More Thoreau Commentary

Reading "Where I Lived, And What I Lived For," perhaps my favorite chapter of Walden, is as refreshing as it is painful. Thoreau extrapolates upon certain ideas which he holds to be essential in life, and creates an ideal portrait of how we should live. It is delightful to read because it makes me feel validated - almost as if Thoreau would applaud my development as a thinker, because I really resonate with much of what he says. It is also difficult to read because it reiterates how far the masses have digressed in terms of vigilance and true engagement with the world. At the same time, Thoreau provides some advice which I found to be a bit puzzling while reading this section. He advises, "...I would say to my fellows, once and for all, as long as possible live free and uncommitted." Living freely is something I completely understand. Contrastly, I assumed that Thoreau would proclaim the opposite regarding commitment. I imagine him the type who would deem an existence where one is committed to something (not necessarily a person, but an idea or cause) to be the only type of life that has meaning. Then I read further and realized he probably agrees with me on this score, but simply meant that one should never be stuck in a state of mental stagnancy. He speaks of "renewing thyself completely each day," so he is trying to get across the idea that living freely means never being dogmatic and settling too quickly once you have found your niche. Such a level of comfort can sometimes be dangerous because it is when we are unsettled that we strengthen our search for truth and meaning. Therefore, being too situated in a comfort zone can often translate to closing oneself off from further growth.

Again, I must reiterate how inspirational Thoreau's opinions are, but they bring me to such sad realizations. He knows "of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor," yet I see so much apathy around me in regard to improving one's station in life. I, too, fell prey once to a demoralizing state of being that prevented me from "elevating" myself. I feel that I've learned how destructive apathy can be, which is why I try to make a conscious effort to analyze the negative components in my life and configure a way to correct them. Still, there are a bit too many people who become devoured by the sin of complacency and forget that change is constant. This line of thought reminds me of the title of a Dead Kennedy's album called "Give me Convenience or Give me Death."