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8 Good Things is a curated newsletter of inspirational and informational articles, videos, and quotes sent twice a month by Maria Baltazzi, PhD, MFA.

Please make sure to scroll all the way down to see my upcoming trips and programs.

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1SpaceX Crew Dragon Docks Safely at ISS on Demo-1 Test Flight. On March 3rd, 2019, the first privately designed and operated spacecraft reached the International Space Station at 5:51 am ET. It is the first U.S. crew ship at ISS in almost eight years. Its only passenger was a test dummy, named Ripley (think the movie ‘Alien’), who brought along a ‘spaceshipwarming’ gift of four hundred pounds of cargo. We are getting closer to you and I being able to go into orbit!

2UN Declares 2021 to 2030 ‘Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.’ Meanwhile back here on Earth, the UN recently announced plans for an ambitious decade-long program to restore some of the world’s most degraded and deforested ecosystems. The total targeted areas around the globe are about the size of South America. The UN’s call to action is a call to come together for a common and necessary good.

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3How Jennifer Aniston Embodies Our Cultural Shift Around Aging. I stopped believing in age, rather using it as an excuse to not live one’s dream life years ago. I was fortunate to have been raised by parents who remained active and curious all their lives. My television career has also afforded me the privilege of interviewing stellar examples of people who have never bought into the concept of retirement, as in rolling up the carpet when they hit a certain age marker. So, I was happy to read this article about one of our darling female celebrities turning fifty and celebrating it.

4116-year-old Japanese Woman Crowned the World’s Oldest Person by Guinness Book of World Records. To my previous point. Kane Tanaka spends her days studying math and doing other things that are fun for her to do at the ripe young age of one hundred and sixteen – including diving into a box of chocolates.

5Good Friends Might Be Your Best Brain Booster As You Age. Northwestern University researchers recently published a study that links brain health with positive relationships. Your relationships could very well be one of the secrets to living a long and happy life. A related aside, I have often read that you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with – think about it. Who are these people and are they impacting your world with a positive or negative charge? If it is negative, you may want to consider how you can neutralize that energy.

6Do You Know the Hidden Energy Killers in Your Life? These hidden killers could reside in one or more of these areas: your physical energy, sleep, movement, emotional energy, rumination, negative relationships, mental energy, information overload, willpower, spiritual energy, routine, living someone else’s dream. Energy Activator Tip: Live YOUR Dream. Start today with one small step in that direction.

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7All Hand on Deck: Behind the Scenes of a ‘Survivor’ Marooning. In the early years of ‘Survivor,’ when I was a Supervising Producer, we were never allowed to breathe a word about our filming location much less what actually took place behind the cameras, or in front of it either! I guess after thirty-eight seasons it is okay to say something 😉 This is a fun read for those curious to know what happens when the camera lens is not focused on a contestant trying to make fire, build a hut, or decide who is getting voted off the island at the next Tribal Council.

8The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. This is a profoundly moving story that was filmed in one of my favorite African countries, Malawi. Though the Malawi I experienced was much different than the one seen in this film. I was somewhere where there was water. The film is based on a true story. I saw a screening at the Spark Change Summit on Social Impact Entertainment that was held at UCLA last week. It turns out the production facilitators that I used to produce ‘Expedition Africa: Stanley & Livingstone’ for the History Channel some years back, also handled this film. Kudos to Mario Zvan and his team at Blue Sky Films Africa. For the Nigerian English actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, this marks his directorial debut.

” Thoughtful

“All our dreams can come true,
if we have the courage to pursue them.”
~ Walt Disney

Sojourn Experiences | Inquire About Dates

Photographic Safari and Mindfulness Workshops
8 Days | $11,295 pp Kenya | $12,090 pp Botswana | for 4 guests

Sail and Hike | Aegean Sea, Greece
9 Days | $6,775 per person for 6 guests

Machu Picchu, Peru | Salkantay Horseback Ride
9 Days | $5,975 per person for 2 guests

*Pricing varies based on the number of guests and time of year.

Sojourn Programs

Happiness: The Art of Life Balance
As a longtime television producer, stress was my middle name. I have spent more than a decade studying what to do about it. Now, I work with professionals, especially those in the media, to help them get out of the crazy and into the happy (and yes, I still produce TV shows). I have put together a program that can fit into anyone’s schedule and can be joined anytime.

By Appointment
Offering private sessions in Mindfulness, Primordial Sound Meditation, Contemplative Prayer Meditation, and Restorative/Yin Yoga. Available in-person, or on Skype and FaceTime.

Challenge

Positive Self-talk Day
Catch yourself every time you find yourself feeling bad
about yourself, and flip the script.
~ scareyoursoul.com

? Reflect

What is a defining moment in your life
and how did it impact you?
~ myintent.org

Happy Weekend! Love,
Maria and Team Sojourn
Learn More | +800-869-0538

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