Author Topic: Lessons Learned from Longfellow’s Blacksmith  (Read 1714 times)

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Offline Papaw

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Lessons Learned from Longfellow’s Blacksmith
« on: September 13, 2012, 08:57:43 PM »
Worth the time to read-
http://artofmanliness.com/2012/09/13/lessons-learned-from-longfellows-blacksmith/

Quote
The Village Blacksmith

Although you can read the poem in its entirety on Bartleby.com (highly recommended), I’d like to call your attention to a few key stanzas that have always strongly resonated with me:

    His brow is wet with honest sweat,
    He earns whate’er he can,
    And looks the whole world in the face,
    For he owes not any man.

The Blacksmith is a man we should all aspire to be.  He understands that he is owed nothing simply for existing; his future is 100% dependent on himself and nobody else.  Thus, he pushes himself to be better, going to bed proud each night, knowing that he’s done the best that he possibly can to create a good life.

    Week in, week out, from morn till night,
    You can hear his bellows blow;
    You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
    With measured beat and slow.

The Blacksmith understands there will be periods of feast and famine, times of triumph and times of sorrow, days where everything goes right and days where everything goes wrong.  He doesn’t get overly excited when things go right, and he doesn’t pass the blame or make excuses when things go wrong.  He knows that success doesn’t happen overnight, but comes from constant improvement, day after day, for weeks, months, and years at a time.

    Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing,
    Onward through life he goes;
    Each morning sees some task begin,
    Each evening sees it close;
    Something attempted, something done,
    Has earned a night’s repose.

Every morning, the Blacksmith sets out to begin a new task, and by the end of the day gets it completed.  The Blacksmith understands the importance of getting things done. He removes all distractions, picks up his hammer, and gets to work!  Once he’s completed his tasks for the day, he goes home to spend time with his friends and family, leaving the day’s toils and worries behind to focus on quality time with his loved ones.  He’s found a work-life balance that makes him happy.
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Offline john k

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Re: Lessons Learned from Longfellow’s Blacksmith
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2012, 09:30:09 PM »
Good words, that apply to life today just as they did 150 years ago.   Do your best, then get better, now where have I heard those words before.  Thanks.
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