You had a story you used to tell yourself about how you got here in life. You'd share the story with others. Maybe you'd be at a party, and someone would ask what you do, and you'd say, "I'm a programmer." And their eyes would perk up and their mind would fill with images of…

Read the Tea Leaves

A reflective narrative exploring the emotional journey of a programmer grappling with the rise of AI coding tools. Through a second-person story, it traces the arc from pride in hard-won technical mastery, through fear and resentment as AI democratizes software creation, to a potential path forward rooted in curiosity and creative purpose. The piece argues that the core reason most people got into programming — to build things and bring joy to others — remains unchanged, and that adapting with an open mind is more fulfilling than clinging to a threatened identity.