Last night, Nadia, Maarten and me mini-celebrated my birthday at a buffet. Not to overeat, but to sample. I’ve learned tasting beats stuffing.
Our eldest would have been 45 minutes late. I didn’t wait. Time and agreements matter. Still, we’ll celebrate properly this Saturday with the full family.
Later, scrolling LinkedIn with dessert still humming in my blood, I saw a post: a hand, a chunky smart ring, captioned “Best 300 bucks I ever spent.” Said it helped with sleep, smoking, steps. The usual.
I dropped a reply: “I have an analog wedding ring with similar effects.” Still think it’s funny, because it’s true.
Then a message from former coworker Maaike, complaining she ran out of AI credits. “What is Maaike without ai?” I answered: “make.” And that’s the thing. When AI steps out, we still make.
But is making without AI really a flex? No one brags about building a cabinet with a manual saw unless they’ve got a point to prove.
AI’s just a tool sometimes, but also something more. A collaborator, even. If it helps you finish something sharper, faster, deeper—why not?
So yeah. Use it, or don’t. But let the reason be alignment, not ego.
Yesterday I turned 48. And I’ll keep choosing tools that help me live, make, and show up better—even if one of those tools is just a ring on my finger reminding me who I said I’d be.
What's on your mind?