February 2007

Welcome to the month of love, a time to celebrate love and appreciation. My mantra “Love & Live Happy” holds great meaning in February as I reach out to those I love.

January could not have been a more productive, happy month for me. The “New Year, New You,” book launch for You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life got off to a brilliant start: My publisher told me over lunch that HarperCollins went back to press with a large print run after only two weeks. The book is selling beautifully. Imagine, before even leaving on book tour, my new book was in a second printing! Obviously, I’m thrilled beyond measure. This kind of energy is a very good sign.

I gave a talk at the Winthrop-University Hospital Arts & Humanities Program to doctors, nurses and staff. I called my friend Dr. Anthony Petro in Jackson, Mississippi, to ask him what advice he had for me to say to the doctors. Anthony is a general surgeon. He told me the “mistakes” he’d made. He said, “Alexandra, first, I’m a person, a father, a grandfather and a husband. Second I’m a surgeon.” Anthony told me to tell the doctors:
(1) Never forget who you are.
(2) Don’t work too much. Go home and hug your children, your spouse and your puppy.
(3) Be yourself.
(4) Don’t be on automatic pilot. Embrace everyone around you.
(5) Remember, you’re part of a team.
(6) Before you enter your home, let go of stress. (7) Seek beauty and reason.

Anthony’s advice sounds wise and wonderful for all of us. This talk was my first for my new book, You Are Your Choices, making it quite a celebration for my 25th published book. I had a lot of fun.

I feel especially touched my friend Major Matthew Kennedy is reunited with his wife Kerri and four children, Kathleen, Colleen, Matthew, Jr., and Michael, after serving as an Army helicopter pilot in Iraq. Kerri sent me a great photo from the front page of the Cape Cod Times of Matt holding his 5-year old son Michael while Kerri takes a photo to mark his return from the Middle East.

I began my book tour on a triumphant note. At a power lunch with my publisher, editor and literary agent, I was told they want from me a new book, Happiness For Two,” to come out for Valentine’s Day, 2008! Nothing could make me happier. As you know, I’ve been struggling with a book about friends and then marriage. Even though I’ve been writing a book of essays about things I’ve taught myself, I’m putting that aside temporarily and will work on Happiness For Two under a tight deadline – I love to write about happiness and having the book focusing on how two people can be equally happy together is most exciting. I’ve written Living Beautifully Together and Living in Love; this new book will expand on ways we can increase our happiness when we are with another person we love. It will be all-inclusive, not just couples or partners.

Peter and I flew to Chicago Sunday, January 21st, arriving to light snow. I was on national television (WGN) Monday, on the News Health Report, talking about the importance of choices to our happiness and well-being. I was then interviewed by Maureen Jenkins, the Lifestyle reporter from the Chicago Sun Times. She wrote a lovely article about me, my new book, and our 8th Happiness Weekend held at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.

Peter and I went to Lake Bluff to a luncheon sponsored by the Lake Forest Book Store. The owner, Sue Boucher – a great lady, gathered an enthusiastic crowd. The next day we went to Winnetka where I spoke at a huge high school to the parents, and that night I went to The Bookstall to give a talk. Everywhere we went, we were greeted by friends and enthusiastic fans. We had been in the Chicago area in September, making our return a happy reunion.

Our Happiness Weekend at the Ritz-Carlton was triumphant. January 26th they arranged a cocktail reception where I gave a talk followed by a book signing. I didn’t know how emotional I’d be when I reminisced about my brother Powell who died eleven years ago when I was staying in my home-away-from-home, the Ritz-Carlton. I was on such a high, seeing everyone and knowing we had the happiness event the next day.

All of us who were participating in the Happiness Weekend went to a nearby restaurant owned by Ralph Lauren, “RL". Everyone loved the restaurant; we all had an amazing time together, many of us meeting for the first time.

There is always a unique dynamic to these Happiness Weekends because of the chemistry of the people who come. One fan – and now new friend – reached out to me with an amazing fan letter that touched me so deeply that I asked Peter to please call information and see if he could reach her on the telephone. Susan answered the phone. We invited her to come to the happiness event because she lives nearby. She came with her husband and two children, who stayed with her in the hotel, enjoyed the swimming pool, and asked their mom is they could come back next weekend. So cute.

Here we discussed happiness from every angle – happiness and health, happiness and our well-being, happiness and the economy, and happiness and our soul. It was lively, interactive, and great fun. We were together for five seminar hours, but in order not to violate the “5-hour rule,” we broke up the time by having lunch – everyone sat at different tables with new people!

Please continue to check the calendar of events because every day we are adding cities and tours to our schedule. I feel there is an enormous outpouring of friendship and love. Everyone is helping us with their contacts in different cities. Peter and I hope we’ll see you and your friends as we travel the country.

It’s not too late to make a reservation at the Adams Inn in High Point, North Carolina, February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, for our 9th Happiness Weekend. We’re on a roll, loving these unique experiences. Do come and bring friends!

Happy month of love. Happy Valentine’s Day. Great love and affection to you.

Love & Live Happy

I cannot sell my new book to you directly, but I'm happy to send book plates for you and your friends. Please consider using my new book for a Book Club discussion. I would be happy to participate in your meeting by speaker phone!

Alexandra's friend West Pointer Major Matthew Kennedy returns from helicopter combat duty in Iraq in November to a joyous reunion with his family in Massachusetts: his wife Kerri, Matt, Kathleen, Colleen, Matthew & Michael.

Peter and Alexandra are joined by The Border's Gang for a group photo

Alexandra introduces You Are Your Choices to her new friends

Happiness Weekend friends enjoy lunch together

What a lovely 7-page piece in this month's Country Living magazine. Enjoy beautiful colorful photos of Alexandra's Happy Home.
(see more photos in Calendar section)