Kristine and Richard Carlson began their lives together as college sweethearts. Richard Carlson was a tennis star at Pepperdine University. Kristine was a freshman from Portland Oregon. It was love at first meeting, and their love affair was a bliss filled partnership spanning 25 years and included raising two amazing daughters—Jasmine and Kenna Carlson.

Like a tapestry, Kristine and Richard’s life together
was tightly woven. Like a well-sewn quilt, the two
were stitched together with love.

Their marriage was filled with love and abundance. Kristine stayed home with the kids, and Richard achieved his masters and Ph. D. in Psychology. In ten years, and ten books later authored by Dr. Richard Carlson, the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff book series was born out of the chapters of their lives. His book became recognized as an international phenomenon all over the world. After writing Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family, Richard then invited Kristine to join him as his co-author in the series when they together wrote Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff in Love. He then encouraged her to write her first solo book: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Women while he simultaneously wrote Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Men. There are nine books in the series. It was their early morning ritual to meditate and have coffee together. They would brainstorm chapters, chapter titles and strategies for living happier. These strategies were born from every day observance and from five principles of happiness that are woven throughout the books. You can learn about these five principles of happiness in our Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff video course.

At the tenth anniversary of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff in December 13, 2006, on a trip to New York to promote his latest book, Richard Carlson, beloved husband, father, Son, and friend to many, died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism on the descent of that flight.

Kristine and her girls were catapulted into grief as they survived the trauma of sudden loss.

Kristine has birthed many books helping others to navigate the murky waters of change brought on by grief and transition into a new life.

Richard Carlson, Ph.D. was considered to be one of the foremost experts on happiness and stress reduction in the United States and around the world. As the author of thirty popular books, including the runaway bestseller, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all Small Stuff, he showed millions of people how not to let the small things in life get the best of them.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff made publishing history as the USA Today’s #1 bestselling book for two consecutive years. The title spent more than one hundred consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and is considered one of the fastest selling books of all time. In 2004, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff was voted one of the top ten most read books in the past decade. Richard is one of the few authors in history to have two different books at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list at the same time: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, in soft cover and Don’t Worry, Make Money, in hardcover.

With more than 26 Million Carlson books in print, published in 35 languages in more than 130 countries, Dr. Carlson became a worldwide phenomenon. He spoke to enthusiastic audiences around the world and was a popular television and radio personality, having been a guest on Oprah, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, NBC, CNN, FOX, PBS, Hardball with Chris Mathews, The O’Riley Factor, and myriad other shows around the world.

Richard starred in his own Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff PBS Special, which aired to millions, and was the host of a series called Don’t Sweat the Future, a Discovery Health Network special.

People magazine named him one of the world’s most intriguing people to watch as he helped millions of people learn to relax. He was featured on the cover of Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine, and chosen as the “Consummate Speaker of the Year” by Sharing Ideas International Magazine. Easier Than You Think…because life doesn’t have to be so hard, discussing how making small changes can produce significant results, was launched in April of 2005 and Richard’s newest books, The Big Book of Small Stuff and Don’t Get Scrooged: How to Thrive in a World Full of Obnoxious, Incompetent, Arrogant, and Downright Mean-spirited People made their debut in November 2006. Richard also authored a nationally syndicated newspaper column for McClatchy-Tribune News Services (formerly Knight Ridder).

“While en route to publicize his latest book, Richard passed away from a pulmonary embolism on the descent of the flight on December 13, 2006. He was 45 years of age.”

Kristine Carlson, New York Times bestselling author and world-renowned speaker, is passionate about spreading her message of waking up to life with joy and gratitude amidst the ups and downs of this earthly existence.

Kris’ life mission expands upon the phenomenal success of her late husband Dr. Richard Carlson’s work in the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” series. She continues his legacy of peaceful and mindful living through her own bestselling books—Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff in Love, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Women, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms, An Hour to Live, an Hour to Love: The True Story of the Best Gift Ever, Heartbroken-Open: A Memoir Through Loss to Self Discovery, and From Heartbreak to Wholeness: the hero’s journey to joy—as well as her well-known “What Now?” program and her upcoming Happiness Training Courses.

Over the past two decades, Kris and Richard have sold more than 25 million books. She has been featured on national radio and television broadcasts, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Kristine is a sought-after inspirational speaker whose mission and message are built upon the tenants of joyful and peaceful living, mindfulness and meditation, and self-rediscovery in the face of grief or transition.

Kristine is known for her unparalleled capacity to be vulnerable and authentic, inspiring her audiences to be the same. She speaks on such topics as living authentically, the power of gratitude, grief, mindfulness, change and transition, and rediscovering joy, passion, and purpose in the various mind and body woes that accompany any time in life but particularly in middle age.

Kris is available for keynote talks, panel sessions, live interviews, TV & radio appearances, and as a spokeswoman for companies that align with her message of courage, hope, love and resilience.

Kris has served on the Board of Directors and the Global Leadership Council for Challenge Day. She was honored to join the Women Go Red campaign for the American Heart Association in 2012 as their keynote speaker. In 2010 she was honored with the Kennedy Laureate Award by John F. Kennedy University. This acknowledgment was also given to Alice Waters and Dr. Sanjay Gupta for their work in the area of mental, physical, spiritual health and well being.

She is mom to two daughters and “Nana” to five grandchildren. She lives in California.