Elena Sonnino is a freelance writer, blogger, instructional coach, runner, cancer survivor, and chaser of dreams.

Being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 23 made Elena a fighter, and provided a perspective that was life altering. Life was no longer about watching, it was about doing. Despite being told that she would never have a biological child, Elena became a mom to a spirited and independent daughter (Principessa) {aka: a tween with braces, with a “strong” personality, that can sing most of the songs from Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables with gusto.}

Elena spent twelve years as a teacher, educational leader, and mentor to elementary students.  Whether she was a classroom teacher or an advanced academic resource teacher, her focus was always on empowering students to develop independent and creative thinking. She continues to work with teachers now as a coach and mentor, helping teachers improve their practice.

Whether she is empowering women to believe they are enough at Just.Be.Enough or telling the story of living the dolce vita while traveling as a contributor and Internal Community Relations Director at TravelingMom.com, Elena is passionate about fostering self sufficiency and helping others take steps to live.do.grow.

One of the most important factors of Elena’s decision to leave teaching after twelve years was a passion for telling the social good story.  During a trip to Haiti in January 2012, Elena realized that building capacity meant more than encouraging others to set a SMART goal or go for a run. It meant giving voice  to those that wanted to learn and grow so that they could become self sufficient despite the obstacles that stood in their way.

Elena is a Shot@Life UnFoundation Social Good Fellow, a member of Bloggers4Haiti, a member of One Moms, and is on the American Cancer Society Blogger Advisory Council working towards More Birthdays… because she believes that each one of us can make a difference, big or small, and that every moment matters.

Elena’s Personal and Professional Life Goals:

To be a motivational speaker

Present workshop style sessions at conferences on the topic of taking concrete steps to use social media to build capacity in others

Be published in print magazines with articles about finding the silver lining, life as a Cancer survivor, real life perspectives on far away lands, sustainable efforts by the voices of real people around the globe to become self sufficient, and the true story of a real woman struggling and challenging herself to be fit and healthy.

(Secret dream: To open an inflight magazine and see my own article!)

Be a columnist in a magazine like Runners World, The Washingtonian, Travel & Leisure, or Self.

Return to Haiti to build capacity in groups of women and artisans to use their voice and become more self sufficient.

Learn to use a DSLR camera to take fabulous pictures (also, own a DSLR)

Run a marathon in under 5 hours

(Run a third marathon-see above)

To be a Weight Watchers Leader (which of course also means getting back to my lifetime weight and keeping it off)

Travel down the Nile River in Egypt

Travel to Napa

Take a Disney Cruise

Elena is also an Ambassador for FitFluential and a member of Hilton Mom Voyage.