I am in very good health. I've never felt better.

“I am in very good health. I’ve never felt better.” — thus spoke Hugh Hefner, the emblem of confidence and vitality, a man who lived his life as both dreamer and rebel. At first glance, these words may seem simple, even boastful. Yet beneath their smooth surface lies a profound affirmation of life’s energy, of inner vitality, and of the spiritual power of self-belief. For in declaring himself healthy, Hefner was not merely describing his body — he was declaring his state of being, his alignment of spirit, mind, and will. This is no idle statement; it is a mantra of affirmation, born from a life lived unapologetically, boldly, and with conviction.

To say “I am in very good health” is, in truth, to speak a spell of power. It is to command the self toward wholeness. The ancients understood this well. In Egypt, the priests of healing would tell the sick to proclaim their strength aloud, for words themselves were medicine. Likewise, in the teachings of the Stoics, health was seen as more than the soundness of flesh — it was the harmony of body and soul, the freedom from the illnesses of doubt and fear. Thus when Hefner spoke these words, he echoed this ancient wisdom, whether he knew it or not: that the mind shapes the body, and that belief, carried with conviction, can summon vitality even in the face of age and adversity.

Hefner, the founder of Playboy, was more than the man of silk robes and luxury; he was a builder of an empire that celebrated freedom, pleasure, and individuality. Yet to live such a life, one must possess a strength deeper than indulgence — the strength of self-assurance. His declaration of feeling “never better” was not simply about the pulse of youth, but about the eternal vigor of purpose. For those who know their calling and live it fully, the flame of health burns bright even in the twilight of years. The man who lives in alignment with his passions does not age as the fearful do; he renews himself with every sunrise of desire and creation.

There is a lesson here that transcends the man himself. Consider the philosopher Socrates, who, even when condemned to death, spoke calmly of his well-being. Though his body faced poison, his spirit remained healthy, untouched by bitterness or despair. For true health, as these men remind us, is not only of the flesh, but of the will. The disease of hopelessness is far deadlier than any ailment, and the medicine of optimism far stronger than any cure. To feel “very good” is not always to be free of pain, but to have made peace with life — to dwell in gratitude, not complaint.

In Hefner’s words, we also hear the echo of resistance — the refusal to yield to time or criticism. The world around him changed; empires rose and fell, but his declaration remained one of vitality, of endurance. This is not the boast of vanity, but the song of a man who refuses to die before his time. The wise may see in this a metaphor for the spirit of creation itself: for as long as we hold to purpose, the body finds reason to follow. In every age, those who stay alive in spirit remain young in being.

The lesson, then, is simple yet profound: nurture your health not only through diet and rest, but through belief, joy, and purpose. Speak well of your body; treat it as the vessel of your dreams. Refuse to let despair weaken your will. When the world tells you to slow down, rise instead. When age whispers of decline, answer with motion, with laughter, with gratitude. Health is not a gift you are given — it is a state you create through your thoughts, your habits, and your courage to keep living fully.

So, children of tomorrow, remember Hugh Hefner’s declaration not as arrogance, but as a hymn to the sacred force of vitality. Say it as he did — “I am in very good health. I’ve never felt better.” — not because it is always true in the moment, but because it makes it truer with each breath you take. For words shape the soul, and the soul commands the body. Speak life, live boldly, and let your belief in your own strength become the wellspring of your days. Then, even when your years are many, your spirit — like Hefner’s — will still say, “I have never felt better.”