I just realised it is really hard to decide on what to write on your very first opinion piece. Few people
I have asked, suggested that I should introduce my-self to you. However, there are so many articles and interviews and this and that about me, to be honest I am bored about introducing me now. Also, I am sure you will get to know me better with these articles of my life, my design adventures, my stories, my inspirations during our time here. I am sort of planning to take over this corner that is given to me and make it me, if that makes sense.
So instead of telling you who I am, I want to tell you how I end up here.
It is December 19, 2022. I had received a message from Tuğba Yazıcı, she wanted to talk to me about “something”. Me being me, and being in the middle of a small disaster, I did not see it till the 20th.
Tuğba and I met few years ago, we knew of each other, but we never really met in person. We met over e-mails when she reached out for an interview. We had fun and we both sort of felt a connection which turned into a long-distance friendship.
Anyways so I managed to reach back to her on the 20th, gave her a time we could speak, the only problem was my life was basically a crime scene at that very moment, and obviously meeting took few hours delayed. And finally, when we managed to get in touch with each other I had a bag of food from M&S, standing in the middle of Oxford Centre trying to get through my 1000th phone call of the day when we managed to reach each other.
See now on the phone Tuğba is telling me about this amazing project she is working on, she says cheerfully;
“I am creating a newspaper about art & life & health, and I have all these incredible who are experienced in their field and living all around the world sharing their experience, life, suggestions etc.”
I could hear her excitement on the phone in the middle of the crazy noise of Oxford Street and the cluttering voices about all that was going on in my head which was overwhelming, in the middle of all that I could hear her cheer. Then she gives me three options saying here is what we can do together.
1- We can do an interview for Art Modern Miami
2- You can be a guest writer on Art Modern Miami
3- Or you can be a permanent writer on Art Modern Miami though I don’t know if you have the time,
or you like to write….
So now although you all know the answer here is the process in my head.
While she is listing these options, one side of my head I am all excited and thinking:
“Oh, I hope she offers me to write.”
The other side is literally screaming.”
“You are idiot; you have a flood in your store work room which got you to temporarily stop working for the very first time in 11 years. You are making calls to clients, business partners, you are refusing jobs for the first time in 11 years and in the meantime, you are trying to sort out the issue as it is from the main pipes, and you cannot hire someone to fix it. You also have a gas leak, so you are trying to heat the place without any gas to avoid damage to the hats from the damp due to water, while trying to sort out the gas people. You are also on the phone with insurance in daily basis to learn how to sort out things asap.
On top of all because the apartment you were supposed to move was not ready due to a gas issue you are at a temporary apartment with a bag so you in argument with bunch of people on daily basis to sort out all the issues. How the heck are you going to sort out all this, and add this on it??? You are tired, overwhelmed, and annoyed. You hate your life, and it feels like it will never end. So whatever it is just back off!!!”
This is all happening in few seconds, and I scream “YES”, yes please, I will write, I have so much I want to share, and I love writing and I studied humanities so I can write, and I want this. The famous “YES” of my life.
So here is something about me that I will suggest all of you to try this year. Say “yes”; sometimes opportunities come in the worst possible time, sometimes opportunities are so scary, sometimes the opportunities require you to have a lot of faith in yourself, and also most of the time opportunities require more work, more hassle more time than you already have.
But here is what it is “YES” is the only key to success and experience.
This year say YES!
Me having my brand where it is
Me living in London
Me knowing the most amazing people from all around the world
Me having some of the most incredible moments that can be
Me writing here is all because I said YES
Never say no to a possibly of experience
Never say no to a job opportunity
Never say no to something someone thinks you might be able to do
Never say no to taking risks.
Life is an adventure meant to be extraordinary the worst thing you can do with what is making with
is making it ordinary.
So, say YES to the opportunities this year.
Till next time.
Love you all
MERVE BAYINDIR
Hat & Millinery Designer
instagram: mervebayindirofficial
