"没有人比失去热情的人更老。"

Think about a time when you met someone who seemed like the weight of the world was on their shoulders, even though they didn’t have a single gray hair. It’s possible they’ve lost their enthusiasm for life, and that’s what makes them seem aged beyond their years. That’s what this quote is all about. When you lose your passion, your drive—when you’re just going through the motions—that’s when you start to really age, no matter what the calendar says.

This idea has been around for a while. It was popularized by Henry David Thoreau, a philosopher and writer known for his reflections on simple living and nature. He believed that what keeps us young isn’t our physical age, but our spirit and zest for life. Thoreau saw enthusiasm as the spark that makes life worth living. Without it, we become old not in body, but in soul.

Let me tell you about my friend Jenny. Jenny used to be the life of the party. She loved painting, traveling, and was always up for an adventure. But when she hit a rough patch at work, she lost that spark. She started dreading each day, and you could see it in her eyes. She was only 35, but she seemed much older because she had lost her enthusiasm. It took a lot of effort—and some tough love from friends—to get her back into the things she loved. But once she did, it was like the old Jenny was back, filled with energy and life.

So how can you apply this wisdom to your own life? First, recognize when you’re in a rut. It’s okay to feel unmotivated sometimes, but if it becomes a pattern, it’s time to shake things up. Find something that excites you—whether it’s a new hobby, a class, or even just a different route to work. Sometimes, it’s the little changes that can reignite your passion.

Now, imagine this scenario: You’re at a job you don’t particularly like. Every day feels like a drag, and you find yourself counting down the hours until the weekend. But then, you decide to take a cooking class on a whim. You discover you love it. That hour or two in the kitchen becomes the highlight of your week. Soon, the energy you get from cooking starts to spill over into other areas of your life. Your job doesn’t seem quite so dreadful because you’ve got something to look forward to. And who knows? Maybe that hobby becomes something bigger—a side hustle, or even a new career.

In essence, keeping your enthusiasm alive is like keeping your inner fire burning. It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or 80—without that spark, you start to feel old. So, take a moment to think about what makes you excited. Hold onto that. Nurture it. Because as long as you have enthusiasm, you’ll never truly be old.