Good People of vitruta: Berfin Tanoğlu

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello, I'm Berfin! Back in the days when I was a big social media follower, I used to describe myself on Instagram as "world traveler, food lover, chocolate mania, coffee addicted, true believer in karma, obsessed, procrastinator, and Mother of J&Minik." The only thing that has changed is that I’m now a mother to three cats instead of two:) Now I also have Çirkin. My love for cats has reached an almost obsessive level. In fact, my life has evolved so much that I now work for a company that produces cat and dog food.

I studied Business Administration at Istanbul Bilgi University and later completed a master's degree in Communication Strategies at Galatasaray University. For about 10 years, I've been working in the private sector, managing brands in the marketing department.

What does a perfect day in Istanbul look like for you? What do you do?

Without a doubt, a perfect Sunday morning for me starts with wearing my slippers, my leggings, and heading to Nişantaşı 5 Coffee and Tea, a place I'm a regular at, with Çirkin (my third cat that I care for on the street) sitting on the chair across from me, enjoying a cup of coffee. I consider myself quite lucky to live in Istanbul, such a chaotic city. My neighborhood is in a spot where, even while walking down the street, I can greet at least five people, and it's very easy to strike up spontaneous conversations. That’s why, whenever I say “I’ll just grab a coffee and head back home,” those Sundays often turn into long, unplanned days that end with me walking back home in the late afternoon, thinking, “Well, that’s another weekend coming to an end!” It’s the perfect mix of unstructured yet wonderful moments that leave me feeling energized.

If we were to head outside, what’s your idea of the perfect holiday? What are the places you’ve visited that you loved the most, and what recommendations do you have for us?

If you're curious about cultural and lifestyle differences, New Delhi, India, is a must-see destination. At the time, I wasn’t into yoga or energy practices; it was a purely tourist trip. But I would love to go again to explore its nature and teachings more deeply.

My favorite city is Paris. Walking around its streets for hours, enjoying coffee at every corner, and admiring the magnificent buildings is truly wonderful. Most people visit the Eiffel Tower to go up, but I find it much more enjoyable to look at the tower from the ground, observing it from the alleys and streets.

However, my ideal vacation destination in recent years has been Greece. I visit different regions as often as I can. The islands are perfect in the summer. Each island has a different concept; for a romantic getaway, Santorini is ideal. If you’re there, make sure to spend at least one night in Aris Cave. Thassos is easily accessible for those traveling from Istanbul and offers a peaceful retreat with countless secluded beaches to unwind.

For winter months, I recommend Athens and Volos.

What are your essential items when packing for a trip? What do you always take with you?

For a woman, that’s a tricky question! There's never anything in my bag or suitcase that I can part with lightly. But my absolute essentials, both in my suitcase and bag, are my sunglasses, no matter the season. Sunglasses are my weak spot; even if I’m sure I won’t use them, I’ll still buy a pair for each day of the trip and end up using only one.

Are there any recent books, music, or movies that have left an impact on you?

For the past three years, I've been fixated on the question, “Who am I, and why am I here?” So, I’ve enjoyed reading about energy, the universe, and existence. I highly recommend these three books I’ve recently read:

1. Tanrının Doğum Günü by Burak Özdemir (The book is written as conversations with God on MSN, with very direct questions and radical answers.)
2. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (A deep book that helped me break my mental patterns, written in simple language about energy, frequency, and positive thinking.)
3. It Didn't Start with You by Mark Wolynn (This book discusses family constellations and how what we experience today is a legacy passed down to us from previous generations, even before what we’ve learned so far.)

There are platforms that we all use these days, like Netflix, YouTube, audiobooks, and podcasts. Which ones are a part of your life? Perhaps you’d like to share some of your favorite channels, podcast series, or shows and documentaries?

Netflix rocks! “Explained” and “Food Crimes” are documentary series I’ve recently watched and am eagerly waiting for the next episodes. I also tend to watch everything that’s popular and has received good reviews, even if I don’t finish them. But my all-time favorite is still Black Mirror