a prolific 28 years on earth - where's rachie now?

from singapore to london, zurich, new york and san francisco; a life well lived

one of the questions i get the most from friends is, “where in the world are you right now?”

I’ve built myself a reputation of living in a plane, jetting from one city to the next before my friends can even catch me for a coffee.

i turned 28 a couple days ago. nothing’s changed, but at the same time, everything’s changed.

I’ve travelled 40 countries, lived in 6 cities, and still have boxes scattered across friends’ apartments round the world. technically, i am everywhere.

for those of you who know, i’m a die-hard new york girl. the city probably tops the list of things i love. i found and lost love here, friends i’ve longed for, the tastiest food and countless career opportunities here. and while new york still feels the most like home, i’m building a new one in san francisco now, and i’m excited for the big things ahead.

yes, big life update: i moved to san francisco!

in the last few months i’ve spent here in sf, I’ve seen more growth in my company than ever before (caveat, we are b2bsaas lol). we’ve managed to work with great design partners and customers - tons of YC companies and more. It’s also been humbling and nothing short of incredible, being surrounded by fellow founders who are wildly ambitious and supportive of each other’s dreams.

so before i experience life again in another city, i wanted to put out some up some thoughts i’ve had lately. i’m still a work in progress, but for now, candidly, here’s some lessons that have kept me going:

• on parents:
  
  my parents flew out to help to new york to help me with my move, meet my friends and celebrate my birthday. i’m so lucky mine are healthy, happy and close friends of mine too. i remind myself to be patient with them, because parents are also doing life for the first time themselves too — although somehow, they always know. you might not need to say everything, but they see everything. and somehow, what’s left unsaid, is still said.
  

• on friends:
  
  there are dining table friends, and there are sidewalk friends. sometimes, you don’t have to end a relationship, but you can rightsize it when you both hit a different phase of life. generally, I’ve chosen to surround myself with relentless humans. people who are climbing their own mountains, so I can climb in parallel with them.
  
  proximity to friends is also so important. I try to schedule a little bit of time for quality 1:1 everyday, be it over a call or a 15 minute walk with a homie nearby. it’s done wonders for my mood and mental clarity. at the end of the day, people are the only thing that matters. the good news is that you can choose your people.
  

• on work:
  
  I’ve been working in startups for the last 10 years. I started my first company at 18 and am on my 3rd one now. I’ve been in the mobility industry to close to 4 years now — it’s what I’m passionate about. I can’t say I am where I want to be just yet, but I dare say that I’m so happy doing what I am and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. i know, it’s a luxury to be able to say that.
  

• on life:
  
  “plan in decades, but live in moments.” have a grand vision, but don’t forget to enjoy the process of making it come to life. being excited about life has made all the difference. you can do life dragging your feet, or do it full of zest and find joy in the smallest things. you radiate differently when you appreciate the little things you have.
  

• on wealth:
  
  everyone defines luxury differently — and it’s usually what doesn’t come easy for us. i’m not rich financially, but i definitely am in terms of experiences, friends and opportunities. others envy my world travels, and I envy their consistent routines and stability — the grass is always greener on the other side.
  

• on love:
  
  as the first-born daughter, I’ve spent most of my life being hyper-independent. I moved to switzerland briefly after my last relationship ended, one that taught me that it is ok to rely on people who want to support and do life with you. it also taught me that to truly be known, is to be held even when you least deserve it. since, i’ve learned to heal, so that when someone is trying to love you, you let them. and at your own time, you’ll find love. i know it exists, because my friends and family love me the way they do.
  

• on hobbies:
  
  i’ve tried a gajillion hobbies. i paint, dance, fly drones, play the piano, learn german, korean, do photography, write, read, knit, make ugly pottery and play golf (badly). I still want to learn a bajillion more — tennis and skiing, amongst others. unlike what others say, it’s never too late to pick up a new skill.
  

• on social media:
  
  i have a love/hate relationship with this. i love documenting life, and scrolling through my own profile reminds me what a prolific life i’ve lived. that said, there’s also so much struggle that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t see — life isn’t just the highlights that you see on online, and I hope people remember that as they doom scroll everyday.
  

• on health:
  
  i’ve been running on fumes for longer than I’ve been able to remember. moving everyday is one of the best things you can do for yourself. perhaps, this is the year i learn to slow down and breathe. i’ve realized that things start to work out better for me when i let go. while there will always be competition, the only one that matters is yourself.
  

and so, while i know I will return to new york one day — for now, hello san francisco. please be good to me <3

xoxo,

rachie