The White House Christmas party really was beautiful this year. A very special festive night with beautiful friends and family. Don Jr. and Bettina got engaged at Camp David just before it and the party wasn’t supposed to be a celebration for them – but Donald decided to announce it to the world. I was so happy the official announcement was made while we were all there with them. It was a special night. Then the following night I attended the White House Hanukkah party because I believe we have to bring people of all religions together especially at difficult times.
The cold and hustle of Washington, DC was a far cry from my normal routine. Usually, at my home in Florida, I wake with the rising sun, sometimes with intention and other times by nature – as if God has me in divine rhythm saying “wake up and embrace this day with joy.” My phones are left outside of the bedroom as the electromagnetic fields can constantly trigger our minds. I step on to my balcony overlooking the Atlantic and let the morning light wash over my face and regenerate my cells. Early sunlight resets the circadian rhythm. A few deep breaths follow, and gentle stretching toward the horizon. Then I head to the kitchen and squeeze half a lemon into warm water, add sea salt and a little baking soda, my sunrise tonic before prayer and deeper meditation. I always begin by asking God how I can best serve the world in alignment with my divine purpose. I pray to be a light to all those I meet and that those who are not meant to be on this path with me drift away with grace and ease. I urge all of you to pray this prayer of protection.
If I am in New York, I wander through Central Park and find a quiet pocket of green, a tree to hug or a rock to climb and meditate upon. Any place that allows me to reconnect with nature. Then the workout. Some mornings it is Pilates, other days a quick trip to the gym for weight training. I also keep a set of weights by my mini-trampoline to help recharge on stressful days.
I am working on how to say no, so I have more time for the yeses. Yet my heart yearns to help as many people as I can. There are two new paths I have chosen to help support this mission: the Global Wellness Forum and the Marla Maples Foundation. I co-founded the former with two men who are like brothers to me, Dr. Edward Group and Sayer Ji. We came together with a shared vision to unite healers, scientists, spiritual leaders and visionaries who understand that wellness is about more than the body. Through advocacy, legislative action, education and research, we strive to restore balance in the world and improve health and humanity. The Marla Maples Foundation mirrors my heart. It is my personal nonprofit which is a vessel for service, a way to respond to the many requests that arrive each day from people seeking healing, guidance and solutions to challenges. The foundation supports initiatives that nourish both body and soul, empowering communities, uplifting and protecting children and families. It is a way to serve God by championing the causes closest to my heart with compassion and advocacy.
Throughout the day, I can’t help but text my daughter, Tiffany, and FaceTime my grandson, Alexander. He is a source of pure joy. Even with our busy lives, we always find time to connect. Now, as a new “Grand Mar,” I treasure every moment with my family. My best days are spent soaking in the baby snuggles. Motherhood remains my greatest teacher, an ongoing practice in love and surrender.
As the sun begins to set, I pause and give gratitude wherever I am. Each week I honor the Sabbath as a sacred pause, a time to unplug from the world, light candles and return to what truly matters. It is my moment to reconnect with God. Too often we let life’s pace dictate our every move. Wellness is not something we chase, it is something we practice. That is the message I try to live by: that our physical, emotional and spiritual health is woven into the fabric of the planet itself. If we can practice this for ourselves and let that energy radiate like golden light flowing between us, I believe we can have the impact we long for and create the world we envision, one breath, one heart, one soul at a time.
This article was originally published in The Spectator’s January 19, 2026 World edition.
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