YouthSamuelUllman
Youthisnotatimeoflife;itisastateofmind;itisnotamatterofrosycheeks,redlipsandsuppleknees;itisamatterofthewill,aqualityoftheimagination,avigoroftheemotions;itisthefreshnessofthedeepspringsoflife.
Youthmeansatemperamentalpredominanceofcourageovertimidity,oftheappetiteforadventureovertheloveofease.Thisoftenexistsinamanof60morethanaboyof20.Nobodygrowsoldmerelybyanumberofyears.Wegrowoldbydesertingourideals.
Yearsmaywrinkletheskin,buttogiveupenthusiasmwrinklesthesoul.Worry,fear,self-distrustbowstheheartandturnsthespringbacktodust.
Whether60or16,thereisineveryhumanbeing’sheartthelureofwonder,theunfailingchildlikeappetiteofwhat’snextandthejoyofthegameofliving.Inthecenterofyourheartandmyheartthereisawirelessstation:solongasitreceivesmessagesofbeauty,hope,cheer,courageand
powerfrommenandfromtheInfinite,solongareyouyoung.
Whentheaerialsaredown,andyourspiritiscoveredwithsnowsofcynicismandtheiceofpessimism,thenyouaregrownold,evenat20,butaslongasyouraerialsareup,tocatchwavesofoptimism,thereishopeyoumaydieyoungat80.
