YOUTHYears may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.
Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what's next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young. 
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.
by Samuel Ullman 1840-1924
Very true, YP. My Dad (age 86) often says that inside he is 25.)
ReplyDeleteI really liked that. I would have written it myself, if capable and old enough to beat that other Samuel to the punch.
ReplyDeleteI've heard it said that everyone has their internal age, and I seem to think mine is 27. Old enough to have some experience, young enough to learn (but we always are), and physically capable of ignoring the aches and pains that will follow.
Nice post, YP.
I thought you had written this, until I got to the end. I am 68 but tell everyone I feel 38 on the inside, except on the days I feel 18. Rather strange because my children are 41, 43, and almost 45.
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