Today we’d like to introduce you to Thao Truong.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After my stepfather passed two years ago, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that life was short. I wanted to do so many things, but I kept finding reasons to push them off. I leaped out of my comfort zone and started taking as many classes, workshops, and lessons as I could. To name a few: improv classes, violin lessons, figure drawing class, metalworking class, glasswork workshop, and pickleball lessons. I think my eagerness to feel like I wasn’t wasting my life kept me going.
My mother was going to move in with me. She no longer wanted the responsibility of maintaining a house alone and wanted to travel. We had it all planned out, and in January we found the perfect house for me, my husband, my mother, and our future family.
We completed the purchase of the home right before she was supposed to go on a month-long trip to China. She worked tirelessly to support me in my youth, often having three jobs and taking no time for herself. I was so proud she had finally begun to take time for herself. On the day that she was supposed to leave, she instead had emergency surgery to remove a large tumor in her abdomen. It led to her stage 4 pancreatic cancer being discovered, and she passed on March 19th, 2026.
I initially made the Whimsheet because I wanted to plan my next experiences with some friends. It was a tedious process, and I realized finding this information would be a big hurdle for most people, so I made it public. I remember her talking about how much she loved watercolor when I was little. Imagining her taking time for it seemed impossible because even the act of research would have been overwhelming.
Now the Whimsheet has grown from a spreadsheet to a website. I continue to build this platform because I recognize the mental load of trying to find an outlet when life is already throwing so much at you. It is easy to imagine a busy mom, trying to take some time for herself, then getting overwhelmed because she has to compare five different options and arrange babysitting. Many people have been in a situation where they are finally sitting down, but they have no idea what St. Louis has to offer. I do my best to highlight not only classes for adults, but also free resources and low-cost events. My intention is to create something that will help people find joy and community. My hope is that while people are busy with their lives, this resource invites them to slow down and experience it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Mostly, yes! The biggest struggles are time and handling things in a volume that feels healthy. Social media is a strange new beast to me. It always needs to be fed, which can put a lot of pressure on creators to create.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
This platform was created to help adults pursue hobbies and find community more easily. The website has a directory as well as a schedule. These were designed to remove barriers to participate as well as spread awareness. The Whimsheet is in its beta version right now, and here is some feedback that has made me proudest.
A bridesmaid used the list to plan a bachelorette party.
Therapists are giving the resource to patients recovering from trauma.
A mother lost her son and used it to find something to reconnect with herself beyond her grief.
Social media can feel a little silly sometimes, but the platform and the resource can open up some incredibly meaningful experiences for people.
What were you like growing up?
I was always curious and creative, but I did not do well in school. I found that realizing that there is no pressure for me to achieve has created the right environment for me to learn more than I ever have. Giving up the idea that everything I do has to make money has been wonderful.
Pricing:
- Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://whimsheet.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todowiththao/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@todowiththao
