What can an artistic residency in a medieval French village and a visit to the Champagne region teach us about creativity?

I explores the French concept of prise de mousse - the second fermentation in champagne making where bubbles begin to form unseen beneath the surface - and discovers an unexpected metaphor for healing, intuition, and creative growth. A story about slowing down, listening to the body, embracing uncertainty, and trusting what is quietly becoming.

When a poem leaves the page and enters another artist’s imagination, something unexpected begins to unfold. This reflection explores my collaboration with Joy, a queer artist from Turkey, whose installation work drew inspiration from fragments of my poem featured in the upcoming Queer & Feminist Poetry Anthology Vol II: Queer Joy and Gender Euphoria.

A reflection on witnessing a dear friend step into the role of DeeDee the Clown - a storytelling performance about transformation, belonging, vulnerability, and artistic becoming. Also featuring the pictures!

Earlier today, I wandered through the Rijksmuseum exhibition Metamorphoses expecting mythology and ancient stories. Instead, I found myself reflecting on transformation, trauma, survival, and the emotional symbolism hidden within the myth of Medusa. This essay explores mythology not as distant storytelling, but as a mirror for contemporary experiences of grief, healing, identity, and becoming visible after survival.

What happens when we slow down and truly unpack the word values?

At our latest LT Big Brother NL gathering, we explored how values shift across personal, professional, and collective layers - and how language, culture, and context shape what we think we mean. With the help of the STRIVE cards, the conversation moved beyond definitions into shared meaning-making. A cozy evening. A layered dialogue. A reminder that values are lived, translated, and negotiated together.

A short journey to Málaga led me into a quiet dialogue between landscape, memory, and everyday life. At the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga, Romantic landscapes and costumbrismo unfold a Spain where emotion and ritual, vast horizons and intimate gestures, coexist. I reflect and invite to slow down, to look closely, and to rediscover beauty in both the sublime and the familiar.

„Užsitęsusios tylos sezonas“ – tai esė ir tekstų rinkinys apie tylą, kuri nėra tuštuma. Apie sustojimą, kvėpavimą ir vidinę erdvę, kurioje gimsta tikrumas.

Tai knyga tiems laikams, kai nebesinori skubėti, aiškinti ar įrodyti – tik būti ir išgirsti save. Dabar prieinama mano webshop’e.

What does it really mean to live authentically - not only in our careers, but in life as a whole?
Following a recent LT Big Brother community gathering in Amsterdam, I reflects on authenticity as a lived practice, shaped by courage, discomfort, mentoring, and the power of community. A gentle invitation to listen inward, stay curious, and walk your path with more awareness and connection.

What does it really mean to be seen as an entrepreneur - without losing yourself in the process?
In this personal reflection, I explore the tension between visibility and silence, self-exposure and self-protection, and how learning to be seen can become an act of trust rather than performance.

What happens when snow disrupts daily life - and we choose to observe instead of rush past it?
While the Netherlands slowed under unusual winter conditions, I leaned into both lived observation and psychological research to explore how snow mirrors our human resistance to change - and what becomes possible when we pause, reflect, and soften our need for control.

This fall, a small group of five students embarked on a transformative semester that unfolded through deep conversations, powerful guest contributions, and meaningful encounters across Amsterdam. From exploring mind mapping and personal leadership to visiting Framer Framed’s Lawan! exhibition, ReRoll Works, the Amsterdam Archives, and Hortus Botanicus, the experience became a rich journey of connection - to ideas, to history, to nature, and to one another. Discover the full reflection in this post.

Earlier this week, the LT Big Brother NL community gathered at Koepelcafé in Amsterdam for an intimate meetup on communication. No agenda, just open conversations, reflection, and connection. Discover how different communication styles shape our relationships and the power of truly listening.

An evening of reflection, laughter, and leadership over pizza! 🍕

The Lithuanian professionals of LT Big Brother Netherlands gathered in Amsterdam to explore personal leadership through the Leadership Pizza tool - discovering that true leadership begins with awareness, connection, and a mindful presence.

Teaching is never a one-way journey. In my time with the students of OCB Block I at CIEE Amsterdam, I discovered - once again - that every classroom is a living dialogue. Through inspiring guest speakers like Tuaca Kelly, Olena, and Kerry, and a powerful visit to Framer Framed exhibition, we explored how learning emerges from awareness, emotion, and courageous conversation.

Read the full reflection on how teaching becomes a mirror for growth, empathy, and consciousness. → [Read More]

Exploring the invisible threads that connect us across continents, this piece reflects on diaspora, human encounters, and the quiet magic of staying authentic while navigating the unknown. [read more…]

Celebrating the work of my dear friend Agnė Kavaliauskienė, who continues to inspire with her dedication to the Lithuanian diaspora. Her recent presentation reminded me how powerful it is when passion meets purpose - building bridges between people abroad and the life of our country. Read more about Agnė’s inspiring journey and why her work matters so deeply.

The STRIVE Cards is the result of nearly three years of exploration, testing, and creation. Born alongside the STRIVE Cards Methodology Book, it’s a companion designed to support growth, self-discovery, and transformation. Discover the journey behind STRIVE - and how it can inspire yours.

This summer’s Photojournalism course took us far beyond the classroom. From the Amsterdam Archives to Hortus Botanicus, Framer Framed, World Press Photo, and the International Institute of Social History, each space offered its own lessons and perspectives. Together, we discovered how place itself can shape the way we see, learn, and tell stories.

Little Steps HOME is a living archive of small, intentional changes that invite us closer to ourselves.

Self-soothing is not a luxury - it’s an act of self-respect. From the smallest breath in a tense moment to the gentle rhythm of a song that slows your heartbeat, these little steps remind us we can be both the source and the recipient of safety.

This summer’s Photojournalism course was a creative journey through stories, light, and humanity. With six extraordinary guest speakers - from photographers and colourists to directors and curators - students explored the many ways images can witness, challenge, and inspire. Here’s what we learned together …