Thread by @nbt

I’m back in San Francisco after a two month sabbatical.

Very grateful for the chance to travel, unplug, relax, read, and learn more about myself and the world.

It’s hard to capture in words (and emojis 😉), but here’s a stab at 10 personal reflections from this time away👇🏾

1/🌏 An inescapable daily reality everywhere I went was that the climate is changing.

From droughts in South Africa to rising sea levels in the Maldives to pollution in India to bushfires in Australia, it's obvious that everyone, everywhere, is affected by the climate crisis.

1.1/ Obviously there’s more to say and do on this topic.

I do believe the climate crisis is the most important issue facing all of us today.

And I’m more motivated than ever to work towards a decarbonized future, which I believe can be a better quality of life for everyone.

2/🔌 It took me a couple weeks to fully unplug and wow did it feel good.

I turned off push notifications, limited my data to only a few apps, so I had no choice but to put my phone away and be present.

I could feel my brain re-wire as I used less tech.

I felt much happier 🙂.

3/📱 Per the above, I gained further appreciation for technology's positives and negatives.

The smartphone, for example, has unlocked new opportunities and a better quality of life for so many people around the world.

But many people are less happy with it than without it.

4/🏃🏽 I realized that I’ve been on a professional treadmill for the past several years.

A hamster wheel of notifications, emails, texts, calendar invites, tech twitter, FOMO, and more.

I had to get off it to fully realize its extent.

5/🤯 I work in such a bubble.

When you’re on the treadmill, it’s very hard to think clearly and to think independently.

It’s easy to succumb to the echo chamber.

My guard is up going forward.

6/🙋🏽‍♂️ I am more than my work.

And my identity shouldn’t be defined by my work.

One of my favorite parts of this trip was not being asked what I do and not having to talk to people about my work all the time.

7/🌁 Despite some of the above, I do love living in San Francisco.

I’m surrounded by friends and family, have great weather, can eat amazing produce, and get to spend time with very talented, driven people.

Many things need to improve in this city, but I feel lucky to live here

8/💥 My passion for entrepreneurship only increased.

I was inspired seeing many varieties of entrepreneurs in action around the world.

I was inspired seeing products that were just ideas a few years ago being used by people everywhere.

It reinforced my calling.

9/🌳 My passion for the outdoors and for nature only increased, and I discovered my favorite time of the day to enjoy it: sunrise 🌄.

It’s when my mind is clearest, the air is cleanest, it’s the best time to go for a run, and it feels like the world hasn’t yet started moving.

10/👫 And finally, my life is so much better because I have an amazing life partner, @chandrikasriv.

The stars aligned for us to take this trip together, spend so much quality time together, share new experiences, and for that I will be forever grateful 🙏🏽