In Porto, Portugal, I met a 70-year-old craftsman.
I peeked through a broken door as he quietly worked in his shop, crushing pigments for paints and making gold leaf.
He looked up and warmly waved me inside.
We connected right away.
For 45 minutes, we talked about work, meaning, and purpose.
He shared the history of his family, emphasizing the importance of tradition, craftsmanship, and the creation of durable goods—items that can be passed down from one person to another, one family to the next, and even across generations.
Smiling, he showed me newspaper clippings and photos of dignitaries that had visited his shop.
“For over a hundred years,” he said, “my family has been dedicated to the beautification of Portugal.”
Beautification.
What a wonderful way to describe one’s life’s work!