The Email That Reminded Me to Keep Going
How a role model, a book, and small moments gave me strength and clarity during a time of doubt
There are moments in life when we feel lost, unsure where to start or which step to take next. One day, feeling exactly that way, I sent an email to someone I deeply admired. That small act wouldn’t change my path, but it would give me reassurance and courage when I needed it most.
The person I reached out to was Arianna Huffington.
It all started twenty years ago, when I realized how important it was to have a role model — someone outside my family, someone whose qualities or achievements inspired me and gave me a vision of what I could strive for.
After careful thought, Arianna rose to the top of my list. I admired her boldness, entrepreneurial drive, and the power she had earned in the media world. But what mattered most was that she was a strong female voice in a male-dominated space. She had climbed to the top, earned recognition for her intellect, and shown me that it was possible to succeed as a woman.
Ten years later, I found myself disillusioned with the corporate world. Society’s definition of success — wealth over health, work over life, stress over joy — felt wrong. It was dawning on me that I wasn’t spending my time in a job I loved, had a talent for, or one that made a real difference. What I truly wanted to pursue was life coaching.
I turned to my role models again and discovered a new admiration for Arianna. She had collapsed a few years earlier and was now speaking publicly about the importance of well-being. She had also launched Thrive Global, a company aiming to help people live healthier, more balanced lives.
Everything I read from her mirrored exactly what I felt and believed. I wanted to contribute to a better world, but I didn’t know where to start. On a quiet afternoon, I took a small, bold step:
I wrote her an email.
I didn’t know her personal inbox, but after months in sales, I had learned the art of finding the right email. With a deep breath, I sent a heart-to-heart message.
Later that evening, I opened my inbox. There it was — an email from Arianna Huffington herself. THE Arianna Huffington. I froze, overwhelmed with excitement. I remember calling my then-boyfriend, Antonio, squealing as I jumped around the living room.
Not only had she personally taken the time to reply, but I could feel that she had listened. She had heard my story. In her reply, she invited me to contribute to Thrive Global, sharing my reflections and insights with a wider audience. It wasn’t a career change; it was a validation, a reminder that I was moving in the right direction, and a boost of courage when I needed it most.
At that moment, my admiration deepened. It felt like our paths were merging: she had entered the world I saw as my purpose — well-being and personal development — and at the same time, I was growing a deeper passion for hers: writing and communicating. That alignment made her influence on me even stronger.
It took me a year to submit my first article to Thrive Global, but when I did, I felt ecstatic. Each story I shared connected me more deeply to my purpose and to the people who reached out after reading my words. That is how I eventually began delivering life coaching sessions.
Later, my husband and I traveled to Vancouver. While there, casual coaching sessions quickly became my main occupation. One day, as I walked through the neighborhood, I stumbled upon a Little Free Library — a small wooden box filled with books that anyone could borrow. I loved books, so I stopped to browse.
The first title that caught my eye was Thrive by Arianna Huffington. The book argues that true success goes beyond money and power. It must include well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving. It describes society’s old “two-legged stool” of success, missing its third leg: well-being.
The book found me at a pivotal moment — transitioning from casual coaching to making it my profession. It felt like a sign that I was on the right path, a reminder that I was part of a mission larger than myself.
Moments like these — the email, the Little Free Library, and small, significant responses we receive — can give us courage, reassurance, and clarity when we feel uncertain.
So, if you feel lost or stuck today, may this be the sign for you to look to your role models — and never underestimate the power of synchrodestiny. The small moments, signs, and subtle nudges in life can guide you exactly where you’re meant to go.
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