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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.

“I said ‘Dad, I love you and you’ve been a wonderful father.’
And the last words he would ever say on earth were, ‘I love you, too.’”

Inquire About Travel Destinations

26 European Christmas Markets Worth the Trip. In case you want to combine travel with holiday shopping, you may consider hopping over to Europe. From Amsterdam to Strasbourg, you can check out the many European Christmas markets and treats that have been filling our hearts and our stomachs for hundreds of years. My pick would be Amsterdam’s Christmas shopping on the canals.

3Travel Versus Staying Home for the Holidays. An article I wrote about the pros and cons of holiday travel. This article is the first of four that I wrote about the holidays and am now sharing in this edition of 8 Good Things. Hope you find them helpful.

Inquire About Happiness Mentoring

45 Ways to Destress This Holiday Season. While the holidays are meant to be a time of joy, of love, of peace, it can be anything but that. Here is how you can survive the holidays still in-tact.

5Simple Restorative Exercises to Keep Your Holidays Calm + Bright. These are restorative exercises you can do to keep ‘the calm’ during the holiday.

6Why Paying Your Blessings Forward Should Top Your Holiday List. The invitation this holiday is to be a cheerful giver by paying your blessings forward.

Inquire About Media Partnerships

7Into the Okavango. Michael, my company’s co-founder, and I just saw a screening of this stunning and vital film about one of our planet’s last pristine wilderness areas, the Okavango Delta. It is the most extensive freshwater wetlands in southern Africa, and home to a treasure chest of biodiversity. The story is about a four-month journey, source to sand, through the river system that begins in Angola, crosses Namibia, and ends in Botswana. Along the way, a team of interdisciplinary scientists and explorers document 353 plants, 115 fish, 407 birds, 68 mammals, 64 reptiles, 35 amphibians, and a possible 40 new species. I recommend this film. It will leave you thinking about the importance of preserving our precious water sources. The film premieres on National Geographic WILD, Friday, December 14th, 9/8 c.

836 Essential Fresh Holiday Family Movies. This season’s two big holiday films, “The Grinch” and “Christmas Chronicles” are getting only okay reviews. So thought I would share a list of other holiday films to watch, even if you have seen them before. By the way, the 1966 Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has a one hundred percent rating. It was animated by the legendary Academy Award-winner Chuck Jones.

” Thoughtful

“Christmas doesn’t come from a store,
maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”
~ Dr. Seuss

Sojourn Experiences

Phoenix, Sedona, Scottsdale | December 29th – December 31st
Bring in the New Year with two-time Grammy-nominated Songwriter Jim Brickman. I am joining Jim on his Fan Trip. I met Jim when I was producing a pilot for ABC. We used one of his songs in the opening of our show, from there we became friends. My role on the trip is to guide people in setting intentions for the coming year. Jim’s role is to entertain everyone with his beautiful music. We will spend three days touring and planning for 2019 by day, and enjoying great food and music at night.

The Holy Land | December 13th – 23rd, 2018
***SOLD OUT***
This holiday season I have put together an extraordinary trip to the Holy Land with the Very Reverend Father John Bakas of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles.

Photographic Safari and Mindfulness Workshops
Kenya | Botswana | Inquire About Dates

You do not always get to see these guys, leopards! I took this photo on one of my more recent trips to Africa. My favorite place in the world. A place I love sharing with others as well. Great Plains Conservation’s Wild Studio was started by award-winning National Geographic filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert. This is an experience that I put together. It combines learning the secrets of great wildlife photography from a Wild Studios pro and my Mindfulness teaching. Please join us on a uniquely curated safari that will tap into your true inner-photographer. This journey can be shared with a group of friends or as a solo sojourn. The choice is yours.

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 Yoga. Available in-person, or on Skype and FaceTime.

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

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