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Every two weeks, I share my writing about investing, career transitions, parenting, and other topics that engage me. I'm just trying to figure stuff out.

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Visiting Spirit

Three times over the past week, I was contacted by an ancient man with an important message. He persisted, clearly trying to get my attention.

The first time, I was in Brunswick, Maine, near Bowdoin College, where this man used to work as a professor.

The next time, I was walking in Portland with my family when I saw him staring at me from an elevated seat.

The third time, I was easing into a new book. In the introduction, the author referenced a poem written by this same man.

The old man who was calling to me looked like this.

At least he did when he was still alive.

After three close encounters, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow had my attention. When the universe speaks, it’s often subtle. Mr. Longfellow was gently whispering, but he had something to share.

It would have been easy to ignore him, to check another email, or to reply to a text, but instead, I welcomed my new friend into my life.

What was his message for me? Unsure but curious, I chiseled a few moments out of my week to learn more about this man.

Growing up in Boston, I was familiar with Longfellow’s name. In my late 20s, I regularly ran across the Longfellow Bridge, which connected Boston and Cambridge.

I knew Longfellow was a great American poet from the 19th Century and that he wrote “Paul Revere’s Ride,” among other classics. But honestly, I didn’t know much more than that, so I dug deeper. There had to be more.

On a superficial level, I was interested to learn that Longfellow was born in Portland in 1807 when it was still part of Massachusetts. Maine didn’t become independent until the Missouri Compromise in 1820, when Longfellow was a young teen.

Longfellow effectively balanced the different sensibilities of Portland and Boston throughout his life. His ability to connect with intellectual elites and a broader audience was rare then, which helped boost his popularity.

So, of course, I felt a connection to someone who loved the people and landscape of Maine but also enjoyed the company of friends and colleagues in the relatively bustling city of Boston. I get it.

Armed with a basic outline of Longfellow’s general bio, I started reading his poems, and this is when I finally began to hear his message. As I read several of his classics, two poems particularly resonated: "The Village Blacksmith" and "The Arrow and the Song."

The Village Blacksmith

​“The Village Blacksmith" highlights hard work, family, and community themes. It’s about the value of perseverance, personal connections, and the role of work in shaping character and community. If you’re a regular reader, you know these core themes regularly cross my mind.

The line, "Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose," speaks to the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that comes from hard work.

Longfellow uses the blacksmith as a metaphor for the universal human experience and dedication to one’s craft. But this idea applies equally to any line of work, whether a blacksmith, stock analyst, writer, or teacher.

The Arrow and the Song

The short poem “The Arrow and the Song” captures the journey of an arrow and a song, both released into the world, their paths unseen, but their impacts profound and lasting.

The arrow signifies intentional action in a clear, linear direction. It’s like an explicit plan. The song represents more ambiguous but equally valuable actions that help us connect with others. As we navigate life, our decisions often launch us into the unknown, shaping our future unexpectedly.

Longfellow suggests that even if we don't immediately see the results of our actions and words, they leave a mark on the world and can resonate with others, often in ways we never anticipated.

Conclusion

This newsletter will be sent on February 27th, 2024, on what would have been Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 217th birthday. So, maybe it’s not surprising Longfellow has been so active lately.

I’ve enjoyed learning more about this man and the ideas he explored in his life. The themes of work, character, community, transformation, and connection resonate deeply with me, especially as I’ve entered my 50s.

We’ll see if the spirit of Longfellow decides to stick around. He’s already become something of a new friend and inspirational guide. I’ve enjoyed learning more about him and hearing how he worked through many of life’s universal challenges.

And a Small Ask

Perhaps inspired somewhat by Longfellow’s visit, I’m exploring ways I might deepen existing connections and build new ones. Specifically, the challenge is finding a way to do this effectively, authentically, and more regularly.

To that end, I’ve considered launching a Cove Community of some kind. Would you take a few minutes to complete this short survey to help test this idea?

The survey will remain open for two weeks from today. Your valuable input will remain anonymous unless you choose otherwise, and there’s no hidden sales pitch or agenda.

In case you missed it, here’s the link again.

A Bonus

As a final thank you for making it this far, here's a bonus Longfellow poem that hit home. It's called "Changed" and was written as Longfellow visited his hometown of Portland around the time he turned 50.

In this poem, Longfellow meditates on the nature of change, questioning whether it's the world around him that has transformed or if he has changed.

Can you relate?

I know I can.

Other Stuff

The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World I recently read Bruce Feiler's book about career change. It's a quick read and offers several valuable insights based on hundreds of interviews. If you read Feiler's Life is in the Transitions, you'll appreciate his extension of the term "lifequakes" to our career journey. For background, "lifequakes" are regular and significant disruptions to the patterns of our lives. Feiler research indicates we face a "workquake" roughly every 2.5 years, on average. If you're interested in more on a non-linear life, you might also enjoy Feiler's TEDxIEMadrid Talk, "Need a Fresh Start? How to Master a Life Transition," embedded.

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​Learn more at the author's website​

Clearing Your Desk There is a rising number of horrifying stories about heartless bosses firing unsuspecting employees. ​In a recent newsletter essay, Ted Merz​, former Global Head of News Product at Bloomberg, shares one such story. In the story, a staffer gets fired in the elevator, purportedly on his way out to lunch with his boss. Yikes! While presumably true, the story is a set-up for Merz's welcome advice to readers on preparing for an abrupt exit. It's probably nothing you haven't heard, but since we humans often need to be told more than once, here it is again:

​Read the essay (3 mins)

Talking about money is hard. Do it anyway. This post is a short but valuable reminder from Carl Richards on the importance of discussing money with your spouse or partner.

​Read the post (2 mins)

"Basket Case" - Green Day Thanks to Matt for suggesting ​60 Songs that Explain the '90s. This podcast goes deep into one iconic song in each episode. We learn more about music, the band, and the period through that song. The host, Rob Harvila, is ideally suited as a rock critic for the podcast era. The episodes fly by, filled with insights, humor, and great music. After listening to this episode, I found myself cranking Green Day around the house for the rest of the day with a newfound appreciation for the music.

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​Listen to the podcast (1 hr 19 mins)

And a Farewell Photo...