About & Contact
Adorkable, some say. Agony aunt extraordinaire (except to myself). Apartment therapy. Athens. Auburn bangs.
Ballet pumps. Banoffee-baker. Bibliophile.
Cat-lover (in a non-bestial way).
Daily grande soy chai tea lattes.
Girl’s girl. Greek genes. (Born & raised in South-Africa.)
Hates, hates, hates drivers who don’t indicate. Hope. Hope. Hope.
I don’t dance.
Jon Stewart.
Leggings.
Must be manicured.
Nailed it. Narcisco Rodriguez for her.
Peach ice-tea. Private Jokes (Private Jokes!). Punnilinguist.
Regina Spektor. Rain, rain, come again. Romantic and proud. Ruby red nails.
Silver cigarettes. Single.Sleep with feet off the bed.
Ted Moseby. Tolerant of everyone, except idiots.
When did I turn 30? Writer person.
I spent the majority of my 20s in pursuit of love. The romantic kind. The kind that can only come from another person. This blog started as a way to document and navigate that time in my life. I even wrote a book about it.
While I was writing the book, I realized that I was so intent on finding and maintaining a relationship with another person, I had unknowingly pushed the relationship I had with myself to the side. Actually, I hadn’t even realized that I had a relationship with myself! I hadn’t realized that all the problems, the challenges and the turmoil I was going through were largely down to my complete ignorance about me.
After a kind of perfect storm of conversations, talks, and epiphanies, I reached a simple conclusion:
The most important relationship you’ll ever have in all your life is the one you have with yourself, so you better start knowing yourself, woman. (I call myself woman in my head.)
Finally, in my 30th year it dawned on me that the only way to know myself was to just live my life…like me.
My stories have been featured multiple times in The Printed Blog, Indie Ink and Running In Heels. I’ve also been featured in Five Star Friday (160th Edition). I’ve been published (in print) in the book: You’re Not The Only: Intimate Stories From The Internet. My first memoir -Hope Dies Last: Lessons in Love- was published in 2011.
Writing opportunities, fan mail, lollipops, jumpsuits and Jon Stewart’s autograph can be sent directly to eleni [at] elenizoe [dot] com
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I can wink but it never looks as smooth or as cool as when others do it. I always look like I’m having an epileptic fit.
Hi Hope, I just wanna say I just discovered you blog this week and been reading some of your old entries… and many times I felt as if I was reading into my own thoughts. We’re so similar in so many ways, i’m 25, single, living on my own in a foreign country (althought I have been here for 7 years now). Dunno how to flirt, stubbornly and proudly independent. I really enjoyed reading your posts :)
Hi, fellow 20something. I wanted to say that I enjoy your blog and it’s little smiley face in the corner :)
I’d love to visit Athens. And I love your blog, too!
:)
the woman standing still. while enjoying the rain, that is.
certified blogger. spotted.
I can wink (not well), but I can’t snap…or whistle.
Me and panic attacks used to be in a relationship too, thankfully we broke up but I am still running scared!
I love your blog, beautiful writing.
I just found your Blog and read a few posts and loved it. Then read your “About” page and laughed cause you described me to the tee (well except the Winking, and the masters in psychology)
I didn’t know you were based out of Athens! Lucky girl.
Here’s a comment, because you love them so.
Hi!! Just started reading your blog and I love love love it… we have so much in common! Check out my blog if you get a chance!
Where are you from? If not from Greece, what brought you to Greece in the first place?
Great blog :)
stupid guy moved to australia.
i want to smack him
Hi there !
Your blog is interesting . Your about is also interesting and different . I also love to write and comments too!
Hi!My name is Nora and i’m 18 years old.I just found your blog and i like it soo much.There are such interesting stories and i think that we,all,can
take a lesson from them.
Hi! I just stumbled across your blog… not sure how now.
Anyway, what I wanted to say was nice blog. I will definitely be back to read some more.
Oh, and I would looove to go to Athens one day.
Love your about me page……especially about you and panic attacks…funny
Hi, i just discovered your blog, and i think you’re great with words! I’m really glad that i found you; you’re like verbal chocolate. Much love =]
Hi Hope,
Your writings came up while I was searching blogs for the newly single (again) and how others are coping with it. I’m going to attempt to cease talking/writing on the whole single/lonely/aloneFOREVER stuff, as you’re right, it can’t be helping all that much.
finding that I’m not alone out here is a great comfort. I wrote “Today is NOT forever” on a post-it and stuck it to the back of my cell phone. I’m going to adopt the mantra for a little while. I hope you don’t mind.
I thought you lived in America.
Hi Hope!
Newcomer to your blog and I appreciate your transparency. I look forward to reading more :)
Hi Hope!!!
I have read the entire Men Series(seriously!)
I just couldn’t help myself!
I love your blog.
BTW, mayb you should should get it published into a novel or something!
I found you when I googled crohn’s dating. Do you have crohn’s? I love your view of life!!! I am an x-new yorker living in Israel.
Hi Hope:) Great blog – I’m enjoying your honesty. I also date every 5 years so I know what you mean! xoxox
i will be reading.
just found you today :)
28? Lies.
<3 it.
Lovely blog…found you through Indie Ink, looking forward to reading more.
hahahahha Private Jokes!
:)
love that show !
I just found this blog, and not only am I eager to comment each and every entry as soon as possible (and maybe one day, gasp, have you respond), but it’s inspiring me to maybe start writing again. I think it would help me.
You are representing me a lot!!!!I like your blog.Keep writing,thinking,expressing your self,’painting’ your texts,travelling your fans,inspire us…. :)
Your blog is wonderful and I thank you for sharing your writing and thoughts with us. Keep up the tremendous work!
Hi Eleni!! Nice blog, came across it while searching for something about Hope and Love. Visited Greece once in pursuit of love, great country that’s close to my heart. I look forward to more posts, they are so well written. xoxo from Kenya, Africa