A Vision of Youth was first published seven
years ago in October of 2011. Seven years- that's a third of my lifetime!
The original installment, "Step Into My Shoes," reflected on the
discord between authority figures and teenagers, as well as finding
mutual respect in what can be a difficult period of one's life. The
November article, "All That Racket," talked about music's power to
change and inspire people. December's "A Small Difference" was about
picking up trash and respecting our planet, and January's "When is "The
Right Time?'" mused on the obstacles preventing us from doing the things
we dream about, and how to overcome them. Over the next seven years, I
went on to write eighty-three articles, each with a message meant to
engage and inspire its audience.
...readers, thinkers, friends,
let's continue to face this world
with love, positivity and youth.
let's continue to face this world
with love, positivity and youth.
A Vision of Youth
was so titled because I was quite young when I began sharing my
visions. I was a fourteen-year-old girl who loved to write and aspired
to reflect on things that mattered. My mother and grandmother have both
recently joked that, having reached adult age, A Vision of Youth might
not be so applicable anymore. Still, I wonder if the title doesn't
remain somewhat appropriate. The definition of youth is not only "the
period between childhood and adult age," but "the quality or state of
being youthful." Youthfulness is described as having "vitality,
freshness, and the qualities of young people;" qualities like
enthusiasm, vigor, optimism, open-mindedness, and capacity for
forgiveness. Looking back, it seems these traits are what I've been
writing about all along. Age is not something we can fight, control, or
defeat, but a youthful mindset is something we can hold in our heart and
spirit forever.
This platform has been an immense blessing. My sincerest gratitude goes
to my grandmother, for building such an incredible business and family,
and for giving me a place in it; to my mother, for being an unwavering
coach and editor for every piece and every day; and to my father, for
the countless suggestions he has also provided. And an extra special
thank you to all of my readers. Since I can't know how many of you there
are, sometimes this feels like nothing more than thinking out loud. But
having heard your heartwarming and brilliantly kind messages, I know
you're out there. I prefer to believe there are a lot of us, thinking
together. So, readers, thinkers, friends, let's continue to face this
world with love, positivity and youth.
Breonna Loxley is an animal care technician at an animal shelter. She is an avid artist, writer, and animal-lover. She lives with her parents, a younger brother, two cats, and one dog.