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Hello Sojourners!

I hope this edition of 8 Good Things finds you safe, healthy, and in good spirits. These last couple of weeks have been a Holy time for those celebrating Passover and Easter. This weekend is Easter, or Pascha, for those of the Eastern Orthodox faith. I am sure, for most, it was the first time sharing their worship and holiday meal in a virtual world, yet with hearts still connected in spirit. Through these days of “staying safer at home,” the outpouring of kindness, appreciation, and generosity has been heartwarming, comforting, and perhaps a vision of a post-COVID-19 world we could all aspire to live and thrive in. I, for one, would love to exist in a gentler, more consciously awake world. In this edition, my team and I tried to find items that would uplift you. We also saught to give you some unique and special ways to armchair travel the world. From our hearts to yours, I hope you enjoy this read.

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.

1 Close to Home: Here Are 5 Inspiring No-travel Experiences. Transformative adventures you can have without leaving your home. Livestream California poppies in bloom, do a virtual space tour of Orion Nebula with NASA, or hangout via a live cam with some elephant seals along the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington.

2On April 22nd, Earth Day Goes Digital. This very day marks fifty years of celebrating our planet. There will be twenty-four hours of virtual activities. It is indeed a perfect day for a global hug.

3This Guide Takes You On A Virtual Cherry Blossom Tour Around The World. A unique and enjoyable way to see the cherry blossoms in distant lands. Note: use either Firefox or Chrome as your browser, not Safari.

4All the Museum Exhibits, Symphonies, and Operas You Can Enjoy From Home. “If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.” The meaning of this saying is that if things are not going your way, then you adjust to the way things are – at least for the moment. In this case, while we cannot go to public venues to experience various events and tours, we can now bring them into our homes. Go online to check out Van Gogh paintings at the museum in Amsterdam. Virtually swim with jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Spend an evening on OperaVision watching the Royal Swedish Opera perform Madama Butterfly. Or, the one I like, going on an Instagram safari in South Africa’s Sabi Sands reserve.

5Dealing with Challenging Emotions During Challenging Times. The powerful mindfulness practice of RAIN explained. An article I recently wrote about this acronym for healing. R is for recognizing your feelings. A is for allowing them. I is for investigating your feelings. N is for nurturing them. I learned this practice from my teacher, Tara Brach.

6 How to Be More Optimistic. I am a great believer in the power of a positive mindset, which you can create. Here are four ways you can do this. One, visualize your best possible self. Two, accept the inevitability of disappointment. Three, argue against yourself. Four, put things in perspective.

7 Okavango: River of Dreams. From award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a stunning documentary series about the wildlife around the famed Okavango Delta in Botswana, Africa. I was granted permission to share the first two episodes with you. Hopefully, after watching, you will be inspired to donate to the Great Plains Foundation, which was created by the Jouberts. Their organization is and continues to be very active on the ground, working with local communities as well as doing anti-poaching patrols to protect wildlife areas in Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Your support, especially during this time, would be hugely appreciated and will benefit the foundation’s initiatives. You can learn more at greatplainsfoundation.com. Enjoy these episodes! Part 1 code: OKA2020pt1  |  Part 2 code: OKA2020PT2

8The Mindfulness Movement Film. Just released on April 10th, from Executive Producers Deepak Chopra, Jewel, and my friend, Rob Beemer, a feature documentary that looks at the growing number of people around the world who believe mindfulness is the key to creating a healthier, happier world. Mindfulness is a practice, a tool for the mind, that anyone can use to make the moments of their lives more meaningful, more compassionate, and more aware. The film features interviews with Deepak Chopra, Jewel, Dan Harris, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Sharon Salzberg, Daniel Goleman, and other leaders of this movement.

” Thoughtful

“It is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed.” ~ Ram Dass

The Art and Science of Happiness in Action Finding Silver Linings

First, think of five things that make your life feel worthwhile – this will help shift your brain toward a positive state. Second, think of the last time you were frustrated or upset. In a few sentences, describe this moment. Third, write three positive things about this moment. Example, you got a parking ticket. One, this teaches you to be more mindful of where you park. Two, you got a ticket instead getting towed. Three, a year from now, this will not matter. These shifts in thinking done over time, do add up to a happier mind. Why this works: Consciously looking at the bright side of challenging situations helps you to see life’s upside. Doing this boosts your sense of self-worth. It motivates you to go after your goals. Do this often enough, it will become your habit, increasing your overall enjoyment of life. Time Required: 10 minutes Frequency: 1x daily for three weeks

Levity

Coronavirus: Life Imitates Art as People Recreate Masterpieces at Home. Take the #gettymuseumchallenge! As we shelter-in-place, to help pass the time, the Getty in Los Angeles is encouraging folks to recreate iconic masterpieces with found bits at home and post them on social media.

Upcoming Sojourn Experience | December 12 – 22, 2020

11-Day Pilgrimage to Istanbul with Loyola Marymount University Lecturer of Modern Greek Studies V. Rev Father John S. Bakas, the Dean of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles This trip includes luxury accommodations, most meals, all transfers, expertly guided sightseeing tours, entry fees, and domestic flights. Visit: Istanbul, Izmir, and Cappadocia

Words from Past Pilgrims

“If you’ve got the chance to travel with Maria, TAKE IT! Every detail is expertly executed, the food will be superb, and you’ll be well informed at every destination!”

“I feel truly blessed to have taken the journey with you at the helm Fr. John — for always lifting us up, encouraging us to be our best.”

“Inspirational, mystical, spiritual, powerful, peaceful, magical, and full of love and blessings.”

“A trip of a lifetime! A dream come true! Thank you! The best experience — new friends, fond memories.”

Sojourn Programs

What unprecedented times we are living. The dichotomy of sheltering-in-place and social distancing — which I prefer to call social honoring — alongside the outpour of desire for virtual connectivity, is bringing up many kinds of diverging feelings. From isolation and loneliness to love and gratitude to everything in-between. We are afraid for our health, for our jobs and careers, for our economy. Yet have hope that it will all be better one day. We pray that the day when we can go back to work, meet at a bar or restaurant, see a concert, get on a plane, and simply just hug one another again will happen sooner than later. And this is where I hope I can be of some help.

Part of The Sojourn Experience’s mission is to help our community cultivate a healthier mind, body, and spirit. While we are all staying a social honoring distance apart, I would like to share some free offerings to support your at-home self-care.

First is a downloadable PDF guide and recording to my Love, Gratitude meditation practice. Two things we can all use a lot of right now, and always.

Second, you can enroll for free in my Happiness: Art of Life Balance six-module course.

Happy Weekend! Maria and Team Sojourn Learn More

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