--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The feeling he had had all his young life…" description: "\"“The feeling he had had all his young life - that he was brought on this earth for something special - had not left Alexander, not quite; what it did w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/paullina-simons-1314_life_the-feeling-he-had-had-all-his-young-lif_1507994.png" --- # The feeling he had had all his young life - that he was… ![“The feeling he had had all his young life - that he was brought on this earth for something special - had not left Alexander, not quite; what it did was dissipate inside him, became translucent in his blood vessels. It no longer pulsed through his body. He was no longer filled with a sense of…” quote by Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/paullina-simons-1314_life_the-feeling-he-had-had-all-his-young-lif_1507994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/paullina-simons-1314_life_the-feeling-he-had-had-all-his-young-lif_1507994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/paullina-simons-1314_life_the-feeling-he-had-had-all-his-young-lif_1507994.png) > ““The feeling he had had all his young life - that he was brought on this earth for something special - had not left Alexander, not quite; what it did was dissipate inside him, became translucent in his blood vessels. It no longer pulsed through his body. He was no longer filled with a sense of purpose as he traveled through his adolescence. He was filled with a sense of despair. My childhood was good, he thought. And my adolescence - I could have lived through it all. I could have lived through it all if only I continued to have the feeling that at the end of childhood, at the end of adolescence, there was something else in this life that would be mine, that I could make with my bare hands, and once I had made it, I could say, I did this to my life. I made my life so. Hope. It was gone from Alexander on this sunny crisp Sunday, and the feeling of purpose had vanished, was vanquished in his veins.”” [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A youthful sense of destiny fades into despair when purpose disappears, leaving a longing for meaning and achievement. **In simple terms:** Purpose fades, leaving despair and longing for meaning. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond external expectations. Themes identity purpose despair growth Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - adolescence - career transition - creative projects - personal crisis Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization narrative identity Questions to Reflect On - What can rekindle a sense of purpose? - How does loss of purpose affect life choices? 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I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/kindness-and-consideration-of-somebody-besides-yourself-i-think-that/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) ## More by Paullina Simons > [“You think she needs a chaperone?” When they didn’t answer, the nun tutted disapprovingly. “Let me explain something to you, Mrs. Attaviano, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/you-think-she-needs-a-chaperone-when-they-didn-t-answer-the-nun/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [When Tatiana looked up from her ice cream, she saw a soldier staring at her from across the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/when-tatiana-looked-up-from-her-ice-cream-she-saw-a-soldier-staring/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“I saved you for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/i-saved-you-for-me/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“You want to know what I thought of in that boat? 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After setting her down next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/come-on-he-said-quietly-bending-to-her-and-lifting-her-whole-into-his/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [Alexander knew that before he had light instead of darkness, he had to deserve light instead of darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/alexander-knew-that-before-he-had-light-instead-of-darkness-he-had-to/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“What a prison you have set up for me with your first love.” She put her arms tighter around him and said teasingly, “Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/what-a-prison-you-have-set-up-for-me-with-your-first-love-she-put-her/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [Please stop looking at me, she thought, afraid of his eyes and terrified of her own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/please-stop-looking-at-me-she-thought-afraid-of-his-eyes-and/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“We’re moving cities, we’re changing our name just like this hotel. 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It no longer pulsed through his body. He was no longer filled with a sense of purpose as he traveled through his adolescence. He was filled with a sense of despair. My childhood was good, he thought. And my adolescence - I could have lived through it all. I could have lived through it all if only I continued to have the feeling that at the end of childhood, at the end of adolescence, there was something else in this life that would be mine, that I could make with my bare hands, and once I had made it, I could say, I did this to my life. I made my life so. Hope. 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