{"id":623,"date":"2025-10-07T05:04:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T10:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leadfromyourcurrentposition.com\/wordpress\/?p=623"},"modified":"2025-09-03T13:23:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T18:23:17","slug":"youth-by-samuel-ullman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leadfromyourcurrentposition.com\/wordpress\/2025\/10\/07\/youth-by-samuel-ullman\/","title":{"rendered":"YOUTH"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the great paradoxes of life is explained in Samuel Ullman’s poem YOUTH<\/strong><\/span>: “Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Failing to see the paradox that “youth” has another dimension other than time, can cause us to\u00a0look outward for something that is inside all of us.\u00a0Many folks live a life unsatisfied in search of the Fountain of Youth and other external solutions.<\/p>\n

Instead, consider that:<\/p>\n

It is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.” <\/strong>Samuel Ullman<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It’s no wonder that this poem was a favorite of General Douglas MacArthur. He had a framed copy on the wall behind his desk (in his Tokyo office) while serving as the Supreme Allied Commander in Japan. He often quoted the poem in his speeches and read the entire poem at his 75th Birthday Celebration.<\/p>\n

I’ve included it here and in my Leader’s Guide<\/a> (free sign-up gift). I read it often. Nothing helps me maintain focus, perspective, and courage more than this gift from Samuel Ullman. I hope it will inspire you, too.<\/p>\n

May you always pursue your ideals!<\/p>\n

YOUTH<\/span><\/h3>\n

by Samuel Ullman<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Youth is not a time of life;
\nIt is a state of mind;
\nIt is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees;
\nIt is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions;
\nIt is the freshness of the deep springs of life.<\/p>\n

Youth means a temperamental predominance
\nOf courage over timidity of the appetite,
\nFor adventure over the love of ease.
\nThis often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of twenty.
\nNobody grows old merely by a number of years.
\nWe grow old by deserting our ideals.<\/p>\n

Years may wrinkle the skin,
\nBut to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
\nWorry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart
\nAnd turns the spirit back to dust.<\/p>\n

Whether sixty or sixteen,
\nThere is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder,
\nThe unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next,
\nAnd the joy of the game of living.<\/p>\n

In the center of your heart and my heart
\nThere is a wireless station;
\nSo long as it receives messages of beauty,
\nHope, cheer, courage and power
\nFrom men and from the Infinite,
\nSo long are you young.<\/p>\n

When the aerials are down,
\nAnd your spirit is covered
\nWith snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism,
\nThen you are grown old, even at twenty,
\nBut as long as your aerials are up,
\nTo catch the waves of optimism,
\nThere is hope you may die young at eighty.<\/p>\n

Discussion Question: \u00a0What is one thing you can do to strengthen an unfailing childlike appetite for what comes next?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it with your friends and be sure to subscribe to the LEAD FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION\u00ae email list!<\/em><\/p>\n

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