Billy's Thoughts

Hi, I'm Billy

Last updated on Aug 13, 2023

Hello! Welcome to my fledgling corner of the internet.

This is a place for me to write and focus on what I want to see more of. A big one for me is: I want to see more people doing the things they love. And that starts with myself.

Some of my values include: Beauty, Industry (“to work hard and well at my life tasks”), Passion, Intimacy, and Self-Knowledge.

My interests tend to cluster around two topics: Personal Development and Doing Things.

I like introspection and figuring myself out. I like improving. I like chatting about psychology, neuroscience and philosophy of mind, and personality stuff (Enneagram: 4w5; INTJ; cusp-y ♍️☼♐☾♋↑).

I like playing music (drums, singing, piano), cooking, drawing, volleyball, coding, and making the occasional spreadsheet.

In June 2023 I left my job of 7 years in software engineering, and I’m currently on a sabbatical!

Other facts

What I’m doing now

Inspired by Derek Sivers’ now page movement. Last updated on Apr 9, 2024.

Living in SF

I moved to San Francisco after graduating college in 2016, and I’ve been living here since (8 years now!). But I think from 2020 onward is when I really started to enjoy living here. Most Sunday mornings you can find me playing volleyball at Ocean Beach.

If you’re ever in town, I’d love to hear your story. DM me and let’s grab coffee!

On sabbatical

In June 2023 I left my job of 7 years in software engineering, and went on a sabbatical.

After 6 months, I realized that the main thing I want to focus on is: rewiring myself away from grasping for external validation of my work as a necessary component of my worth, and cultivating an internal wellspring of self-worth and self-love.

I recognize now that more achievements and other external things won’t truly satisfy me, and that satisfaction must come from within. So I’m working on that.

In the meantime, I’m doing creative work that I love.

Sabbatical projects

Right now I’m spending my time:

Projects I’ve completed since June 2023

Blog

  1. Sabbatical Notes #1
  2. Sabbatical Notes #2: Fun
  3. Creating this new About Me page and Now page
  4. Sabbatical Notes #3: Goals
  5. An Encounter with The Emptiness
  6. Sabbatical Notes #4: October
  7. Sabbatical Notes: July October
  8. Sabbatical Notes #5: Self-Love
  9. 2023: Year In Review
  10. (How to) Love The Grind
  11. The Stages of Change
  12. Becoming a Fit Person

Music

  1. Hamilton – Dear Theodosia (song cover)
  2. Oasis – Wonderwall (song cover)
  3. Taylor Swift – Mine (Taylor’s Version) (drum cover)
  4. Taylor Swift – Red (Taylor’s Version) (drum cover)

Drawing

  1. Portrait study sketches; current cadence is 1/week
  2. Art vs Artist 2023 post + 2023 art recap reel

All of my various things

I like to do all sorts of things! Here’s where you can find me: