2023 was the year I almost died. In January 2023, en route to a snowboarding session with friends, I had a car accident. Like all major life events, it happened in an instant. One moment the car was steady, waiting for the vehicle ahead to turn right; the next, it was zig-zagging between lanes after a loud crash. Another car had hit us from behind, causing us to spin off the road. Fortunately, no oncoming traffic was involved and my partner managed to avoid a rollover. The car was a totaled. But miraculously, we all walked away with only shock but no major injury. This incident marked a turning point for me in 2023. After processing the event, I realized my greatest fear wasn't death itself, but dying with dreams unfulfilled. I could live with the consequences of my choices. But not with the regret of inaction. So, 2023 became a year of breaking boundaries. I started new projects, embraced fresh hobbies, and found my voice. It was the year I began my social media journey, sharing my experiences and learnings beyond my 9-5 job, the side projects, the internships I coordinate and the fantastic team I'm proud to have. 2023 is the year I went from no ideas to too many, to finding my “voice”. This didn’t come all of a sudden, but by posting on a regular basis ever since April. Along this new path I got to know some incredible and inspiring individuals who became my friends. And this journey lead to me coaching people outside my day job, a genuinely fulfilling and enriching endeavor. You all know who you are and I am grateful that we are connected. 2023 saw me embracing hobbies outside my comfort zone. I started sewing, progressing from a complete noob, afraid to power the machine and accidentally sew my own fingers, to actually tailoring my own clothes and getting lost enjoying the process. I also returned to painting after a long hiatus, overcoming my fear of bold colors and embracing the full rainbow. This year, I also taught my first in-person language course. Although I had done this online before, I was really anxious to do it in-person. But in discomfort we grow. I had a blast teaching and I already have students enrolled for 2024. 2023 was also the year I found my ground. The year I cherished my inner child’s dreams. And one of them dreams was to see live a concert of one of the most powerful and empowering women in music: Beyoncé. The experience was everything I hoped for and more. Due to that pivotal accident, I also realized that I like my limbs where they are now, the way they are now. So 2023 was the year I sold my motorcycle. Although fun and adrenaline inducing, I was reluctant to drive it again after the car accident. The thrill isn’t worth the danger for now. Lastly, 2023 was the year I decided to plant roots and find a place to call my own, which I did. Reflecting on the year, I'm humbled by how much was packed into it. It's true: people overestimate what they can do in a week but underestimate what they can achieve in a year. Stepping out of my comfort zone has been where I've thrived the most. Looking ahead, 2024 is about maintaining this momentum, facing new challenges and setting ambitious plans.

Sometimes you need a bit of nature to disconnect from the world and reconnect with yourself.

Software development is about solving problems for the business, by following an approach that's maintainable for the foreseeable future. Software development is not about design patterns. These are just ways to do stuff for specific situations. They’re tools. Don’t confuse knowing a pattern with having to use it.

One thing that limits our learning is our belief that we already know something.

Cannot stress this enough. Pair programming challenges your ideas and assumptions. Pair programming makes you both the teacher and the pupil. Pair programming leads to better results. In the end, pair programming is all about building in public.

Coldplay, you’ve been incredible. 🫶

The best way to keep growing is to always see room for improvement. When you can’t see the flaws in your own work, you can’t improve. The moment you think you’re great, you’ve hit plateau. So yes, imposter syndrome is actually beneficial. It helps you shape the best version of yourself.

You can do it all. Just not all at once. Prioritize.

You live with the consequences of your decisions. Not anyone else. So why listen to what anyone else has to say about them?

Life’s too complex to think you can do it all by yourself. Ask for help.

A comment is an apology for not choosing a more clear name. Aim for self-explanatory code over adding a comment.

Traveling to Belgium this week. And I've already had a great head start.

Black swans disrupt everything. The tech industry is no exception to this phenomena. Staying agile and prepared for the unexpected is essential. In practical terms, this means continuously updating your knowledge of industry trends. Technologies that are in high demand today might become obsolete tomorrow. The key to thriving in such an unpredictable environment lies in mastering the fundamentals. A solid foundation makes it easier to adapt when new technologies emerge. While frameworks and programming languages may fall out of favor, core principles and problem-solving techniques remain timeless. Focus on building these enduring skills. They are your best defense against the uncertainty of black swans in tech.