Life

So, it’s been a year since I quit my job at Microsoft. I wanted to reflect on it, you know kinda like what we do in scrum retrospectives so that the next sprint can be better. First, the TLDR version Learnt a lot, especially on the business front like digital marketing, brand positioning, managing finances, ad spends/budgeting, ASO, SEO, etc. Went for some family trips which I had planned for long time but couldn’t attend to, (Singapore/Malaysia) and some South Indian temples. Caught up on my video game backlog and finished some really good video games which I wanted to complete since some time. Tried and learnt a whole set of AI tools from coding to creative writing to video and image generation and learnt a lot of best practices on how to build with AI. But despite my best efforts, I couldn’t really move the needle in terms of revenue. ...

Some days are just off. You find yourself wondering how to pass the time and engage in random activities. The activities themselves don’t need to have any meaning. You just do something, anything, as if your mind is stuck in a cycle of indecision and laziness. And before you know it, BAM! It’s 2 AM, and you’re still staring at your computer monitor. Where did the time go? “Ah, life sucks!” you declare, while continuing to stare, mindlessly browsing, munching on unhealthy snacks that chip away at you bit by bit. Then comes yet another resolution (in vain) to change yourself and upgrade your life first thing the next morning. ...

As the day goes by, I sometimes wonder, What truly makes a person happy? Is it when he finally gets what he wants? Is it when he receives the recognition he believes he deserves? Is it when he rises to the top, when everyone bows to his command? Does wealth and prosperity really bring the kind of happiness we assume they will? Truth be told, after more than a quarter of a century of living, I’ve come to believe that none of these can deliver true happiness. Happiness is a state of mind; it doesn’t need a trigger. We, as individuals, decide whether we are happy or not. ...