I was not familiar with this poet and had to do a search to locate the poem this was taken from. It is wonderful in it's entirety. Now I must seek out other writings by Max Ehrmann.
I love the poem as well and considered posting the whole thing, but I thought the one statement was enough to lure those who might be interested. Amazing piece of writing.
Comes from teaching juniors and seniors for so many years. Ya gotta create a lure and then give a direction to make them find their own answers to questions. When they do that, then they will always remember the answers. Much better than asking them to memorize facts and figures --
I've always loved that poem, and the last line sums it all up perfectly! Sharon, you're right, not enough of us become what we were supposed to be. We pay more attention to others' opinions and demands than to our own inner voice. I would be a songwriter, had I listened to my own voice. The muse has long ago abandoned me.
Thank you for being YOU!
It isn't too late to let yourself go back a little bit, just enough to find that spirit that you think might have abandoned you. It's still there, tucked away, right where you left it. Things like that don't go away, but you might have to dig beneath the rubble to find it. Deep inside you are that same person you were, you just have to make your way back before you can go forward.
I used to have this entire poem hanging in my house. Now I wonder if it got lost in the move. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't this also a song? Sort of of quiet melody in the background while he read it?
I can remember Leonard Nimoy reciting it too. I also have it in it's entirety. I love it and was so pleased to see you use that particular line. As we get older (and I'm now 70) we spend so much time looking back instead of going back. I was fortunate to spend a part of my life doing that which I most wanted to do.
When they do that, then they will always remember the answers. Much better than asking them to memorize facts and figures --
and so true 
