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Colors and me

To start the blog part of the site, I decided to write something about colors and people. “How they affect us?” are “ What are their meanings?” two main questions I researched. However, things didn’t go the way imagined; my perspective was very different than I thought. Reading meaning of colors is not new to me. As a professional coach I also have one more blog and I wrote post about the same topic, but when it comes to drawing illustrations I saw that my inspirations have changed. I started to observe nature as I drew more. I drew flowers, animals, and other parts of the nature. Even when I didn’t, I created my own way of using colors according to nature. As an example, when I draw a group of books I didn’t want to use dark and similar colors. I choose bright and warm colors to reflect the fun in it. As you read now, I see colors as tools to bring fun out of our daily lives and this is the first time I wrote this sentence. So it is also new to me! 🤓 

Coming back to colors and how they affect us; I think nature is the primary example when it comes to art world. Of course many artists may have different perspectives about inspiring sources and use of colors,  but I can only write about my self this confident. Even when I am writing this article I look at a huge pink flower and how it found itself a place in my house.

Putting all these into consideration, nature is very important part of my illustrator side and journey. When I start to draw something new, I automatically think how mother nature choose colors and create. I hope you enjoy my inspiration source the way I do. Nature is where we came from and always a good place to feel fresh. 

Story Writing

I didn’t write anything for a while, and it started to affect me. I felt anxious and tired.  

This morning, I woke up and said to myself, “You haven’t written anything for a while.” My inner Serra was signaling something. I opened this blank page and began to pour out whatever came to my mind. This is how I align and listen to myself. Writing is my way of resting. So I found a way to rest today and asked our new friend AI to give me three random words. 💻

🐟 Ripple
🟡 Lighthouse
🍀 Meadow

I decided to write a story using these words. “Lighthouse” stood out the most, so here I go…

There is a big and bright lighthouse. It helps fishermen and sailors find their way. People use it as a guide at night and admire it as a beautiful sight during the day. It is blue and yellow — just like the sea and the sun. Near it lies a wide, green meadow. People visit this meadow to spend their days and relax. It holds so many flowers and plants that one cannot even name all their colors. Those who wander here learn about life and enjoy it on this same piece of land. It is both a teacher and a friend.

Another great teacher and friend is the sea. It is nature’s color of serenity. It may seem blue, but it holds countless tones and details. Unless you swim in it, you won’t see its richness. Its gentle ripples are like its way of speaking to us — to sailors, swimmers, and wanderers of all kinds.

I imagine a life spent on this bay. With all its colors and corners, it is life itself. ✨

I want to end my story here. The story may look short, but what matters here is not the length — it’s knowing where I’m going to finish while I’m writing. I’ll already be continuing to bring the story to life. It’s no surprise to see the patterns of nature reflected in me. I am simply a girl who loves nature. In coaching, we have similar methods that help people in the same way. Writing, too, is a powerful way to rest and reconnect. This is why we keep our journals. 🤓

I feel better now — and I’m excited to design the visual for this post. As I said, this isn’t just a story-writing exercise; it’s a practice of alignment and listening to ourselves. You can use it whenever you need.

Serra 🌸

Feeling Free

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

Jalaluddin Rumi- A teaching story translated by Coleman Barks*

On the 12th of October, I went to my university’s homecoming. I was so excited. I had been planning what to wear for two days, like a child before her birthday party. I woke up and drove along the same route I used to take when I was a student. I visited the corridors and library where I grew up. I still cannot describe what I felt that day. I was happy and thankful for having grown up there. I felt free again. I closed my eyes and felt the light breeze and the fresh air of my school. I ate the same pasta and shared my memories with my friends. These were the things I did, but the most important part was the feeling I had. As I wrote before, I felt a freedom that I hadn’t felt for a long time—a freedom that I had been afraid to express. I was content. I was there, and I only felt the wind on my face.

I was happy and thankful, but there were not only joyous memories. I felt sadness and light at the same time. I remembered losing my aunt and seeing my friend hugging me to support me. It is still one of the hardest moments of my life, but knowing I had a good friend reminded me what life truly is. It is a big house! I also had challenging moments—finals, lessons that were hard to pass, and many more that I don’t even remember. However, I finished school and have always kept that part of my life with me. I didn’t change my direction afterwards; I simply widened my map. I love my life and wouldn’t change a thing if I had the chance. Yet, I wouldn’t say no to going back in time and spending more time there—with the life experiences I have today. I’m sure that version of me would love it very much.

Blue Jasmine in My Hair

It was my birthday. It was so crowded that some of us were standing. There was plenty of food and also a big chocolate cake that I love very much. It was the perfect cake for an occasion like this, celebrating something special.

As I wrote, it was one of my most special days. I like Italian culture and their big dinners with long tables. This felt like one of them. As I was walking, I felt a flower in my hair—the blue one. Blue is my favorite color and I especially love it more than others. It is very delicate but still likes to share its presence with us. It is just like nature itself—delicate and powerful at the same time. It makes us feel better but also has its boundaries. That is why I remember feeling that flower and leaving it there. It is the souvenir from my birthday celebration. It is my way of remembering how beautiful the day was.

I am sitting at the same table while writing this post and I can still see my happy self, smiling near the door. I know it may sound too romantic, but being with loved ones is one of the greatest treasures. It is indeed one of the most valuable signs of living a happy life. Our memories shape and define us. I, Serra, feel very happy and thankful. Life is a journey, and being with loved ones helps us move forward more easily.

Being Content

For the first time, I started a piece by creating the illustration first. This post has a different flow than before in terms of how my ideas formed. I was sitting and thinking about my life while looking at the view. There were trees, waves in the sea, and a glass of iced coffee in my hand. I was doing nothing — just slowing down my thoughts and searching for ways to feel better.

Then a bird began to fly across the sky. In that moment, I realized I was smiling. It wasn’t just flying — it was dancing. I watched its dance and thought, this flying bird is my cue for how to feel better. I found peace in simply being, and nature quietly answered questions I had been trying to solve.

I remembered that happiness is not always about smiling and having fun. There’s a word that describes being connected with the moment, being present, being content. It’s a word I use often. This piece might be about being content. In fact, it is.

Finding that main idea makes me feel better and already more productive. I like this blog for that reason — writing here brings me peace. Of course, I always want to feel positive emotions, but I’m also aware that, as a human being, I experience a wide range of feelings. Life is not an open buffet where I can pick only what I like and leave the rest behind.

Listening to our emotions helps us more than we think. Naming them, or simply noticing them, opens new spaces for growth. Life moves in circles; it’s organic. We can’t always predict how it will expand or sometimes narrow. What we can do is be present — and observe the possible routes ahead.

What are you aligned with?

I am aligned with nature, peace, love, happiness, creativity, and productivity.

While I was planning this post in my head, I looked at it from different angles and tried to create an outline that’s easy to read and inclusive. The main idea came to me while I was swimming in the sea. A wave came, and I had to change my pace to keep going. That moment reminded me of how I choose to align with nature — to adjust rather than resist.

Back to the main point: knowing the things you are aligned with is the first step to shaping your life in an authentic way. Even though there are common formulas we all follow from time to time, we can still bring in our own thoughts, experiences, and values.

Knowing yourself helps make that process easier. It’s like knowing the direction of the current — when you’re aware of it, you manage your energy better. That’s how harmony starts to show up.

In my mind, alignment and harmony are closely related. They support each other. It’s like two neighbors who get along well — they check in with each other, share a meal now and then, and celebrate things together. They grow at their own pace, but they also create space for others. They enjoy sharing and connecting with other neighbors and they bring a positive energy to the whole building.

Now, I’d like to turn the post toward you and ask a couple of questions:

What are the things you feel aligned with?
How do they shape your relationships within life and help you stay balanced?

A Sunday Evening

Around 9 p.m. on Sunday, I was watching TV and playing a game on my phone. While I was enjoying my calm Sunday evening, I heard a few lines from the program that made me ask myself: “Am I procrastinating in life?” It was one of the smallest but most meaningful moments of my day.

Two hours later, I found the answer.

Of course, there are — and always will be — better ways to live life, achieve things, and reach dreams. But I was doing my best in that moment. Plus, I do have routines that help me stay productive day-to-day. I listen to audiobooks, prepare colorful and healthy plates, and more. What I often overlook is that these small routines are actually what make me authentic and creative.

Coming back to the moment that sparked the thought — I wasn’t procrastinating. It was just a regular Sunday evening, and I had a long day. I was tired and simply wanted to rest with a cup of coffee. What I was really doing was worrying about tomorrow. But I needed that calm moment in order to have a better week.

After not writing for a long time, I found motivation — and it stemmed from that one question. It reminded me that all shapes are formed by dots. Life may seem like one long line, but what makes that line meaningful are the small dots along the way.

We are like a big puzzle made of colors and shapes. To truly see ourselves, we need to follow these dots. They show us what we enjoy, what fulfills us, and how we can improve. That’s why I want to end this post with the image of a line — and invite you to shape it the way you want. Every line is meaningful. There is no one “right” way to live a life.

As Milton Erickson said:

“People are OK:

Human beings everywhere are basically okay!

People have real resources:

They have many more resources than they know!

Every person has a positive intention:

Even if a positive intention is hidden, it can quickly be found.

People do their best:

They make their best choices each day with what they know about life so far.

Change is inevitable:

No matter how difficult, we learn, we grow, and we change.

In this way, our acorn becomes an oak tree.” (1)

(1) https://erickson.edu/erickson-approach-inspiring-change

Balance

I recently started doing stretches every day. During one of the moves, I did something I hadn’t done in a long time—looking at the ceiling. Although I’ve practiced yoga and Pilates in the past, the move itself wasn’t new to me, but the feeling was. I felt peaceful and present. That moment inspired me to draw something about being balanced. Today, I fully charged my tablet and went with the flow.

At first, I had three colors and a circle as my starting point. But the flow took me somewhere different—I used more colors. This time, I didn’t try to match them perfectly. I began with dark blue and added yellow. Pink, orange, green, and purple were surprising choices that emerged along the way. I didn’t want to draw perfectly even lines. When I finished the illustration, it looked very different from what I had imagined.

I realized that I had used shades I don’t typically choose in my daily life, yet they aligned with my sense of balance in that moment. This illustration reminded me that being whole doesn’t mean having everything perfectly in place. Life may appear in various ways, and each has its own reason. What matters is recognizing the message and staying present. We may not choose everything that happens to us, but we can choose how we respond.

Serra

The Rare Yellow Penguin

My inspirations come from nature. Sometimes, I see a very colorful flower; sometimes, a beautifully simple, single-colored bird. What inspires me is their connection to nature. I think I have more nature photos than pictures of people on my phone.

Last year, I saw a rare yellow penguin for the first time. It was yellow! I liked it so much that I had to draw it.

While drawing the penguin, I chose to illustrate it with a black-and-white friend to emphasize biodiversity. To add a more personal touch, I decided to change some colors, but it is still one of the most creative works I have ever done. It reminded me how nature is limitless and unique—and that beauty is not always something we create. It’s something that inspires us.

When you think of nature, what inspires you the most?

Serra 🌸

2025-First Post

Hi,

What makes people authentic?

Their habits, ways of self-expression, or points of view?

I think all of the above, along with other things, make a person authentic. I opened this blog site to express myself better and use my unique sides. The reason I stopped writing was due to changes in life events and choices. I know they sound big, but they were always part of my journey. New areas for me to grow have opened, and I wanted to discover them. Then I came back here to create a new, big road to continue doing everything I like to do. Writing here guided me a lot to know myself better, and I want to use this space again. The language I use, the topics I write about, and how I combine them excite me a lot. This blog is my happy place where I write about things that inspire me. That is why I wanted to come back here with this little personal but sincere post. I wanted to show my respect.

Since it can be considered the beginning of 2025, I would like to ask you some questions that guided me:

  • What makes you happy?
  • How do you feel authentic?
  • How would you like to spend 2025 to feel more content?

Thank you for reading this post. See you in the next one!

Serra 🌸

Writing and Creating Something New

The more you write, the easier it becomes to continue. I am trying to write a post, and it is very hard for me to create the flow that I want. You should see my Pages document—it is so crowded with many different ideas. 📖 Even though it hasn’t been that long since I started writing, it is hard to clear my mind. Actually, last week, I focused solely on writing and it is very surprising for me to feel this way. 

So why is it harder than before? 👀

I think it is one of the most commonly asked questions. We have all asked it of ourselves at some point in our lives. I don’t know the answer, but I think I have some clues. When you write, you create something. It is very similar to drawing. You have a blank space and endless tools to fill it. You can do anything you want, but is it meaningful enough for you to finish? I wasn’t aware of the direction of this post, but it is going somewhere that I enjoy. Reading all the things I wrote, I believe that I can ask myself, “What do you want to create? What is the meaning?” instead. Now I feel more comfortable about writing something new. Maybe this post is not about the topic I initially found—it is about listening to myself.

What do you think? I think I am headed in the right direction. In fact, I will save my topic or write about it just after finishing this one. Either way, I feel more productive and optimistic.

How do you experience these kinds of processes? What makes you productive? I would be very happy if you shared your thoughts with me. 😊

See you soon,
Serra 🌸