THIS MONTHS' LETTER

PAST LETTERS With all due respect to our son—yes, from now, it will always be August in our lives—I do love the fall. The pace of our lives accelerates again. There are new things to be learned, work to be done, things to be accomplished. A vivid sense of new beginnings fills the air. At this time of accelerated living—which, to many of us, likely feels more familiar than the slow days of summer—we must be especially mindful of the time we need for ourselves. Summer invites play and activity, but also reflection and a changed awareness. We sit on porches and stoops and beaches. We spend more time with our bodies, if only because they're not covered up by coats and sweaters. In the spirit of keeping a little bit of that summer awareness alive in the fall, Joyful Heart has pioneered "Urban Retreats", a program designed to get busy people together and give themselves some much-needed attention for a weekend. An Urban Retreat might include bodywork (massage, reflexology), creativity workshops, time to journal, a talk on how to have a healthy lunch when your inbox is overflowing and the phone is ringing off the hook, and a relaxed time to share your insights on how to take care of yourself—mind, body, and spirit. We encourage you to gather a few friends, commit to a weekend and plan your own Urban Retreat. Each person can be responsible for a part of the weekend: leading an art project, finding a speaker, collecting healthy recipes, collecting writing ideas, leading a guided meditation. You can create a retreat with whatever speaks to you and your friends—or your co-workers, mothers, daughters, fathers and sons. This is a time for you, for you to re-connect with yourselves, to take your foot off the gas and bring your mind, body and spirit into that place that you thought you weren't going to be visiting until next summer. Think of it as bringing a little August into your life. And trust me, there's just nothing better! Shortly, we will be posting ideas and resources for how to create a spectacular, well rounded urban retreat in your community. So check back soon! Have a fabulous fall! Mariska Fall 2006

I can't believe summer is here! The seasons are a wonderful chance for us to "check in" with ourselves and see how we have changed from month to month and year to year. In April, we asked visitors to the JHF website to share with us ways that they take care of themselves and nurture their mind, body & spirit. Your responses continue to pour in! They are thoughtful, inspiring and enlightening and we are thrilled to share what you send us, along with a little guide the Joyful Heart staff put together called Self Care & Strategies for Coping with Stress. One of my favorites is the big, deep breathe to help keep you centered and calm. We hope these tips are helpful and remind you to be good to yourselves! In May, we held our first Urban Retreat Program in Los Angeles, CA, in conjunction with LACAAW (The L.A. Commission on Assault Against Women). The weekend's mission was to provide survivors with healing and inspiring and challenging experiences, as well as widening the Joyful Heart network. We are so grateful to the Y'Sharis Spa and The Quiksilver Foundation for hosting the weekend and providing safe and supportive environments for people to explore and thrive. And that is my hope for you this summer: to explore and thrive. Be it an outdoor adventure or a more personal triumph, let's honor the milestones—big and small—and when the season is over, look back and know we have moved towards something positive. I, myself, am off to be a mom...how are you going to spend your summer? Whatever you do, make it amazing Mariska Hargitay Founder & President The Joyful Heart Foundation July 2006

Safe Horizon, website: http://www.safehorizon.org I'm thrilled to announce my partnership with Safe Horizon on their new campaign to end child abuse and to help survivors heal. Putting an end to the abuse is such an important cause and I am so proud to be part it. The campaign not only includes an outdoor media initiative (on billboards, phone booths, and buses through out New York City), but it also seeks to raise public awareness through educational initiatives. Please join me in spreading the word about Safe Horizon and most of all, by taking action. Do you know 10 Ways to Stop Child Abuse? Click on the image below to find out more.