I’ve been a huge fan of TEDx since my university days in London when I’d spend most of my lunch breaks watching TED talks (it was quite addictive). So, it was both exciting and an absolute pleasure to go from being a spectator to becoming part of the experience.

Here’s a funny story that shows how some messages we send out to the universe as thoughts sometimes get answered years—even decades—later…

Back in 2012, I had just launched my project BrokeInLondon.com, and it was gaining popularity in both London and Greece. I started getting invitations for interviews with Greek media—TV channels, radio shows, newspapers, you name it. Media wasn’t really my thing, but I knew I had to do it for my ‘baby’ website. As BrokeInLondon gained more attention, my friend and consultant Katerina suggested I apply for a TED talk to share my story because it could be inspiring to others.

I thought about it and even began drafting a talk. I didn’t want to focus solely on the website or its origin story; I wanted to explore the bigger picture. I realized what led me to create the site was my ability to ‘listen’ deeply—not just with my ears, but to my thoughts, emotions, and the words of others, while being open to possibilities. That openness helped me conceive the idea for BrokeInLondon and gave me the courage to bring it to life. But for some reason, in the end, I never finalized that draft or applied.

Years went by. Then, this past May, to my surprise, I received an invitation from TEDxAthens to be part of this year’s event—this time, as a sound therapist. Naturally, I said yes and began considering the topic for my workshop. While searching through my notes, I came across that old draft with notes. The title? The Art of Listening. I smiled, instantly knowing it was meant to be the theme of my workshop. Coincidence? Maybe. But it seems the message to the universe was received… even a decade later.

Thank you, Maria, for all the help and support, the whole TEDx team, and all the volunteers who made it all possible.