A few weeks ago, I got an email from out of the blue. A young man, a student from Germany, saw an article I wrote on Tiny Buddha. It led him to check out my blog.

I have been posting journal entries about small things that spark gratitude in me for almost five years. Initially, I just hoped to develop a regular writing practice and train my mind to dwell more on positives than on problems, but the practice of looking at my life with the expectation of seeing something I love in each moment actually changed my life.

I wanted to share what I learned and started contributing occasional articles to other blogs. I hoped that, like Christian Mauerer, others would take note of the blog’s url in my byline and check out my philosophy, tips, and examples of everyday things I have chosen to give attention to and appreciate.

Each week, I have taken a lot of pleasure in reflecting and then writing a post about something that touched my heart. I drafted tips on how people could see things they cherish that are already in their lives. But I have often wondered if anybody ever read my musings.

Sometimes, I have felt very discouraged by the disparity between what I want to bring out in the world and the number of people who have explored what I have to say on my blog.

…And then I got a seemingly random email from Germany. “Why am I writing?” the sender posed.   “…Because I see how much love you’ve put into making this world a better place…”

Oh my God, could it be that someone who I don’t know can really see me? Can the writer of this unexpected correspondence recognize my intentions and value how, in my own way, I am trying to empower people by giving them practical tips for uplifting themselves?

As I continued to read Christian’s email, I saw that he was on a mission himself. Both spiritual and commercial.

He invented a product called Loverope, which he sells online. A LOVEROPE is a bracelet consisting of a small stainless steel disk and a thin cord. The disk is hand stamped with the word LOVE or another short phrase that conveys hope or inspiration.

I was thrilled by the idea of this. In his words, by wearing a Loverope, you are reminding yourself “what’s truly important.”

We began to correspond. It turned out we both shared a great affinity for Eckhart Tolle. We both practiced yoga. I confessed to sometimes feeling blocked by past failures. In his introduction, he sent me a link to a YouTube video of Steve Jobs, Dare to Ask. Steve Jobs was definitely someone who inspired him a lot.

He asked me how he could help me. He has already helped me a great deal – purely by the example of his life. In addition to our emails, I read about him on his blog.  In explaining the mission of LOVEROPE, he writes:

[I’M NOT HERE]

To sell you anything, I am here to represent the ideology of love. Love is patient, love is kind. Love is louder. Always.

Connecting has been a wonderful, unexpected journey. He has reminded me of the nobility of trying to put your best into the world. Much greater than the power of the Internet, I feel the Law of Attraction at work.

We might have been introduced by a blog we both like and, regardless of the facts that he lives in Munich and I live in Chicago and am decades older, we connected because we both understand that LOVE is at the core of everything.

We might all have careers and personal goals, but everyone’s life purpose is to love and inspire each other.

Christian Mauerer reached out to me, unexpectedly, with a simple greeting and offer to help, one human being to another -– and that’s no small thing. Und das ist keine Nebensache.