I am sitting on a flight heading from Las Vegas, and I am feeling utterly overwhelmed.

This morning I presented a keynote at this year's Adobe ColdFusion Summit. I've not been actively involved in ColdFusion for quite a few years, so when the team first asked I politely declined; a keynote slot just didn't feel authentic for me considering my current focus and priorities.

But the event was celebrating ColdFusion's 30th anniversary, and considering my involvement in those early years, I agreed, not to talk about ColdFusion specifically, but more to discuss lessons learned and how to stay relevant in a rapidly changing tech world. Oh, and who am I kidding, it was also a chance to wax nostalgic, reminiscing and sharing stories about the early days building the web.

The session went well, I think, and I am glad I agreed to go. And seeing so many familiar (if slightly older) faces made it all the better. Honestly, the entire event was really moving.

But what really got me were the many genuinely heartfelt 1-on-1 conversations last night and this morning. Hearing someone tell you that your book helped them land their first job and launched a multi-decade career, learning that someone you (unknowingly) helped has started companies and is now hiring others, being told that your work has inspired others to write and teach ... literally dozens of interactions like this over the course of a few hours. As I said, I'm feeling overwhelmed,

I love the work I do, and knowing that I've been fortunate enough to touch so many people over so many years is, well, gratifying and incredibly humbling. And, yes, overwhelming. 🙏 🥲 🥰