"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I come to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life..." Henry David Thoreau, Walden
I'm sure that most of you reading are familiar with the preceding passage from Thoreau. So many of us have often romanticized of Thoreau's experiences and oft wished to emulate them. There is a want inherent in each and every one of us to escape the confines of life and just live simply. Thoreau, often seen as the father of simplicity, also wrote the words "Simplify, simplify, simplify!". My good friend Eric Flanders and I often joke that just one simplify would have been suffice. The very act of stating simplify three times is an act of complexity. We'll save that conversation for another day. The contents of Walden have, since its writing, been the very core of many pilgrimages by peoples, both young and old, to distance themselves by escaping to nature and living out a true existence. The rationalization often sounds something like this, "He moved to the woods and lived in a simple cabin in order to find himself. That is so awesome!"
The reality of Thoreau's Walden experience is sobering and equally invigorating. Thoreau's cabin was located only one mile from the family home. Thoreau often had visitors and immensely enjoyed the company of others. His isolation was never real in the sense that we often try to think. Thoreau's isolation was symbolic and representative of his attempt to meet his real self. He understood the importance and necessity of human interaction. Thoreau also recognized the need to separate one's self from the distractions of government, society, religion, and culture. These ideas in themselves are not necessarily evils, but at the hands of contemporary culture, they are indeed forces to be reckoned with. Thoreau's example teaches that within the larger framework of life in Western culture, through introspection and relationships, we are able to create a better understanding for and of ourselves and more importantly for and of the world around us.
I think it is important to note that Thoreau's quest, like any, began with a decision. I recently heard it said that one of the most vital components of success is the making of a decision. Choice. Success is measured in as many ways as there are stars, but the catalyst remains the same, a decision. I'm reminded of one of my favorite poets, Robert Frost, and his timeless poem The Road Not Taken.
"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Frost's decision at the onset on the poem ultimately leads to a satisfaction found in his making the most relevant choice for his situation. Like Thoreau, Frost doesn't allow modern convention to influence his decision. The choice is made outside of the constraints of government, society, religion, and culture. Frost, like Thoreau, realized the importance of realizing the self but in his personal life realized the impact of relationships in understanding one's self. The ideologies set forth by these authors has made a tremendous impression on me this week. The meshing of seeking understanding through self actualization and through relationships is an idea that we often take for granted.
If you are still with me at this point, thanks for hearing me out. This has definitely been an exercise in thinking out loud. The point I'm trying to make in all this is the essential nature of seeking personal understanding through the filter of yourself and others. Isolation is simply not an option. I often find myself considering that as an option in trying to understand the larger picture. The challenge I'm presenting to myself is to be conscious of the moments that provide a glimpse into a deeper understanding of human nature within myself and more importantly through relationships. I'm resolving to choose to work towards a better "right now" through simplifying and getting back to the focus on human relationships.
I hope this post finds you all well and having a wonderful day. Please let me know what you're thinking. About anything. I look forward to talking to you all.
Take care,
Feb
By the way, I felt my first kick Tuesday night. I can't even begin to explain the enormity of that moment. I am truly a blessed man.
