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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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110 Reasons to Retreat With a Friend. One, accountability. Two, emotional support. Three, friendship enrichment. Four, safety and security. Five, confidence to meet new people. Six, lower travel costs. Seven, new memories. Eight, motivation to try something new. Nine, a new perspective—together! Ten, deepening of self-examination. Exactly, on all ten points!

2The World’s Best Places to Travel for Chocolate. Here is a fun one for you chocolate lovers, who love to travel as well. Explore the world one cacao haven at a time. I want to stay at the Chocolate Hotel in Bournemouth, England!

3From Lady Liberty to Hollywood to the Middle East, These Are the Most Exciting Museums Opening in 2019. If museums are more your thing, here are the newest openings around the world. They are works of art just as much as they are time capsules. I would love to see the Petra Museum! Petra was recently voted as one of the new seven wonders of the world by Travel Channel viewers.

Inquire About Happiness Mentoring

4Neuroplasticity. Over the past couple of years, I have become increasingly interested in neuroplasticity and the ability to rewire your brain towards a positive bias versus a negative one. I have been doing this practice and experiencing ‘positive’ results in my own life. The Sentis video is an excellent simplified explanation. (Thank you for sharing, Scott!) Also, here is a worthwhile companion article: 3 Simple Habits That Can Protect Your Brain from Cognitive Decline. One, get your heart rate up. Two, change your eating patterns. Three, prioritize sleep.

5How Cooking Every Day Made Me a More Intuitive Eater. If you are tired of fad diets, you may want to try an anti-diet approach. Have you heard of Intuitive Eating? Basically, you teach yourself to eat what your body craves nutritionally, and only when you are hungry. That means you stop stuffing your face when you are full!

65 Health Benefits of Red, Red Wine—In Case You Need An(other) Excuse. According to this article, drinking five ounces of wine could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as prevent cavities! I knew about the former. However, not the latter. There are a few more surprising health benefits in this article as well. Though candidly, I suggest still cross-checking with your doctor.

713 Smart Ways to Respond to Constructive Criticism. In the spirit of Mindfulness practices: “Before you get defensive, get curious.” We all have experienced the challenges of taking on board constructive criticism, especially when coming from a peer or loved one. Here are some helpful strategies from several contributors. In this article, I offer a four-step process to make things a win-win.

Inquire About Media Partnerships

8Thirteen Films That Highlight the Best in Humanity. Every year the Greater Good Science Center puts out a list of films they feel exemplify the best in human strength and virtues. This year’s Best Picture Oscar nomination, Bohemian Rhapsody, got The Self-Acceptance Award. Roma, also Oscar-nominated, received The Resilience Award. And, The Happiness Award went to Crazy Rich Asians, which I totally agree with!

” Thoughtful

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say,
and what you do are in harmony.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Sojourn Experiences | Inquire About Dates

Follow in the Footsteps of Saint Paul
Greece | May 13 – 26, 2019 | $4,500 pp dbl occ
Turkey | May 26 – 30 (optional) | $1,310 pp dbl occ

Another fantastic trip with Fr. John Bakas! Includes a four-night cruise through the Greek Islands.

Picture Happiness: Take a Shot in the Rainforest
July 6 – 12, 2019 | 7 Days | From $905 per person

This July I am offering a Mindfulness photography retreat in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica. The good news is that you do not have to be a photographer to enjoy this retreat. It is really about how you use your camera or smartphone as a lens to explore your inner and outer world.

Also, joining me is the Founder of Wholly Organized!®, Lynne Poulton, who has a very personalized approach to decluttering one’s world. She listens, shares stories, and brings lightness to organizing challenges. She will talk about Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up method if you ask!

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

Smile all day!
Spend all day smiling at others, friends, strangers.
See how it feels and notice the impact on others.
~ scareyoursoul.com

? Reflect

What if a question could change your life?
~ myintent.org

Happy Weekend! Love,
Maria and Team Sojourn
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