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Every two weeks, I share thoughts and curated links on investing, career transitions, meaningful work, parenting, living intentionally, and other topics that interest me.

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February Light

Between two storms, in an already cold and snowy February, many of us in the Northeast enjoyed a respite of azure skies and relatively warm temps. These uplifting days, which graciously spanned a weekend, served as a collective exhale as we prepped for the next round, which arrived Sunday night.

The old-school New England winter of 2026 continues.

I know, I know. Weather as metaphor. Maybe that's lazy writing.

But maybe the wisdom endures for a reason.

We all have our Februarys. The storms keep coming, and sometimes the best you can do is hang on and notice the small things that remind you why it's worth it.

That's what the weekend was, actually.

A short cross-country ski at Twin Brook in Cumberland, stopping to savor the warm sunshine from a randomly placed bench.

My wife and I walked the dogs. As we worked our way up the street, we ran into several neighbors, chatting and catching up. Just talking.

My teenage son visibly lit up when we confirmed his participation in an engineering summer program in Berlin. Parents of teens will know how rare that expression can be.

A phone conversation with a close friend who just called to check in. No agenda. Just a real conversation with someone who cares.

That last one stuck with me.

In a world increasingly full of content produced by systems optimized for reaction and response, there's something almost radical about a person who just calls.

Or similarly, about someone who created something, thought about something, or showed up for someone simply because it mattered to them. No algorithm. That's what I mean by quality these days. Not polished. Not scale. Not performative. Just genuine human attention.

And here's the thing: I noticed the sun in the sky after 5 pm this week. For the first time since November, it was still light on the drive home from work.

The clocks turn in two weeks.

We're almost there.

Stuff To Share

• Coca-Cola: The Complete History & Strategy My son and I have found two mutually agreeable listening options when we're in the car together: a shared hip hop-heavy playlist and The Acquired Podcast. Ahead of a recent college visit road trip, we queued up the Coca-Cola story and found another winner. In case you're curious, yes, cocaine was indeed an ingredient for years and led to the product's name. That's not a myth. For the record, the Costco and Trader Joe's episodes might be my all-time favorites.

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• How to Have More Meaningful Conversations This short read by Barrett Brooks resonated. Like Barrett, I prefer more substantive exchanges that explore and deepen connections. I especially liked the "Questions" section. Tough, honest questions help us grow in ways that are necessarily uncomfortable. LINK​

• A Quote I stumbled upon this Emerson quote recently, and have been reflecting on the simple yet powerful idea of what adds depth to one's life. It's a useful exercise for clarifying what to prioritize.

And a Farewell Photo...