About Me — Anya

There’s something deeply comforting about being alone — not in the lonely kind of way, but in the way that lets you finally hear yourself think.

I spend a lot of time by myself, and I like it that way. Most days, you’ll find me with a browser full of tabs, a design file open in Figma, and half a sentence waiting in a blank document. I write. I design. I overthink. And then I start again.

Creating things — whether with visuals or words — is the only way I know how to breathe through the noise. It's how I make sense of the world when everything feels chaotic or disjointed.

My name is Dishmi Mahabalage (there’s more, but I’ll spare you the rest of it). But you can call me Anya. It’s the name I’ve chosen to carry into my creative work — not out of pretense, just preference. It feels lighter. Less formal. A name that fits in the spaces where I do my best thinking.

Writing is where I feel most at home. It helps me name things I didn’t even know had names. It gives shape to emotions I couldn’t otherwise explain. It’s how I stay connected to myself when everything else starts to fray.

Outside of writing, I design user interfaces and explore how technology can tell human stories more intimately. I don’t love coding, but I do love crafting digital spaces people actually enjoy being in.

I also follow the news daily — not obsessively, but enough to stay informed without getting overwhelmed. It keeps me grounded in what’s happening beyond my little corner of the internet.

And yes, I watch anime. Not just for entertainment, but for the storytelling, the characters, the emotional depth. There’s something beautiful about how a good anime can say so much without ever feeling forced.

Right now, I’m also working on my own short story — it’s currently at 90k words and slowly growing. It’s not about perfection or publishing. It’s just something I do to let my thoughts settle, to create something that feels entirely mine.

You could say I dabble in AI and tech stuff too — mostly because I find them fascinating, and partly because they align with my career path. But what truly excites me isn’t working in tech — it’s writing about it. Exploring its impact. Questioning its direction. Imagining its future.

For me, writing about AI and tech isn’t just professional interest — it’s personal therapy. It eases my mind. It gives me clarity. It allows me to step back from the noise and make sense of what’s coming next.

This little corner of the internet is where I’ll be sharing pieces of all that — fragments of thought, personal essays, reflections on design, and quiet explorations of how we make meaning in a loud world.

Thanks for being here.

If these ideas resonate with you, consider following along. I’ll be sharing thoughtful content — written and visual — because I believe in the power of both. After all, I’m a visual learner too.

You’ll find me exploring:

• The intersection of technology and psychology.
• Reflections on self-awareness and creativity.
• Lessons from designing digital experiences.
• Thoughts on how we stay human in a tech-driven world.

Because sometimes, the most powerful tools aren’t the ones that make us faster — they’re the ones that help us feel more like ourselves.

So whether you're here for the insights, the design tips, or just because you, too, like spending time in quiet corners of the internet — you’re welcome here.

Let’s explore together!