Oh, the wild ride of aspirations and uncertainties, victories and failures!

In my life as a writer, the digital ink I wield has often intertwined with tears of both frustration and happiness.

Envision a delicate teenager—me—scribbling in journals, seeking solace in a universe where words became my sanctuary. I was that child who mastered the alphabet before even entering elementary school, and by my teenage years, I had penned seven unpublished works in Hungarian.

My passion for language was boundless.

However, everything changed when Ms. Taylor, my high-school Hungarian teacher, scoffed at my essays and told me I would never succeed as a writer. I dreamed of being a journalist, but her words hit me hard, leaving a wound that lingered for years. I blamed her for my waning interest in writing in Hungarian, even pondering whether she was the reason I never pursued piano. But that’s a tale for another time.

In the early 2000s, I discovered blogging, hiding behind a pseudonym to escape the weight of Ms. Taylor’s criticism.

I fused fiction and poetry with aspects of my life, and to my surprise, I won an award for my writing! Take that, Ms. Taylor!

Yet, the echo of her words remained, haunting me even as I transitioned to writing in English. I encountered trolls and harsh feedback, coining it "The Ms. Taylor Effect." It felt like reliving my high school days, and it took me five years to rebuild my confidence.

Now, in 2023, I’m back, stronger and more determined than ever. I’ve even published a book in English!

I’ve come to view my writing "failures" not as setbacks but as stepping stones—valuable lessons that have shaped my journey.

I was a troubled youth wrestling with my inner demons, but my experience with Ms. Taylor imparted crucial lessons. She nudged me down a less conventional path filled with detours, but in retrospect, I am grateful for how it all unfolded.

My aim is to write, express, share my experiences and learnings, and most importantly, establish a sustainable writing routine.

Though I’m not a native English speaker and still make mistakes, I show up, and that’s what truly counts.

Fun Facts About Me — Alphabetically

A — Animals Animals and I share a long history. My home resembled a petting zoo, filled with everything from dogs to parrots to even a deer!

By the way, I’m not a fan of zoos. I find them one of the saddest places; caged animals? Not for me.

B — Books With my passion for writing and languages, books have always held a special place in my heart. They’ve been my gateways and escapes to new worlds, whether fiction or non-fiction.

C — Chocolate My relationship with chocolate is complicated.

I’m one of those rare people who just doesn’t enjoy chocolate.

Why, you ask?

I have a theory. Chocolate wasn’t introduced to me during my childhood. I first tasted it around age eight, and I never developed a preference for it.

D — Dogs Dogs are indeed a girl's best friend. They bring joy, companionship, and endless tail wags into my life. You can survive without a dog, but why would you want to?

Growing up, my household was filled with pets—dogs, cats, bunnies, parrots, chickens, pigs, and even a deer!

I lost my beloved dog, Mango, a year ago, and the healing process took a long time. I even penned my feelings about her here.

E — Engineering Though I work in design now, my initial education was in engineering. With a master's degree in Agribusiness Engineering, my knowledge extends beyond the creative realm of writing and design. I possess the analytical mindset of an engineer!

F — Farming I grew up on a farm where chickens crossing the road was a normal sight. I feel a strong connection to the land and the delicious produce it yields.

Farming is in my roots; one day, I may even cultivate mushrooms. No, not the psychedelic kind, but the salad-friendly variety!

G — Gluten-free Living with gluten intolerance has led me to embrace gluten-free alternatives. I’d like to say it’s a culinary adventure, but it’s more accurately described as a series of trials and errors.

H — Hungary Hungary is where I was born, and it's more than just a place with a penchant for second servings at dinner. I left in 2010, and upon my return last year, it felt like stepping into a surprise party hosted by my homeland.

I toyed with the idea of relocating back, but my suitcase seemed to disagree.

I — Injury I experienced a spinal cord injury, the "super mild" variety, as they put it. You know, the kind where walking is off the table, but I can still crack bad jokes.

I underwent rehabilitation for over a year. The recovery felt like an indefinite gym membership I never signed up for, with a private physiotherapist named Xavier. Our frequent meetings made it feel like we were in a relationship.

If I had a nickel for every time I thought about Xavier, I’d have enough for a gluten-free Belgian waffle by now!

This injury was a transformative event, akin to a plot twist in a novel. It’s strange to think that without it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today, and it guided me to where I needed to be.

J — Journeys My life has been a whirlwind adventure from Hungary to Ireland, New Zealand to Canada. I’m collecting countries like stamps, and each one has added a unique flavor to my life.

K — Kiwi I’m a Kiwi, but not in reference to the fruit or bird. New Zealand has embraced me, granting me citizenship. It's like being part of an exclusive club. I owe much to New Zealand, including my ability to confuse people about my fruit/identity crisis.

L — Languages Languages are akin to my collection of hobbies.

Hungarian is my first language, German is my second, and English comes third.

I’ve also dabbled in Russian, Spanish, and Chinese, but let's say I wouldn’t win any international Scrabble competitions.

Currently, I’m learning French because I find its sound delightful.

M — Melon Watermelon, to be specific. I grew up on a watermelon farm and am its biggest fan.

If watermelon were a band, I’d be the front-row fan at every concert. I could eat it every day! If there were a watermelon fan club, I’d be the president.

But W is reserved for writing, so melon it is.

N — Noodles I consider myself a noodle enthusiast, from rice noodles to flat noodles to soba noodles. Since moving to Canada, I’ve developed gluten intolerance, but that’s just another twist in my noodle-loving saga.

Noodles every day? Where do I sign?

O — Owls Why owls, you ask? With my passion for learning and late-night writing sessions, I’m basically an owl in human form. Plus, they’re wise, and who wouldn't want to be associated with wisdom?

I’m also a bird nerd. Unlike eagles that often miss their targets, owls are the smartest, quietest, and most precise hunters.

P — Psychology Psychology acts as my mental gym. I’ve studied cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, still pondering why I adore noodles and watermelon so much.

It’s a captivating field that aids my work in UX design, helping me understand why people behave as they do, like adding pineapple to pizza (guilty, I do this too).

Q — Quest for knowledge From Agribusiness Engineering to Neuroscience to Digital Design, my quest for knowledge seems unending.

I’m also a florist, personal trainer, and plant-based nutritionist. Yes, I’m Jill of all trades!

R — Rollercoaster Life is a rollercoaster, and I’m just along for the ride—sometimes literally.

Once in Vienna, I rode a rollercoaster that felt like it was designed by a medieval torturer. By the end, I had broken my tooth and gum, looking like I had tried to floss with a chainsaw. It was quite the bloody mess.

S — Swimming I’m not exactly a mermaid, but I can manage a splash!

I began swimming lessons at 20, proving it’s never too late to dive into something new. Now, I enjoy the water, even if my style is more dog paddle than butterfly stroke.

T — Tattoos I have five tattoos that serve as my permanent accessories.

One is a half sleeve, like wearing a stylish shirt without the laundry.

No regrets! (And yes, that’s intentionally misspelled.)

U — User experience I’m a UX design lead, a fancy term for someone who communicates with customers to uncover their desires.

It’s akin to being a tech detective, minus the trench coats but with plenty of spreadsheets.

V — Veganism I’ve embraced veganism for seven years, and no, I won’t throw tofu at you if you opt for a burger. You do you, I’ll do me, and we can all coexist peacefully. Just don’t ask me to cook your steak.

W — Writing Writing is my eternal passion. If it were a person, I’d marry it. If it were food, I’d definitely write about it.

X — Xavier Ah, Xavier, my Belgian physiotherapist, a man of many talents. Our relationship felt rather one-sided; he saw me frequently, yet didn’t really see me, only my unusual neck (his words, not mine). I grew quite fond of him over time.

He rode a bike, bore a tattoo from New Zealand, played guitar, and was part of a band. He introduced me to Karnivool, which I initially thought was a new stretching technique. He was amusing, charming in glasses, and always encouraged me to push my limits.

Y — Yeah, nah This is my favorite non-committal Kiwi way of saying no.

Z — Ze(al) for life Zoltan, or as I affectionately call him, Ze. We met in 2009, and it felt like I found the missing piece of a puzzle. We’ve traveled through more countries together than many people's bucket lists. He’s been my partner in crime, my best friend, and my co-adventurer.

He’s truly the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m not saying that just because he reads my writing. Thanks for putting up with me, and here’s to many more years of fun and lost luggage.

Where to Find Me Wow, that was a lot of food talk! If you’re still with me, thank you for reading my story.

If you want to explore more about me (for whatever reason), here are a few links to check out:

• Website
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

For Writers Sign up for my newsletter for part-time writers because everyone has a writer within them, and you need this in your life. A YouTube channel is on the way!

For Designers I have a treasure trove of free resources in my Gumroad shop, along with a YouTube channel and a newsletter.

Articles I Enjoy Here are some of my favorite reads:

• Stand Out in the Crowd by Building a Strong Professional Identity
  • Steal my strategy for personal branding (uxplanet.org)

My Readers' Favorites - A Year of Selling eBooks on Gumroad — Here’s What Doesn’t Work

• How not to sell ebooks on Gumroad (medium.com)

Fun facts alphabetically were inspired by ArtisKev N.