| Hello Sojourners, The summer is almost over in the northern hemisphere. Despite the Delta Variant, I hope you have gotten outside to enjoy the longer sunny days. Perhaps you will read this 8GT on a beach or under a shady tree. This edition features topics on wellbeing, mainly centered around taking care of your mental health. Travel topics are about where you can go now and what people want from their travel, including happiness. Our Storytelling feature is a list of “what-is-left-of-summer” reads that are uplifting. Finally, I am sharing a few photos of elephants from my recent Botswana trip. I hope you read something that inspires you!   P.S. Please share 8 Good Things with your family, friends, and colleagues.  August 20, 2021 
 Reframing Our Outlook on Taking Breaks So many think that taking breaks is a luxury when, in fact, it is a necessity for our wellbeing. When we do not take breaks, we burn out and are of no use to anyone, including ourselves. This article offers thoughts on how to view breaks differently. One, they are for overall life balance. Two, they are active versus passive. “Deliberate rest” is how we restore our bodies and reduce stress. Three, breaks can be five minutes doing a breathing exercise in nature, connecting with a friend, or checking out for a week somewhere new. Four, there are various forms of rest; physical, mental, spiritual, and social. Five, rest now for a healthier later. Learn more in this article from MARIA SHRIVER’S SUNDAY PAPER.  How to Support Someone Going Through a Mentally Tough Time Simone Biles’ unexpected withdrawal from the Olympic finals has ignited a critical conversation about mental wellbeing and how to help someone. Here are eight helpful do’s and don’ts. One, offer a safe place to talk and listen. So often, people just need to be heard. Two, validate and affirm that person’s decisions. It is helpful to acknowledge someone’s feelings. Three, ask how you can be supportive. Four, respect that person’s privacy. Allow the person to share what is comfortable for them and ask whether it is okay to share with others. Five, offer supportive help. Six, on the flip side, do not take on more than you can handle. Seven, resist being pushy about talking or dispensing advice. Just because someone wants to talk things out does not mean they want you to fix them. Be sensitive to the difference. Finally, eight, tone down being overly positive, which can do more harm than good. Find out more in this article from THE WASHINGTON POST.  5 Ways to *Actually* Be Kind to Yourself Here are tips on applying loving-kindness to yourself by self-compassion expert Kristin Neff, PhD. One, check in with yourself. You need to be aware of what is going on inside—your thoughts and feelings. Two, acknowledge your pain. It is okay, normal, and necessary to feel hurt or angry. Three, find a shared sense of humanity. Life is challenging for all of us at one time or another. This recognition is what separates self-pity from self-compassion, so hugely important. Four, honor your anger. When you understand why you are angry, then you can do something about it. Five, treat yourself as you would your friend. Often, we are far more compassionate with our friends than ourselves. Time to turn that compassion into self-compassion. Find out more in this MBGmindfulness article.  Try This Easy Way to Be This one-minute, thirty-four-second video shows you how making a time capsule can make you happier. All you need to do are these simple steps: get a current photo; name three songs you recently listened to; recall an inside joke; get one of your favorite social media posts; recount a conversation with a friend; and find something that makes you laugh. Store all of these memories where you will not see them. Then revisit your time capsule three months later. Notice what strikes you as meaningful or brings a smile. We usually celebrate the big events in life. However, it is indeed the smaller details of our lives that can bring us some of our greatest joys. Studies back this up. I believe God is in the details which make the fabric of our lives. Also, a companion video about finding awe in the ordinary. A wonderful reminder that beauty can be found all around us. Watch this video from GREATER GOOD SCIENCE CENTER. 
 What the Way of the Maasai Warrior Can Teach About Happiness Having recently returned from Africa (and going back in October,) I thought I would share an article I wrote about spending time with the Maasai several years ago. One of the joys of travel is the insight gained when you immerse yourself in other cultures. Travel has taught me not to ever judge a book by its cover—that innocuous local you meet could be a treasure trove of profound wisdom. Find out more in my article from MEDIUM.  Sustainable Travel Trends Survey 2021 When travelers were asked what they want to do better as stewards of our planet post-COVID, the top five replies were: One, manage their waste better by using less single-use plastic. Two, switch off the air-conditioner and lights when they leave the room. Three, look for eco-friendly accommodations. Four, manage their carbon footprint by not flying as much or paying for a carbon offset. Five, reuse hotel towels and bedding. Find out more in this article from AGODA.  I’m a U.S. Citizen. A/o August 6, 2021, an article for those itching to travel beyond our borders. There are plenty of places to go. However, know there will be conditions, so be diligent in checking travel requirements for your destination. They are continually changing. If you pack your bags now, you may be rewarded with places all to yourself or close to it. That was my safari experience in Botswana. To help you with your sojourn decisions, here is a list of travel destinations and their requirements. Find out more in this article from NY TIMES. 
 The Best Uplifting Books and Feel-Good Reads There is still a bit of summer left and time to hang out with an inspiring read. Here are some suggestions of books that will keep your spirits up. Being a distance walker, I am looking forward to reading The Joy of Walking. Sojourn Getaways Duba Plains | Great Plains Conservation | Botswana Choose Your Dates | Inquire About Cost  Lunch with an endless view of the African bush, I always find a soothing break from our urban world. One guest perfectly described their experience when they said, “I am not a religious person, but I now understand that the Garden of Eden can, in fact, be found at Duba Plains.” Zarafa | Great Plains Conservation | Botswana Choose Your Dates | Inquire About Cost  A shower where you will want to bring your camera. I felt so peaceful watching the hippos splash around in the distance as I lathered up. It brought showering in the bush to another level. Being so exposed to the environment made me feel like I was one with nature. I found that Zarafa offers a sublimely intimate experience with the wildlife there. Picture Perfect    World Elephant Day Earlier this month was World Elephant Day, August 12th. The day is dedicated to creating global awareness for the African and Asian elephants that face poacher threats, habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and mistreatment in captivity. The hope is that travelers wanting to see these majestic creatures do so in non-exploitive and sustainable environments where elephants can thrive. One such place is the Great Plains Conservation camps in Botswana. There, elephants by the thousands roam across vast pristine private reserves. They are vital in maintaining the biodiversity in the ecosystem where they live. I hope you like my photos.  Thoughtful “It’s really beautiful. It feels like God visits everywhere, but lives in Africa.” ~ Will Smith
Stay safe. Stay well.  Maria Baltazzi ABOUT Every three weeks, we bring you eight big ideas to help you live better. Each edition selects topics that reflect The Sojourn Experience’s desire to serve the greater good, both inwardly and outwardly. We are a conscious-centered company with three portfolio brands. The first is Picture Happiness: Take a Shot, which focuses on the art and science of happiness and mindfulness. The second is Sojourn Explorers, which curates transformational travel experiences to extraordinary places around the globe. Part of the money for each trip goes to nonprofit organizations we support. The Sojourn Media Group looks to create partnerships with writers, producers, and directors to get their projects sold to production companies and various platforms. Special thanks to Astrid Martin, article and video content research, and Michael Tobias, editorial review and formatting, for their ongoing contributions to  Let us know your favorite things from this week. Share how your perspective changed this week. |
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