things.”
Anthony H.
“Maria Baltazzi is one of life’s angels, who is exceedingly generous with her wisdom and insight. Do yourself a favor and sign up for her newsletter.”