Thoreau's Walking

Ah, Thoreau. What I can say about Thoreau that hasn't already been said?  Not much, but I'm certainly going to try.

Thoreau in 1854

In the mid-1800s, noted essayist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote a lecture entitled Walking, (which can be found here), which he later delivered ten times. I think I shall begin here, with the nature of the piece. 

When I began reading Walking, I found the tone to be very didactic, almost patronizing at points. I later realized this piece sounded didactic because it is. It's a lecture, intended to be heard, not read. Which is why, I think, the personal anecdotes in this piece are more effective if read though the lens of a lecture. 

One of these personal examples that I particularly connect to is when Thoreau writes about is the idea of one's brain and one's body belonging in different places in nature. Of this, Thoreau says, 

"Of course it is of no use to direct our steps to the woods, if they do not carry us thither. I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit... The thought of some work will run in my head and I am not where my body is—I am out of my senses. In my walks I would fain return to my senses. What business have I in the woods, if I am thinking of something out of the woods?" 

This is what I wish to write about today. Like Thoreau, I often see people attempting to artificially connect with nature; going out into their yards and breathing the air because they saw it on some early morning talk show. I'm not denying that the benefits of spending time outdoors are huge. In fact, see this article by Michael Hyatt for more on the effect of nature on your health, among other things. I will admit it is admirable that people are even trying to connect more with the outdoors, achieving a true connection with nature is difficult. I agree with Thoreau, in that I do not fully understand the purpose of actively being with nature if people aren't going to appreciate it. 

I think the thing that really gets me going here is that, typically, the people who watches these talk shows and take their advice, are also the people who drive gas-guzzling cars, leave the lights on and the faucets running, and don't bother to recycle. If they truly wanted to connect with nature, they would realize that their actions directly affect what is around them. We are all part of nature, as it is part of us. Don't take things for granted. 

Go out and take a walk.

Danielle K.