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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.

Inquire About Travel Destinations

1Halloween Destinations. “The following list of spooky, spine-tingling destinations will give you a leg up in your quest to be the hippest Halloween cat around.” Ha! of course, the ‘West Hollywood Costume Carnaval’ made the hit list. Having spent a Halloween or two walking down Santa Monica Boulevard, it is as advertised and then some.

2This Is What It’s Like to Take a Year Off to Travel. Collette Furey, a teacher at an inner-city school in Galway, Ireland, took a year off to travel. Her adventure started with a desire to go to Antarctica. Having been to the bottom of the world, twice, that is a great incentive! What did she learn about herself? “I am comfortable in my own company, and I can cope very well with people and any situation that I find myself in.” It is a valuable lesson that I have learned through my travels as well.

Inquire About Happiness Mentoring

3Expansive New Study Says Not Exercising Is Worse for Your Health Than Smoking. The result of this recent study is surprising even to its research co-author Dr. Wael Jaber, “Being unfit on a treadmill or in an exercise stress test has a worse prognosis, as far as death, than being hypertensive, being diabetic or being a current smoker.” It seems there is a direct connection between longevity and high levels of exercise. If you want motivation to hit the gym or get out onto the trails, read this article.

47 Outdoor Fall Workouts You Can Do Now That It’s Finally Cool Enough Outside. My favorite suggestion is to “take your workout to the pumpkin patch.” Last Sunday, I did just that with my three-year-old Godson, his mom, and grandfather. While grandpa watched the stroller, I chased after my god baby as he ran through the pumpkin patch as if it were a maze. Mom was nearby documenting the event. After two and a half hours, I felt the workout and had the photos and videos to prove it!

5Jamming at Work: How to Accomplish More with Your Time. A foolproof way to get more done in less time.

Inquire About Media Partnerships

6Baboon in Zimbabwe Holds Infant Just Like Rafiki in ‘Lion King.’ It looks like wildlife is imitating art.

730 Halloween Fun Facts You Should Bust Out at Your Next Trivia Night. Did you know an Irish folk-tale inspired the Jack-O-Lantern? “[It is] about a man named Stingy Jack who tricked the Devil over and over again. When Jack dies, he is forced to walk the Earth with only a carved-out turnip and burning coal to help light his way.” Did you know the most popular candy to give in 2017 was Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? Those happen to be a favorite of mine as well, love peanut butter and chocolate. Did you know, in 2013 there were an estimated forty-one million trick-or-treaters between the ages of five and fourteen!

825 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’ One of the most iconic Halloween or Christmas movies (depending on how you view it) turns twenty-five this year. It all started with a poem that Tim Burton wrote and the thought to change Halloween decorations to Christmas decorations.

” Thoughtful

“Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.”
~ Shakespeare, Macbeth
Happy Halloween!!

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***WAITLIST ONLY***
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 | Fall Special
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.
40% off my program. Use promo code: OWA40

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

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.

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