19 February 2026 - Issue #023

Hey Reader,

Are you one of those people who takes pride in doing everything yourself?

Last Friday I joined a networking event organised by Girls Be Change, a social business that supports girls and women to become explorers and changemakers.

It was my first time attending one of their gatherings and I left feeling deeply moved.

As a solo business owner, I rarely spend an entire day surrounded by women building purpose-led businesses and working inside organisations that genuinely care about their impact. Every time it happens, I'm reminded how generous people can be when they're rooted in their values.

One of the sessions focused on something deceptively simple: asking for help and offering help. Each of us had to write down one thing we could offer the group, and one thing we needed support with.

What unfolded was very interesting.

The offers significantly outnumbered the requests.

Several women openly said, "I don't need anything right now, but I want to offer my skills, my time, my connections, my friendship."

And they meant it.

I couldn't help but wonder if this imbalance came from our collective inability to ask for help.

Especially as women.

The narrative I grew up with positioned us as the ones who hold all the pieces together, at home and in business. We were never really given another choice.

Which brings me to something I've been thinking about lately.

Last week we talked about how your non-linear path is an asset in retreat leadership. The depth of experience, the range of skills, the different chapters of your life all shape the facilitator you become.

What I don't want that to turn into is this quiet belief that because you can do everything alone, you should.

Because you probably can.

The real question is whether that's the most sustainable way to lead a business or a retreat.

From the Blog

You Can Do It All. But Should You? You can probably plan and run a retreat on your own. The question is whether doing so actually serves the experience you're trying to create. Retreat leadership fragments your attention across dozens of simultaneous responsibilities. It's why you finish retreats feeling exhausted even when everything went well. Sustainable retreat leadership isn't about working harder. It's about recognising that collaboration might actually make the experience better for you and your guests. Read the Article

What's Stirring

I sometimes consider sharing what a week in the life of a retreat strategist looks like, then dismiss the idea thinking it's probably not that remarkable.

This past week was in fact pretty remarkable.

Within a few days I met with two potential clients, signed one of them, sent a proposal to the other, confirmed the venue and dates for a retreat I'll co-create in Ubud later this year, visited three retreat centres, and travelled to Canggu to meet a teacher for another collaboration.

In between all of that, I co-worked alongside some of the women I met at the networking event, went to a workshop led by a friend who's a plant-based nutritionist, met friends for dinner, and went to a women's circle.

It was full, dynamic, expansive.

It was also physically and emotionally intense.

The transition from the Year of the Snake into the Year of the Horse brought low energy, waves of nausea, and emotional sensitivity I couldn't fully explain.

My instinct in those moments is usually to retreat inward, cancel plans, stay home, and process everything alone.

This time I chose differently.

I kept my commitments. I allowed myself to be supported by other people's presence. I didn't isolate and openly talked about my struggles and the intensity of this period.

There's a part of me that shares these moments because I want to be an example for those who feel called to build a life that looks different.

And often that includes letting others hold you too.

I'm still learning this. The offering comes easily to me. Receiving takes a lot of practice, though I'm getting better at it.

Slowly, slowly.

Retreat Radar

​ ​Move and Flow 2.0 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India|10-14 May A 4-night mountain retreat in the Himalayan ranges that weaves together Pilates, yoga, strength work, breathwork, pranayama, meditation, nature walks, and cultural immersion lead by Sonali Ghia. This is designed as a mindful movement and wellness experience where you actually have space to slow down, reset your nervous system, and share the journey with like-minded people. If you've been craving mountain air, meaningful movement, and genuine community time, this might be exactly what you need. More Information

There's something seductive about being the one who can handle everything.

It feels strong. Independent. Impressive.

And sometimes it is necessary, especially in the early stages of a new business when budgets are tight and trust is still being built.

Long term though, carrying every layer of your business and retreat alone subtly shapes the experience you're able to create.

If you're constantly stretched thin, that stretch lives inside the space too.

The women I met last week reminded me that generosity flows easily when ego isn't driving the room.

Offering support felt natural to them.

Receiving it felt less so.

Building a life and business that looks different requires some courage. For me, part of that courage now includes letting collaboration in more consciously.

So I want to ask you: where do you stand on this?

Does asking for help feel impossible or have you found a way to make it easier?

Ciao ciao,

Milla

P.S. Hosting a retreat, event, or programme soon? I'd love to feature it in Retreat Radar. Just hit reply with the details (where, when, what makes it special). It's free and open to everyone in this community 😊