Dear Youth
dear youth,
your life lies out there
somewhere in front of you
it has hardly begun
there is possibility,
much to accomplish,
high ideals,
a determination to do it
better than mom and dad,
to show everyone what you can do,
to prove you’re worth it
.
accept or reject this advice
but to turn a deaf ear
is to fail to heed the words
of someone who was
there far ahead of you
.
along the way toward your own glory
much failure will beset you
life will kick your ass
and there’s a chance you won’t
get to where you’re going
you may need to reset your compass
the best that this old man can offer is this:
.
never stop living
when life fights you
strap on the gloves and fight back
most of all, live
just live
live every single moment you have
dine at the table of excess
accept no second bests
set about to see the wonder
to feel every emotion
laugh insanely
cry every tear completely
commit to love only with one who will commit
the world is a big place that can swallow you whole
but you belong in it
go and make your mark
——————————————————–—————
My Facebook Page — My Twitter Account
EMAIL: DoubleUPoet@outlook.com
Posted on February 17, 2016, in Poetry, Uncategorized and tagged Dear Youth, DoubleU, John White, Poetry. Bookmark the permalink. 60 Comments.
DoubleU = W 
Lovely one John… I don’t like adding to people’s work. But this piece of yours moved me so much with the mind space I’m in, forgive me for feeling the need to say this too…
And remember –
there is only one permanent thing in life.
It’s called change.
Everything you believe,
Everyone you know -including yourself,
Will change.
And the best part is –
All the years of your youth you spent breaking your bones,
Will count for nothing
Because you will be in therapy –
Completely lost,
For you’ve been forced to unlearn
All that you were tormented to learn.
Ahhh change.
Ahh life.
Thank you, Ramona! 🙂 Well said!
Amazing!
Thank you! 🙂 It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Like wise😊
🙂
This is wonderful!
Thank you, Dorothy! 🙂 It’s great to meet you!
Ah, you’re soooooo right!!
Thank you, Laura! 🙂 It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Seize the day! “Youth is wasted on the wrong people!” ~ Old Guy on the Porch in “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Thank you, Doug! 🙂 Oh it sure is. Youth may have to be served but it does seem to be wasted on the young.
This is so beautiful my friend,
Perfectly said, couldn’t put it better myself, as much as I would have liked to my Son, who was taken so quickly 26 yrs this month, I will read this quietly later, just before I rest.
Thankyou, (X)
Thank you! 🙂 I’m sorry to hear about your loss. Hope all is well.
Thank you for your words, Yes, all is good, as it should be. x
I’m glad to hear it. All the best! 🙂
Inspiring. 🙂
Thank you, Bob! 🙂
We can talk all day, but not make a dent. Did we listen to our parents? We all stumble along, thinking no one has been there before us until . . . until we have lived long enough to realize we are just repeating our parents.
Thank you, Mary! 🙂 True enough that the young don’t seem to listen but later somehow they start thinking back and remembering all that advice. If it just gets through the first few layers… 😉
Exactly. 🙂
🙂
I liked especially the part about only committing to someone who will commit to you. One of my downfalls.
Thank you, Karen! 🙂 That’s one of the hardest lessons we all learn.
Moving piece. Being at the age where these talks are happening with my now young adult nieces and nephews, I can relate. It is my inner hope that they listen. I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you, Bonnie Jean! 🙂 It seems often they don’t listen but they do remember that advice later in life. It’s great to meet you!
Our efforts will not prove in vain, then! It is great to meet you too, John. 🙂
It shouldn’t be in vain. It might be like trying to get through the first few layers when they’re young but later on they think back to all that advice and wisdom they received.
My favorite part “when life fights you
strap on the gloves and fight back.” It speaks loudly to me and that has been my way of dealing with life. Thank for sharing this great piece.
Thank you! 🙂 It’ll knock us down and eventually knock us out if we don’t fight hard each and every round.
I feeling these words. In times like these we need to talk to our youth not at them. Give it to ’em straight, ya know?
Thank you! 🙂 No reason to beat around the bush with them that’s for sure. 🙂 It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Words of a sage
Thank you! 🙂 It’s great to meet you!
“…reset your compass…” Acknowledging this may be necessary, and permission to change our minds! 🙂
Thank you, Carrie! 🙂 Change our minds and change directions. 🙂
Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
Thank you for the reblog!
Words from the wise
Thank you! 🙂 It’s great to meet you!
Thanks. This makes me feel better about all the stuff I did. Hopefully will do a lot more but better.
Thank you! 🙂 We tend to improve and gain wisdom with age so more and better are both in your future, I’m sure.
I appreciate that. I really enjoy your writings. Bless you.
Anytime. Thank you!
absolutely fantastic write by you.. one of my favs.
Thank you! 🙂
Reblogged this on llapsed.
Thank you for the reblog!
I absolutely loved it. I am young, and we all face difficulties. And this is really helpful.
Thank you! 🙂 Youth must be served but when we’re young there is a lot to learn and we normally learn it the hard way…and it’s not necessarily all bad. 😉
John, I was young once. What you say is true except that you are not an old man. I remember your recent birthday so I already know I have a few years on you. To be more precise, I was already a teenager when you were born and I was drafted into the military the same year you celebrated your first birthday. To me you are still a young man with much to learn; so please let us older ones lay it on the line for the younger generation….:)
Thank you! 🙂 Each generation should learn from previous generations. I learned a lot by listening and observing. I’d be willing to bet that I could pick up a whole lot of knowledge from you.
I’m new to your blog, I really enjoyed this. More importantly, It gave me some insight on life and I felt a bit more courageous to face it after reading this.
Thank you! 🙂 Surround yourself with older and wiser people and even when they sound like they might be about to go on and on like old people do, listen and take it to heart. There is much to be learned and wisdom to be gained. 🙂 It’s great to meet you!
I will . Thankyou. It’s nice to meet you too.
‘cry every tear completely’ Big three words.
‘commit to love only one who will commit.’ Yes and Yes again.
So well done, John White. Thank you.
Thank you, JoHanna! 🙂 When we’re young we don’t listen too well but if those of us who are older can just get a few ideas to sink in with our youth maybe we can help. 😉
So inspiring. Great words! A really top poem! I like!
Thank you! 🙂
Pingback: Dear Youth – ~*~tightlines and sunshine~*~