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From time immemorial man has sought the elixir of
life. Quest has been made in all lands for the fountain of
youth. It has been the dream of every age to extend man's
earthly existence, but out of centuries of disappointment has come
the knowledge the that the prolongation of life can never come
from the without. It can be only the product of
within. It is the thinking and living of life that will
banish ears and give health to a man.
All things worth possessing have their price, but
things that add most to your success and happiness cannot be
bought with gold. You may break the laws of nature, yet, by
chance, live to a goodly age; but why depend on chance when there
are laws that can be followed and depended upon? Love has
its price; peace has its price, and long life has its price.
Are you willing to pay that price? If is not paid in coin of
the realm, but in governing your thoughts, your acts and deeds;
neither can you wait until the mortal body is a wreck and expect
by paying the price at the last moment to secure youth. You
cannot begin too soon. Thos who dissipate their fortune cannot
remain wealthy. Those who dissipate their days cannot hope
to live to the years reached by Moses and other patriarchs.
Benjamin Franklin said, "Watch the pennies
and the dollars will take care of themselves." Now,
what is the price all must pay to gain added years -- To Live and
Grow Young? The price is constructive thinking; the understanding
that you have the power to think creatively; that thinking youth
produces youth; that by constant right thinking you can build
around yourself a life-giving, life-keeping atmosphere that will
not only add to your years, but bring happiness in your home life
and success in business.
The laws of most lands protect the people by
compelling druggists to put warning labels on bottles that contain
poison, but there are thoughts more harmful than drugs from which
there are no human laws to protect us. Each individual must
be his own watchman at the door of thought. He should be on
duty every moment --never off guard, for his atmosphere is made up
of his thoughts and acts. There are many danger signals
along life's pathway which, if obeyed, will save wreckage.
You can, by attention, make yourself sensitive to these danger
signals and in time almost automatically obey them.
To Live and Grow Young, you must banish hate,
worry and envy. You must cultivate sunshine and joy, and
above all, you must use moderation in your eating, for your
stomach by the improper mixture of food, generates deadly
poisons. These poisons destroy digestion and make you so
miserable that you hate everything and everybody with whom you
come in contact. This in time destroys your health
atmosphere. Are you willing to give up foods you know are
hurtful? Are you willing to be master of your appetites, or
will you be ruled by them? Can you give up rich, highly
seasoned foods for simple, wholesome food?
It is not difficult to do this. Soon you
learn to desire the simple foods and no longer crave the highly
seasoned ones. Uncontrolled appetites and desire for rich
food is intemperance. Many of us eat our graves open. We
think we are eating food, while in reality we are eating
years. We are often amazed when the bill is presented to us
after an elaborate dinner. The cost seems exorbitant.
If the bill also showed the price in years the dinner had cost us,
we would be horrified. Life is lengthened by
moderation. Be moderate. Consider before, not
afterwards. Do not jump at conclusions. Think over the
price you must pay for what you are about to undertake.
Do not amplify your business or home life just for
the sake of splurging. Do not borrow at your bank merely
because you have credit. Remember pay day comes and if it
brings worry and anxiety, it shortens life. If you wish a
short, uncomfortable winter, make a large 90 day note in November.
It is stated that one of America's former railroad
kings, having a bad case of grabitis, used up his life and
strength recklessly. With colossal plans but partially
matured, he came prematurely to the inevitable climax that
confronts all who do not consider the value of years. He
offered his physician, it is said, ten million dollars if he could
prolong his life one year. It could not be done. He
had not considered the value of years until it was too late.
On the brink of the grave his millions were powerless to buy even
one added year.
The insatiable desire for power, to rival your
neighbor, to be thought a good fellow, to have a better home than
any of your friends often calls for great endeavor and the
prodigal use of your force. Pause and think what years are
worth to you. A careful man in any business venture counts
the cost on the financial side, but not one in ten considers the
cost in the value of years, yet it is even more important to do
this than to consider the financial cost. The financial
obligations you may be able to meet, but it may cost you years of
life to do it.
Cut your loss in the things that rob you of your
peace of mind and take from you happiness and contentment if you
would Live and Grow Young.
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