Andies Lost

13/04/2026

A lot of people told me that I would never make it. Especially in what I do!
They always told me to give up, that I would never succeed, and that I should be behaving my age.🤷🏻‍♀️

So I, I stick the finger up to all those comments, and behave my age anyway.🫶🏼

Here’s to 35!

May I always stay foolish, playful, and enjoy life as an idiot possibliy can.

The reality is that if you put your mind to it, stick to it, and build around it, you can and will make it.
You have to be willing to fail, and keep failing, until you stop failing.🍦

It’s scary, and it’s always going to be that leap of faith, the next step, the next step, the next step. Yet eventually, just as the bamboo effect, the results will show.

And you will see that all the hard work, all the failures were worth it. That’s how I celebrate today.
Cheers to the future failures🥂

PS. Maybe this account is only for a yearly post. Still, doing it anyway. Because honestly, who cares?!

16/09/2025

16/06/2025

Dear journal, I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life, hurt and disappointed a lot of people. Hey, I’m not perfect!

Yet, I made it upon myself to become better, greater, bigger person.

Pushing through the pain, the uncertainties, the constant fear of being judged and the dreading imposter syndrome that still does haunt me until this day.
I did shift my focus though, to let it be there and let it keep “scaring” me to improve myself every day, no matter the fear.

Money was something I was brought up taught that, to earn I must work hard and be smart about it.
So I got creative, any free resource, online pdfs, books, YT videos, free courses, I haven’t even scraped 50% of them, yet it’s been constant for the past 8 years.
Every day is a learning opportunity. That’s how I see it.

Why this sharing, yesterday I went to the second big concert of in my life (thank you stranger♥️) and to one of my favourite bands, Imagine Dragons.

Before that I was on the bus thinking of a person that maybe by coincidence I would meet her on the way. I didn’t.🤷🏻‍♀️

Feeling the songs, seeing the magnitude of things, I felt small. And it hit me, I need to do more, give more, create more of the culture of paying it forward.
The goal: work, interact with 1 Million People in this lifetime.🦾 scary, right?😁

So then, walking home, no taxis available, no buses, thousands of people outside just walking though Budapest going home.

Who do I see? Exactly the person I had in my mind earlier! It was an instant awe and hugged her. It’s been 3 years since I last saw her.🤯 coincidence? Maybe.

That feeling of hiii, we shared memories together and in a crowd we meet?!

That feeling exactly of how all the work of becoming a better version of myself every day proves to continue and push forward.
“Whatever it takes.
Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins.
I do whatever it takes.
Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains”
:44 🦾

11/08/2023

"Dear Journal, being judged by my books' cover...

I'll soon facilitate a course on inclusion through non-formal education. It reminds me of the many times I've been prematurely judged.🫢

A few years ago in Izmir, boarding a flight after a friend's birthday, a woman didn't want to sit next to me. She told the flight attendant in Turkish, assuming I wouldn't understand.

But I did. It was awkward. Her judgement did hurt a bit, though not unexpected; I've become numb to those looks over time. I mean what's the point really?

A lot of people would tell me that, I could have stood my ground, forced her to confront her own prejudices.

Yet I didn't need the conflict, so I agreed to move without objection and smile on my face. I chose not to waste energy on the ignorance.🫨

People often judge what they don't make the effort to understand - an eccentric haircut, bold fashion choices, tattoos, the list goes on. Just because it's foreign to you doesn't mean it lacks value.

This is what we'll discuss in the course - respecting our differences, not weaponizing them. There lies the root of inclusion and acceptance.🌍

In the end, we only change minds through compassion, not confrontation. Lead by example. Meeting prejudice with patience speaks louder than anything. But that's just me, right..."

09/08/2023

"Dear Journal, people fascinate me...

I like watching people - not in a creepy way, just observing how folks navigate through life.🧐

Something I picked up in many places since. At cafés there, the chairs face outward to the streets. It gives people a chance to disconnect with their coffee and just take in the busy scenes around them, how busy life can get.

We're often so focused on the movie of our own lives that we forget to appreciate other stories unfolding right before our eyes. Taking in moments of people around, aids in adding a differnet perspective. It reminds me to be grateful for the little things.
That it's ok to stop for a moment. ✋🏼

My favorite part is catching those slices of humanity - people lounging at cafés, rushing busily to work, couples laughing, musicians lost in their songs, a smile shared between strangers.

In those passing interactions, I get a glimpse into so many worlds. I wonder where they're coming from, where they're headed. What hopes, struggles, and memories shaped them to become who they are.⌛️

Even with no words exchanged, bearing witness with my camera to someone's moments grounds me. A photo allows us to pick any story, background we want to give to that moment. It's all about our imagination.

We each write our own story, but those stories intersect in unexpected ways. That's the beauty I try to notice in my not so creepy watching..."🙃

08/08/2023

"Dear Journal, I don’t like politics...

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I just don't know how to make small talk or have superficial conversations - they make me feel awkward and anxious, if I'm being honest.🫣

I wonder if it's normal to feel this way, since connecting with people is such a huge part of my work. By leadings groups of 40-50 together for a week at a time. You'd think chitchat would be my second nature.

But I tend to come off as blunt and extremely direct. Small talk feels like a waste of time to me, and I feel like I've lost too much time already. I want my conversations to be substantial.

Keeping things light and polite, glossing over the messy realities - it just isn't my strong suit. I know it's a necessary social skill sometimes, but I tend to avoid it by retreating into my own head.

Part of me dwels I'll be perceived as rude or insensitive when I speak my unfiltered thoughts. But even more, I fear losing the chance to truly see and be seen by who I am. There's so much beauty in our shared struggles and experiences, if only we dared to go deeper.⛓️

I'm still learning how to navigate that balance. How do we connect authentically while also adhering to unspoken rules?
It's something I grapple with, as someone who avoids superficiality but craves genuine human connection..."

07/08/2023

"Dear Journal, it's all in the details...

I'm like a radar, always tuned into the subtle cues around me.

Over time, I've honed my skills in reading people - their behaviors, words, and what's unspoken.
I used to obsess over body language, analyzing meanings behinds words. Now it's like a second nature.🫂

This awareness boosts the effectiveness in my work. There's a stronger foundation of communication and trust when people feel seen.👀

I always strive to create a space where others can explore those little traits that make them who they are - things we all forget sometimes.

It's a reminder of WHY we started this journey, as an educator, counselor, trainer, the list goes on.
In my point of view, the "why" is everything. Without purpose, what are we doing exactly?

It always comes back to the details. Small, but meaningful."