the end of summer

8/23/24

I am officially nearing the end of my first NYC summer, one word comes to mind: hot. I never knew I could sweat so much, and showering multiple times a day became a routine—note to self: linen pants are essential; jeans, not so much. One thing I quickly learned is that New Yorkers don't stay in the city during summer; they escape. They head "out East," which is really just a modest way of saying the Hamptons.

Although my intention was to remain present in the city, I ended up being away from the city for 39 non-consecutive days since Memorial Day:

San Francisco = 14 days

Hamptons = 12 days

Los Angeles = 10 days

Ithaca = 2 days

Washington DC = 1 day

It was a lot of time away from my new home, but I loved it. Sure, there were moments when I longed for consistency or just wanted to sleep in my own bed rather than a middle seat on a redeye. But the freedom to travel, meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and experience life brings me so much energy.

There were several times this Summer when I was in awe of what was happening. I ran my first ultramarathon in Ithaca, NY, with one of my closest friends and proved that my body is capable of so much more than my mind could believe. I went to a birthday party in the Hamptons where The Sugarhill Gang performed. I met brilliant people tackling tough problems. I spent quality time with family and friends.

I'm not just grateful for these experiences; I'm grateful for the time I've taken to reflect on them. My biggest takeaway is this: Life Is So Rich. There are endless places to explore, people to meet, foods to try, and things to experience—I can't allow myself to become complacent.

These experiences have set my mind wandering, pondering questions like:

  • Why are so many people intellectually dishonest with themselves?

  • The differing of reactionary thoughts from original ones?

  • What aspects of life are truly binary?

  • What is the impact of false signaling?

  • How do misaligned incentives shape companies and relationships?

  • How is it that over 70% of U.S. adults are overweight?

  • Why are more than 70% of youth unqualified for military service due to obesity, drugs, health problems, misconduct, and inaptitude?

  • Will gene selection and sequencing become more common with the rise of IVF?

  • How do personalization and customization influence customer loyalty?

  • Which companies would cause outrage if they disappeared?

  • What drives my personal spending and purchasing behavior?

  • As we electrify everything, how can we sustainably power this transformation?

These are just some of the questions I've been mulling over—who knows if I'll end up writing about any of them. For now, I'm letting my thoughts roam freely, diving deep when something grabs my attention.

I'm happy to be back in NYC for a while—this city is now where I call home. My girlfriend recently shared a saying with me that feels like the perfect way to wrap this up:

"The second-best feeling in the world is leaving New York, and the first-best feeling is coming home to New York."

-m