Never-changing versus Ever-changing

Today, I started writing by typing  "quotes on change" in Google. Hello Paulo, long time no see. He is actually one of my favorite authors. Let's have a look at this quote:

"When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready."
― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym 

Flat Number 2

Last Day @ Flat Number One

Wow, that's a good one to start the the third blog post. Very personal at the same time. I have always been the biggest fan and the passionate enemy of change in my life. All at the same time to be exact. First of all, my start sign is cancer. I love to be surrounded with familiarity. The idea of change scares me. I usually shut my eyes and wait until winds of change heads south. Is it safe to come out now? Yet, look at me now. Last year this time, I was living in Ankara, my hometown, 30 minutes away from my family. It just took three phone calls for me to quit my job, leave my family and friends behind and come to live in Ireland.I am sharing a duplex with heating problems with my Nordic flatmates. I do seem to enjoy change.  
Like Paulo Coelho, I see change as a challenge. My instant reaction when facing a new situation is usually silence. Then comes the unpleasant part. I start whining. I find excuses, try to drag people to share my misery. This is generally a long way to fall and I know by know, duh I'm thirty, that I don't like the bottom of that road. There is no love. Still, there is another way. While I was going fast down the spiral, I hear a song, see a movie, talk to someone who is not afraid to be open. Then I stop. I think. Everything is silent around me. Then I hear a drum roll and start to see the spotlight. 



Yesterday I felt the same. I took a leap of faith. I came to Dublin. The reason was simple. I was on my way to re-invent myself. I am doing good. But from time to time I need to remind myself. It can be slower sometimes. But I am committed to this cause. This blog will be the place that I share milestones of this transformation. 

This brings me to my final point for this week. I can use another quote on change here. 

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” 
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower 

I met my best friend Naz when I was 11. Ever since, our friendship managed to pass from numerous tests. Even Scream 3. She knows what I mean. She changed, I changed, things around us changed. She left as Stephen Chbosky said. Then she forced me to follow her. Here we are today. Both 30 years old. As a tribute to a never-changing friendship against ever-changing situations, we now have matching tattoos. Thank you for being there each time I fail. Thank you for being there each time I succeed. 

Love is... shaving your best friends leg :)

I am thankful for...

On a plane with Saoirse

I am thankful that Saoirse hurt her knee 10 days ago during our run. No, I am not that horrible. I only believe that everything in life happens for reason. Saoirse's injury was the first domino to fall. Our morning walks to the office just followed the first domino. And before you knew it, I started asking the question. "What are the three things you are thankful this morning, bunny?"

   

 

My three things this week:

1. My friends:

Le Fate Ignoranti

I have always dreamed about a fictional brunch I saw in a movie: Le Fate Ignoranti by Ferzan Ozpetek. It also happens to be one of my favorite movies. In the movie, you see an unusual bunch of people gathered around a table. Not bound by blood but my memories. I tried hard to get that in the past. Only now I realize that actually I have something better. It is true that my friends are spread all around the world. It would be tricky to get them around the same table. Geography unfortunately is not the only reason for this difficulty. Still, I have people who deeply care about me. People who get angry with me when I take them for granted. People who know my dreams and support me on the way. And the greatest thing is this group is expanding everyday. After almost 11 months in Dublin, now I feel like I let more people in to my world. I am thankful for them. You know who you are.

2. Movies:

Sandra Bullock in Gravity

I love movies. What more can I say? I even tried to have a Masters degree in Cinema. Too bad I blew the interview. I still remember that day with a smile on my face. I will try to share the things that inspire me in this blog. This week it was a movie. Yesterday evening I went to Cineworld to see "Gravity" by Alfonso Cuarón. Just two days before seeing this movie, my flatmate shared her very negative feedback and a major spoiler with me. Lucky for me, this did not stop me from going to this film anyway. All I can say is that go and see this movie. Not for the wonderful 3D effects. For the very honest take on courage. Very recently, I had the pleasure of listening to Sahar Hashemi; co-founder of the famous Coffee Republic chain. I heard the phrase "Leap; and the net will appear" from her. This movie, Gravity, is an excellent story about that leap. If you still don't like the movie, let's sit together and discuss. I will buy the pint.

3. My Job:

My second day in the company

Most sales people think that the last quarter of the year is a tough one. We have mugs around the office saying that "There is no Q5". Very true. I am also very excited about the last 30 days of this year. Not stressed though. Ladies and gentlemen. I am only around 20% of my quarterly target. I still believe that I can overachieve my annual target. This keeps me motivated. This makes me get out of my bed every morning with hope. I love my job. What is my job? Relationship Manager at LinkedIN? That is only my title. Fred Kofman on the other hand has an alternative explanation about the definition of your job. My job is to help my clients realize the potential of social recruitment. My job is to explain how my customers can get the financial benefits of finding and recruiting the best talent out there in the open. My job is to prepare the net for the companies who are willing to take a leap of faith. The greatest part of my adventure on LinkedIN is to see the transformation among some of my clients who took this step. I am pretty sure many will follow. I am very passionate about my market and my clients. This is why I am thankful to walk that 22 minutes to the office with great tunes in my ear and a smile on my face. Wait for me Club. I am almost there.  

Storytelling

It all starts with a story. The name of this blog actually has two stories behind. 

Story 1: Changing Habits

Lovely Berg and the infamous
fur pillow

After living on my own in four different apartments for over 7 years, this year I finally decided to try flatmates. Not only I had one, but ended up with two of them. Execution almost always chases a decision (or does it) and Katerina and I were trying to rent out my apartment number 4. An obstacle to be tackled just to move into our new flat. Katerina arrived to my apartment number 4 with a major hangover. What a coincidence? I had a major hangover as well. Damn Oktoberfest! Before interviewing the potential tenants, we decided to have a photo shoot with this pillow I have. We thought about our potential experiences as Norwegian, Swede and Turkish flatmates. The cultural differences? We must write a blog about this. And voila! Here is the blog. 

Story 2: Finding Inspiration

Hidden Gems of
London

I was exploring the secret walks of Portobello on the last day of my promiscuous week in London. I came across this great bookshop. The Notting Hill Bookshop. Who doesn't like some Roberts and Grant? I know I do. I was on a quest to find a copy of one of my favorite books, Siddharta, for my friend Jane's birthday. I got it. Thanks to the lovely ladies helping me. Then, I wanted to take their photos. I realized that "it is for my blog" is a great excuse to shoot even greater photos so I used it. As any rational individual would do, they asked for the name of the blog. There was no suspicion on my mind. I answered "The Fur Pillow"

So here I am. Executing. An idea that I have on the corner of my mind for many years. Finally coming to life. It is work in progress so feel free to direct me. What would you like to see in a blog like this? What would be new?

Breathe in. Breathe out. And post. 

Thank you for the inspiration ladies. I hope you are reading this.