I was on my computer today doing some organization, using Claude to help me format a few things. No, not Things tasks (That’s going super well, need to write a follow up), but just some files and such on my computer.

Starting Small

It started small, with files and folders I didn’t mind Claude touching. Just screenshots I’ve taken over the years. I figured sorting them into folders by year would help me process them, remember the context of each one, and decide what was worth keeping as a memory in my photo library. It was great. It helped me find duplicates and clear those out. I also had it go through my old song lyrics. I’ve got a TON of those from years of writing music. (That’s a post in itself. As soon as I get some time, I’ll be tracking some new music.)

Simple stuff like that.

Then I started moving receipts into Apple Notes, and I thought, hey, let me have Claude clean up my notes so they all follow the same format. That’ll be great!

I’m cooking…

And this is where it got fun, because I have a lot of recipes. I’ve made some of the most incredible meals over the years, and I’d been writing them down for my kids so that when I’m gone, they’ll have my recipes in their hands. Just a few from my notes and photos are below.

Food is a beautiful thing.

It’s something all of humanity shares. We enjoy meals together, we cook together, we pass these experiences between our loved ones, we experience feelings, we make memories, we live life and food is part of it. I personally cook because I enjoy it, and it’s a way I show love to others. If I cook for you, it’s because I want to make you smile and see you enjoy the food I create. It’s part of my personality.

It’s very personal to me and I know it’s personal to many others. You may make your version of a recipe differently than I make mine, and that’s something we can share from anywhere in the world. HA, it’s like open source!!!!

Then I was Overcome with Emotion

Here’s where it opened my eyes and took an emotional turn. So, Claude started its process, and as I was scrolling through the recipes manually, I stumbled on this.

My mother’s creamy Italian salad dressing. I know it might not seem like a big deal, but it was important to me.

I panicked. This was exactly the way my mom shared it with me, and it was the last recipe she had shared before she passed. I remember the converation, I remember the laugh. In fact, I have a FaceTime photo of it with her exact reaction. It was a core memory of mine.

I stopped Claude immediately. I felt this deep sense of regret for almost reformatting my mother’s little notes. Her wording. Her signature ‘😘’.

The Realization

I told Claude to “remove all emoji from the output, unless told to add them.” Claude doesn’t know my Mom, and doesn’t know the story. The experience I had. The importance of that little emoji, the format, knowing that she typed those words by hand on her iPhone and sent them to me while we chatted.

I was so caught up in being organized, in cleaning things up, that I almost erased something priceless to me, because of a formatting automation, because of my mistake–my command

AI is incredible. I love it. I use it every day and will continue to use it everyday. But this was an excellent reminder that sometimes, some things, are better left alone.

I love you, Mom.

P.S. I’m now writing #NoClaude or tagging with ‘NoClaude’ in my documents, notes, or things I want protected. With the new instruction:

* Any file that has a label, note, or tagged with any of the following, 'No Claude' , 'NoClaude' or '#NoClaude', do not touch that file or folder, it is off limits to you.

A lot of people kick off the new year with resolutions. Some want to lose weight (yep, I’m working on that too). Others want to break bad habits—like not hanging up a towel after a shower. I’m looking at myself here. I’m sorry, Jen. (Pssst…This remains a sensitive topic in the Miller household.)

But if I’m being honest, the thing I’ve always struggled with the most isn’t organization—it’s consistency. Specifically, writing things down and actually publishing them on my site. I’ve always had plenty of thoughts, ideas, and half-formed opinions rattling around in my head… they just don’t always make it out into the world.

So instead of making a traditional New Year’s resolution (because we all know how those usually go), I’m making myself a promise: to write at least once a week. Nothing overly polished. No pressure for perfection. Just showing up, putting words on the page, and hitting publish. And if you happen to read these posts along the way, I’d love for you to help keep me accountable.

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So how were the Holidays?

The holiday break gave me a lot of space to slow down and reflect. I spent a good amount of time with family—which, honestly, was exactly what I needed. There was a lot of laughter, a lot of noise, and a lot of moments that reminded me how quickly life keeps moving.

Some of that time was spent doing the important stuff… like playing Rocket League on the PS5 with my kids. Competitive? Absolutely. Humbling? Also yes. We also had a blast with a new board game console called Board. It turned into one of those things that pulled everyone together without anyone staring at their own screen, which felt like a small miracle.

Harrison’s holiday was very clearly defined by one thing, his new electric scooter. That thing barely stopped moving. Watching his excitement and confidence grow as he zipped around was a reminder of how powerful simple joys can be.

On the quieter side of things, I used the end of the year to get some life and work logistics in order. I’ve been laying the groundwork to start doing some interesting work and consulting in 2026, and it felt good to approach that thoughtfully instead of reactively. Along those same lines, I finally set up a dedicated machine for music recording and production—something I’ve been wanting to get back to for a long time. Music has always been a creative outlet for me, and I’m really hoping to make that a more consistent part of my life again.

Resting For The Future

The holidays also gave me a real chance to unplug. Since my exit from Fueled at the end of June, I felt like I was able to create space to reset mentally and emotionally this holiday for the first time in a long time. That distance helped me gain some clarity around what I want more of and less of moving forward.

I Got Inspired

Part of what pushed me to commit to writing more consistently was seeing how often our friend Matt Mullenweg shows up and shares what’s on his mind. The guy has a lot on his plate, yet he still finds time to write regularly. That really stuck with me. If he can do it, I can definitely find 30–45 minutes a week to capture a thought, reflect on a week, or explore an idea that’s been bouncing around in my head.

I don’t want this space to turn into a daily journal or a running log of what I did each day. My goal is to share more of my story—the experiences, lessons, mistakes, and small wins from the last few years. Hopefully, some of it will resonate. Maybe some of it will entertain. And if nothing else, it’ll be honest and authentic.

Bring on 2026

More than anything, I’m genuinely excited to close the door on 2025 and step into 2026 with clearer priorities—focusing on my faith, my marriage (we’ll be celebrating 20 years this year), my boys, and building a life that feels intentional but spontaneous.

So here’s to a new year, a fresh start, and committing to putting ideas down—even if they come out messy or as a stream of consciousness. At least I’m giving it a real shot.

Happy New Year.