Hello All,

I just got back from an amazing trip to Puerto Rico and Virginia Beach.  I spoke to a fabulous group of people in Puerto Rico about The Secret and Happy for No Reason.  The culture is so warm, open and receptive, and we had a great time together.

Then I went to Virginia Beach to deliver a keynote speech for the annual meeting of leaders from around the world for Operation Smile.  This is an organization that performs surgeries on children to correct cleft palates and other facial/dental problems.  They do remarkable work!  I spoke to their world leaders from 35 countries, and in my 25 years of speaking, I don’t think I’ve ever been as moved.  These people are truly changing lives and I’m so honored to be able to work with them.  I will travel with them some time during 2009 on an Operation Smile “mission” with dentists, plastic surgeons and nurses to be a support person for the surgeries.  Supporting their work really makes me smile!

Now I’m on my way to Hawaii right now for our exciting Transformational Leadership Council meeting (TLC) that happens twice a year with top transformational leaders including Jack Canfield, John Gray, Marianne Wiliamson and many others.  I always love these meetings as these are people who have great energy, big love and wonderful ideas.  It’s a blessing to be in a support/mastermind group with people I so love, enjoy and admire.

Love,
Marci

Happy New Year!

I love January—with its wonderful feeling of a fresh new start. And, it came just in the nick of time. . .

For me, 2008 was no ordinary twelve months: My book Happy for No Reason topped many bestseller lists and was translated in 28 languages. I did a PBS TV show, a new Happy for No Reason personal learning course, and over 200 interviews and teleseminars, including a number of national TV appearances. In addition, I gave speeches all over North and South America, flying over 200,000 miles during the year.

But all this came at a price—to my balance, health, and some of my own “happiness.”

By December I was suffering from a classic case of workaholism. I’d become addicted to my crazy schedule, working long hours and not getting enough exercise and rest. While ignoring my own needs, I became grumpy, stressed, and depleted.

There I was, “the happy for no reason lady” not walking my talk. (Can you relate? I imagine so. From all I see, workaholism is a cultural epidemic.) So I decided to do something about it.

A few days before New Year’s I marched myself off to a retreat center in a redwood forest for a five-day ayurvedic cleansing and detoxification program (a holistic health program that originated in India thousands of years ago). My ayurvedic doctor gave me numerous instructions, including that I go on an “electronics fast” from the computer, telephone, and TV. Fortunately, there was no reception where I was staying, so I couldn’t cheat.

Oh my goodness. What silence.

I finished the retreat ready to keep the resolutions I would make during my annual New Year’s Eve ritual. Each December 31st at 11:30 p.m., Sergio and I speak aloud the habits, thoughts, and behaviors we want to let go of from the past year and state our vision and intentions for the coming year. Then we meditate the New Year in.

Having started with a clean slate, I’m finding it so much easier to make the good habits stick.

Are you in need of a clean slate too—but don’t have the time or opportunity right now to take off for a retreat? Don’t be discouraged. Retreats and cleanses come in many forms. Here are a few options to experiment with:

1. Do a one-day retreat this weekend. Take an “electronics fast,” avoiding all TV, computer, and telephone contact. The world will not fall apart. Ideally, spend the day in silence, either in nature or in a favorite spot that helps you turn inward. If you have child care obligations, find a friend who will take turns looking after the children, and trade off taking your retreats
2. Do a physical cleanse. Find one that will work for you (check with your doctor, if necessary). It can be as simple as doing a liquid diet for one day—soups, fresh juices, herbal teas, and water. This is a great way to give your digestive system a little R & R.
3. Do a “worry detox.” Take one day to become conscious of your repetitive worries and anxieties. Each time you notice one, write it on a slip of paper and put it in a bag. At the end of the day have a little “worry bonfire” and let your concerns go up in smoke. If a fire isn’t possible, feed your worry slips to the paper shredder. In either case, you’ve made a conscious intention to let them go.

With this great start to the new year, you’ll be on your way
to a happy for no reason 2009!

Happily,

Marci