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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.
We curate 8 Good Things with you in mind. Please let us know how we can make this newsletter a better experience for you. Also, make sure to scroll all the way down to see my upcoming trips and programs.
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1Why Zimbabwe’s Female Rangers are Better at Stopping Poaching. Damien Mander, who trains these female rangers, is the definition of badass. He is a former Australian special operations military sniper turned conservationist. I have been friends with him for several years, and can honestly say he walks his talk. Not long after Damien left the military, he felt called to take up arms to save elephants and rhinos in Africa. He sold most of his assets in Australia, picked up his family, and moved to Zimbabwe to start a non-profit, the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF.org), where today he dedicates his time to teaching para-military techniques to wildlife rangers. These days, the rangers are not just men, they are women as well. National Geographic did their June cover story on this proud and effective group of female rangers. Hope you will consider a donation to IAPF.
2These Beautiful, Off-The-Grid Airbnb Rentals Are Made Of Reclaimed Garbage. You have heard of spaceships. Well, for those of us still on terra firma, there are now Earthships that you can rent through Airbnb. These Earthships are the vision of an architect’s fifty-year dream to turn living off-the-grid, being utterly self-sufficient, into a movement. Earthships can be found throughout the world and in all fifty states. I could be quite content hanging at the Taos Mountainside Earthship for a night or two.
3Why Spending Time Outdoors Makes Us Happier. Number one, people are much happier when they are in green or natural environments. As one who struggles when inside for too long, especially if there are no windows, I will back up this statement. We are not made to live inside four white walls. Just twenty minutes a day outside can make you feel more alive. It literally puts you into a healthier state. One study showed that walking in nature decreased depression by seventy-one percent. I do not know how accurate this number is, though you get the point.
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4Will Smith Persuaded Wife Jada to Go Skydiving for His 50th Birthday. It is one thing when you want to jump out of a plane to know you are fully alive at fifty, and quite another to make your spouse come along. That Jada Pinkett Smith loves her man… Here are two post-mortem videos with Will Smith — both are hilarious and insightful. Humor aside, Will did learn a thing or two about facing his fear by skydiving. Having done my one, and only, tandem jump several years ago, I can relate. It is a great idea until you are sitting on some guy’s lap, all hooked up, and about ready to launch out of a plane. As soon as we jumped, every alarm in my body exploded – “What the hell are you thinking, girl?” Then suddenly, our shoot opened, and it was the most dream-like experience while being awake that I have ever had.
5In 12 Words, Richard Branson Lays Out His Best Relationship Advice (Including His Definition of Love). One more reason to love Sir Richard Branson. He counts his forty-year marriage as one of his greatest successes. Without happiness and love, financial success is not enough to keep one satisfied. In Richard’s words, “Love should be supportive; it should lift us and inspire us to be the best possible person we can be. Because if you can be the best version of yourself, your partner will benefit too. That’s the cornerstone of a great relationship — wanting the best for and bringing out the best in each other.”
6Study Shows Shocking Benefits to a 4-Day Work Week. Forty percent of Americans work at least fifty hours a week. No Bueno! Would you not rather work thirty-five smarter hours than forty or fifty harder hours? Working more days in the week does not necessarily mean more productivity. One boss decided to try a little test around his office. What did he find out? Less time to work = Less time to waste. Productivity and team morale went up. Best yet, stress levels went down.
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7“Game of Thrones” Composer Ramin Djawadi on Storytelling Through Music. Music is a huge part of storytelling. That has definitely proved to be true on the shows I have produced. I spend a lot of time getting the sound of a show right, or at least, the way I want it. I know music aficionados are reading this newsletter as well as “Game of Thrones” fans, so in homage to the ending of this monumental series, I thought I would share an article about the show’s composer. Make sure you also click the button below to hear him play the theme song.
8How a Celebrity Trainer Gets Actors in Shape for Movies. Getting an actor in shape for a very physical role takes a lot of work. Think about the physicality of the actors in “Game of Thrones.” Here is a peek into what it takes to prepare for an action-adventure role. Often it is twelve weeks of being all in for two-a-days! Truthfully, a lot of it is mindset as well. The benefit: the more training milestones you achieve, the more confidence you gain.
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Thoughtful
“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”
~ Will Rogers
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Walking the Camino de Santiago | Spain
In partnership with Explorer X, small group adventure specialist
9 Days | Sept 10th – 19th, 2019 | From $3,950 per person
Unforgettable Africa | Kenya
In partnership with Nomadic Africa, private luxury safaris
12 Days | From $18,735 per person for 8 guests
Machu Picchu, Peru | Salkantay Horseback Ride
In partnership with Peru EcoCamps, luxury geodesic domes
9 Days | From $5,975 per person for 2 guests
*Pricing varies based on the number of guests and time of year.
Sojourn Programs
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Insight Timer App | Silent Wisdom Meditations
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of meditation. Why? It is scientifically proven to reduce stress, control anxiety, promote emotional health, enhance self-awareness, lengthen attention span, reduce age-related memory loss, generate kindness, help to fight addictions, improves sleep, help control pain, decrease blood pressure, can meditate anywhere. Meditation is about as close as one can get to a wellness silver bullet.
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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.
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Challenge
Detoxify Your Social Media Diet
Take ten minutes to unfriend people who make you
feel bad or add negativity.
~ scareyoursoul.com
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Reflect
What challenge do you want to overcome?
~ myintent.org
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Happy Weekend! Love,
Maria and Team Sojourn
Learn More | +800-869-0538
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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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Maria Baltazzi, PhD, MFA, Founder
Purveyor of Happiness and Conscious-Centered Living
Emmy-winning TV Producer, Happiness Mentor, Transformational Travel Guide
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About
The Sojourn Experience is a conscious-centered company with a portfolio of three entities. Sojourn Explorers curates transformational experiences to extraordinary places around the globe. Part of the money for each trip goes to nonprofit organizations that we believe in. Through Picture Happiness: Take a Shot, Maria mentors professionals, helping them to uplevel the quality of their thoughts and habits. She designs Happiness programs and workshops as well as leads retreats. Finally, Sojourn looks to create media partnerships with writers, producers, and directors to get their projects sold to production companies and various platforms.
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