YOUTH
SamuelUllman
Youthisnotatimeoflife;itisastateofmind;itisnotamatterof
rosycheeks,redlipsandsuppleknees;itisamatterofthewill,a
qualityoftheimagination,avigoroftheemotions;itisthefreshnessof
thedeepspringsoflife.
Youthmeansatempera-mentalpredominanceofcourageovertimidity,ofthe
appetiteforadventureovertheloveofease.Thisoftenexistsinamanof
60morethanaboyof20.Nobodygrowsoldmerelybyanumberofyears.Wegrowoldbydesertingourideals.
Yearsmaywrinkletheskin,buttogiveupenthusiasmwrinklesthesoul.
Worry,fear,self-distrustbowstheheartandturnsthespringbacktodust.
Whether60or16,thereisineveryhumanbeing’sheartthelureofwonder,
theunfailingchildlikeappetiteofwhat’snextandthejoyofthegameof
living.Inthecenterofyourheartandmyheartthereisawireless
station:solongasitreceivesmessagesofbeauty,hope,cheer,courageand
powerfrommenandfromtheInfinite,solongareyouyoung.
Whentheaerialsaredown,andyourspiritiscoveredwithsnowsofcynicism
andtheiceofpessimism,thenyouaregrownold,evenat20,butaslongas
youraerialsareup,tocatchwavesofoptimism,thereishopeyoumaydie
youngat80.