16-time Emmy award winner Christine Devine shares her insight an adoption from her 15-year journey reporting on hard to place children in the system, and the Forever Families that have found happiness together. She also talks about her personal pain around her own adopted brother and the joy with her adopted sister and her man… And tops it off with some dating advice for Dr. Marissa!

If anyone has a reason not to forgive, it would be an 11-year old child who was kidnapped by Joseph Kony, forced to kill her parents, made to fight on the front lines of a war, given to a commander as a "soldier bride", raped, impregnated, escaped, returned to her home only to be ostracized by her community for carrying the enemy's baby. And I have trouble forgiving someone who insulted me last year?! This "One Year On The Air" episode of Get Balanced with Dr. Marissa celebrates with the Question of Week: Why Forgive? and the incredible work that my guest and new friend Jane Ekayu is doing in Uganda, teaching the rescued and escaped child soldiers how to live love and laugh again, using the powerful Life Balance tool of Forgiveness...and Bryan Single, the director of award-winning film Children of War https://vimeo.com/28646053 describes how he had to capture this tremendous example of 'Hope in the midst of horror' on film. "Take My Advice, I'm Not Using It: Get Balanced with Dr. Marissa" is grateful for all of my listeners around the planet for supporting a show about Hope and Happiness, 88 percent of the time...and her lifework of shedding Light on the empty pockets of darkness so there is Peace In, and Peace Out.

Actress and comedienne Alison Arngrim joins Dr. Marissa in the studio for her One Year On the Air Anniversary Part 1 Show to highlight how we can heal from painful pasts, the importance of forgiveness and the benefits of volunteering. In the middle of a few laughs, Alison shares her own journey from victimhood to advocate and how we still need to change legislation that protect abusers to PROTECT.org children instead in 22 states and making our lives more about helping than hoarding, one breath and one less complaint at a time.

16 Emmy award winner Christine Devine shares her insight on adoption from her 15 year journey reporting on hard to place children in the system and the forever families that have found happiness together. She also talks about her personal pain around her adopted brother and joy around her adopted sister and her man...and tops it off with some dating advice for Dr. Marissa.

From turning away from his Toltec wisdom birthright, to becoming a successful traditional medical doctor, to almost dying...best-selling author Don Miguel shares the story of his life before the book that captured the loving attention of opera and readers worldwide. His brilliant life tenets captured in his book The Four Agreements, was on the New York Times bestseller list for over seven years. Dr. Marissa proves her status as a star pupil sharing her application of the agreements in her life (Be impeccable with your word, don't take things personally, don't make assumptions, and do the very best that you can) both personally and as a mom. Dr. Ruiz encourages everyone to find joy, to find happiness and to find peace within themselves and then to share that with others.

Dr. Marissa takes questions from callers on how to deal with Cynthia's Critical Mom "If it's not one thing, it's your mother ;)", on dating again after a divorce with John, and finding more work life balance with Dionne. Balance tools include a new morning Balance ritual, reframing moms, choosing Best Case Scenarios and seeing yourself as good enough and worthy exactly as you are.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Geri Jewell, who shattered the glass ceiling for individuals with disabilities when she was cast in the hit series "Facts of Life" and Deadwood returns to Dr. Marissa's show to help answer the Question of the Week, Why do we Sabotage our own Success? No cost Balance Tools on how to get back on track and leave the critic in our head behind are featured.

Question of the Week: How can I love what I do and do what I love? My friend & guest Queen of Soul Kirtan C.C. White shares her life passion and gift of music and some words of advice for letting the gift that is within you come forth...Dr. Marissa's Balance formula includes reframing negative messages from your past and finding an hour a week of your time that is usually spent watching a reality show to focus on your own Reality...rediscovering your passion...at the intersection between your hearts desires, what you're good at, and what your currency value is. And 2 strong women of love sing out this episode acapulco style (a Capella ;)

Valentines aka Single Awareness Month. The talk meanders to other topics including spirituality, the "G" word and seeing ourselves as beautiful and enough, just the way we are. And there is a prediction that takes the doubt out of the question...a bi-shoe-ler is on his way!