Henry David Thoreau (Thoreauism)

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Hello Folks, Some of you may know my reverence to the simple life is based on precepts of the life writings of Henry David Thoreau. If you have visited my website, you will even see on my homepage a dual quote of which I combined Henry David Thoreau's from Life In The Woods (Walden) with another great man's quote, Scott Nearing. This created the main heading of my website.....Live Simply and Pay As You Go. Now it is the Live Simply that I quoted from Thoreau. Why did I chose Thoreau? He was anti-establishment. He was Ecological long before it was fashionable to be ecological. He was a radical in a time when very few radicals were still alive. He was a man ahead of his time. He was a pacifist but, was always quick to defend "his principles" even if it meant going to jail! His weapon was words. It is his words that inspired me to be the way that I am. Long time ago, I was faced with a dilemma of justifing an error in judgement. I chose Thoreau's Civil Disobedience as a debate to justify my violation. I approached my superiors with the defense that no one should be "TOLD" what to do by creating laws that forced him to do it, especially if it went against his/her principles. We as humans tend to break laws that are established by men, just because we are a principled race of intelligent, free willed, creatures. We honestly KNOW that we are right or wrong based on "our principles" and nothing more. Unfortunately, for me, my debate did not work, except for amusement and, ultimately I had to pay for my violation. Anyway, that was the beginning of my Thoreauism and has continued for many years every since. Walden, Ktaadn, Life Without Principle, Civil Disobedience, Cape Cod, and Walking are such outstanding performances of the self-reliance that I believed Henry David Thoreau lived. And if self-reliance is not completely fulfilled in my endeavors it is at least being accepted in my day to day struggles on our homestead. Those of you, seeking fuel for self-reliance should definitely read his works. Works of this magnitude are not understood by just glancing at the pages, either. Re-read, question his peculiarities of the use of the English language. I quite honestly still need a dictionary to define his terms. His works have many meanings but, do not stray far from the goals that most of us want to achieve. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), November 24, 2001

Answers

I like your motto, "Live Simply and Pay as You Go" The paying part is easier for me than the live simply part. Life does get complicated.

Cale and I were talking one day, about how when we first got married we could put everthing we owned in the back of his truck, and how now it would take a few semi's to move everything we own.

But with four kids and a big house, we have a lot. I have a lot of things I consider necessities, like dishes, and sewing materials. But really, maybe I could get by with only a fraction of these things. But it is nice to have what you need.

I go through phases where I just want to empty my whole house out! Reminds me of my daughter Megan. She doesn't like to clean out her closet. One day I told her to sort her drawers and I would donate all the clothes she didn't want. She was reading a good book, and she got up, picked up one of her dresser drawers, dumped it all out on the floor, said I don't want any of it, and sat down and started reading again!!! she certainly wasn't going to let these materialistic things stand in the way of her book!!!

I try to downsize and not buy anything I don't really need. I think I will not buy anything for a month or so, and see what I can use up, and what I can do without.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 24, 2001.


I agree...what a great motto to follow. I need to simplify too. Need to start in the teenage son's bedrooms!!! But seriously. I agree. I have culled out alot of uneccessary stuff and don't plan to replace it. I am better for it.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), November 25, 2001.

The Story of Jim and Bob from the Yankee Way to Simplify Your Life" by Jay Heinrichs and the Editors of Yankee Magazine" (Morrow)

Some tyears ago Jim bought a tiny island on a lake in New Hampshire and built a log cabin on it with his own hands. He paddled a conoe to his car when the lake wasn't frozen. When it was, he skated. (When the ice was thin, he took his chances, falling in every now and then) Inside his cabin were a gas refrigerator, a composting toilet a woodstove, some wooden furniture, kerosene lamps, and some books. Many people would find Jim's like extrememly complicated. he couldn't just pop around the corner for groceries. The temperature in his cabin would be 40 degrees when he got home from work in the winter. Yet Jim lived simply-for Jim.

To Jim his country life is simple. But Jim's friend Bob lives just as simply in the city. Bob moved from New Hampshire to live in a small Manhattan apartment and work as the entertainment editor of a big magazine. He has traveled all over the world, wears a killer double-breasted sui, and accompanies his wife, a New York banker, to show or parties or expensive restaurants almost every night. He doesn't have a car; he walks to work or takes a cab. He is an abominable cook and he cheerfully keeps his refrigerator almost entirely empty...He keeps in shape by running to the office through Central Park and has time for almost everything he wants to do.

While Jim and Bob have many similarities, neither would be caught dead living the other's life. These two guys whow that there is no one simple life. The simple life is what is simple for you. The simple life means creatively narrowing your choices so they don't overwhelm you. It means having time-time to stay caught up with work, time to think about the future, time for your loved ones, time for yourself. It means eating what you want, and not what your cravings for you to eat. It means having enough money and possiessions to live the way you want and being reasonably satisfied with what you have.

What do you think about the above?

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), November 25, 2001.


Cindy, I quoted Thoreau and you quoted Yankee Magazine? By far, the stories you posted where quite interesting but, Thoreau is NOT just about simple living. Thoreau is about being allowed to make these choices and to chose a lifestyle that encompasses your passions. Do not become a prisoner of simple living for simple living alone. I am not! I pick out the things that make my life easier. Thoreau did the same thing. I am suggesting that readers learn more about Henry David Thoreau and how he fits in to the way homesteaders are trying to live, thats all. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.

When people would ask what my point in life is, I'd say simplicity, since I read the above, I've been re-thinking it. I guess what I see is, simplicity is part of homesteading but homesteading isn't necessarily part of simplicity. I odn't think simplicity is the word for the way I see things.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), November 25, 2001.


So I guess simplicity doesn't mean you have to sell everything you own, move into a one room hut, and live a monastistic life.

Simplicity could just mean, getting rid of only those things in your life that do not bring you joy, whether it is a possession, a job, a volunteer committment, etc... by cutting out the non- essential you can focus on the essential. So simplicity is not synonymous with home-steading or tightwaddery. It can however be brought into play along with these other life-styles.

You can be a simplistic home-steader, or a more complicated homesteader. I am going to say I am a tightwad, essentialistic, trying to simplify, homesteader! Anyone know a word for that? Besides insane that is!!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 25, 2001.


You can simplify your life by removing the things that complicate it. That may be a car that you hate to keep up, a yard that would be more pleasing as a meadow, or a person that is toxic to you. It's too easy to say that homesteading is a simple lifestyle. It can be quite complicated. I think simplicity is more about finding what is really important, the things (physical or philosophical) that you cannot live without, whether good books, people, a room, security. It's all about testing yourself daily, checking yesterday's agenda against today's attitudes. Living simply is subjective. Now, the quote from Scott Nearing, that's just good advise.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.

Hi Ernest:

I enjoyed Walden very much, although I had to read it SLOWLY, his thoughts were really deep, and took me some time to understand what he was trying to say (or my interpretation of it). Like the thought that working about one month out of the year can produce enought income to survive the year, with planning and gardening skills brought into the equation.

To really live the lifestyle he proposed takes a lot of will power. To buck the establishment pressures to "work-produce-consume" and to live with getting your simple needs met. I too would like to do this, but right now don't have the will power to do without some of my toys.

You have probably read Jack Kerouac's book "Dharma Bums". Had some of the same basic needs values that Thoreau espoused. The drug scene described aside, Kerouac was involved with Budhissm (sp?) at the time, and espoused many of the same simple living thoughts. If you haven't had a chance to read it, check your libary, you may like it.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), November 26, 2001.


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