To those who shaped our lives without knowing it

As the winter wind rattles the windows of my Limassol apartment and the unforgiving Cyprus weather rages outside, I find myself settled in with a hot cup of tea, embarking on what I thought would be a simple social media cleanup. What started as a mundane task – an hour, maybe two of going through ‘friends’ and ‘followers’ – turned into something far more meaningful. Ten cups of tea and seven hours later, I found myself deep in a rabbit hole of memories, faces, and moments I hadn’t revisited in years.

There was Kevin from Austria, my childhood friend. Julia, who helped shape my early coding journey. Christos, my first “real” client who took a chance on me. Syeef and Myrsini from MLH, who helped bring Ninja Hacks to life. Each face carries a story, each name holds a memory. This is an open letter to all of you – those who’ve influenced my life, knowingly and unknowingly.

My dear friend,

I know we haven’t spoken in ages. Or maybe we did just recently, but I’ve never found the right moment to tell you all that I wanted to say. Perhaps we drifted apart, moved to opposite sides of the globe, or our friendship went onto the shelf until a better time would come. Life gets busy – I know firsthand. But whether our relationship was a casual acquaintanceship or we were inseparable for days on end, you’ve helped shape me into the human I am today, and for that, I am grateful.

You may not have realized the impact you’d have. Sometimes it was something regular and mundane – a conversation over coffee, a shared laugh, a moment of understanding. Other times it was a greater shared experience, or wisdom offered over months and years. Maybe we met professionally, through Codeero, at a hackathon or conference, or through some wonderfully random twist of fate. The ‘how’ doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you were there, adding your unique thread to the tapestry of my experiences.

To friends with whom we drifted apart:

Thank you for the amazing times we shared together. Even as it was sad to let go, I know it must have been the right decision. Sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes friendships naturally reach their expiration date, and sometimes it might have been a simple miscommunication. Whatever the reason, what once was will always remain a fond memory, and I’ll cherish the times we had together.

To the friends with whom we’ve temporarily shared:

Whether it was a weekend at a hackathon, a few weeks at a course or accelerator, or months working on a project together – thank you for that time. Thank you for the conversations, the insights, for sharing your culture and your story. We said we’d keep in touch, exchanged social media handles, but as we returned to our original paths, it never quite worked out. Know that I still smile when you pop up on my timeline and mentally celebrate your successes with you. You will forever be part of the story.

To the strangers and friends of friends who’ve shared wisdom, coffees, and time:

Whether we worked together briefly, chatted on a long-haul flight, or met just once for a fleeting moment – your words have stayed with me. The wisdom from your own journey, your beliefs, or simply your willingness to listen – it all made an impact and meant more than you know. There’s a certain beauty in how our interaction was constrained by time, yet I hope our paths cross again.

To all those who have taken a chance on me or my ideas:

Thank you for believing in me, for trusting me with your time or resources. I know I expressed my gratitude then, but it’s only now, looking back, that I can truly see the magnitude of your impact. I hope to pay it forward someday, but know that I will forever be grateful for your faith in me.

To all of you who are still with me today:

The biggest thanks goes to you. For sticking with me through the crazy times and adventures, for the stories we will one day tell our kids. As my favorite place in Cyprus said best: “To the nights we won’t remember, with the friends we won’t forget.” I appreciate you more than words can express.

Love from Limassol,

Julian

Before I knew it, somehow it’s already 3 am. My socials are cleaned up now, so my ADHD brain is happy that a task was completed, but the biggest value from today, by far, is remembering all of the amazing (and difficult) moments that led me to here.

Thank you for everything. Know that I am grateful and slowly getting to a happy place.