Walden Essay

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In this century, it is difficult to maintain a simple lifestyle. There is so much to do and so many tasks to perform that it is easy to lose sight of the simple and wonderful things that life has to offer. People question if simplicity is even attainable anymore. The answer is yes; a simple way of living can be experienced if one sets their mind to it. Henry David Thoreau was a man who believed in this simplicity and strived to attain it in his life. He left his complicated life in the city and created a much less complicated life for himself. Although this modern age is complex, people can simplify their lives by becoming peaceful,not becoming too involved, and learning to enjoy what has been given to them.

One factor that can lead to a complex life is continuous arrogance. If one is constantly at war or expressing hatred towards others, a tranquil lifestyle cannot be achieved. People must strive towards expressing a peaceful attitude. It will keep them away from trouble and conflict. “Why should we knock under and go with the stream? Let us not be upset and overwhelmed in that terrible rapid and whirlpool called a dinner, situated in the meridian shadows” (Thoreau, 493). Here, Henry David Thoreau supports the theory that when life is acting as a whirlpool, humans must avoid becoming tense. Doing so will result in a flustered outlook on life. Thoreau's words preach that one cannot spend their life depressed or busy. It is not possible to become serene with such manners and feelings.

With so many activities and events going on daily, it is not difficult for one to become caught up in the activities they take part in. New ideas and pressures are constantly being introduced to our rapidly progressing Earth. All of this may become overwhelming and some people can find themselves lost in a sea of countless chores. By limiting strenuous tasks and decreasing undesirable stress, a person can live more of a laid back life. “I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on a thumbnail” (Thoreau, 491). By this,Thoreau is saying that people should decrease the number of tasks they need to perform. Doing this will result in a carefree and much simpler life because there is not as much pressure present in their life.

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Life has so many things to offer in the forms of everyday actions and objects. For example, nature itself is seldom recognized for it's beauty. If one took the time to realize what they have and learn to enjoy it, life would be much simpler. This would eliminate the constant striving for new things that will act as a provider of happiness. “Why should we live with such hurry and waste or life? We are determined to be starved before we are hungry” (Thoreau, 491). Thoreau proves here that humans constantly want more in life. They need to learn to be satisfied with their belongings in order to feel simple and complete. People must stop and take a look around them in order to realize that the world is beautiful. Thoreau came upon the realization that the Earth alone is beautiful and has not been recognized as such. It is this discovery that gave him a sense of simplicity when he visited Walden Pond.

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By keeping a small list of things to do, enjoying what they have, and being peaceful, one can experience an uncomplicated lifestyle. These steps may not be easy, but the results are surely worth the effort. Surrounded by constant changes and new inventions, people living in the twenty-first century are not in the midst of a serene world at all. People still have the ability to simplify their lives, though. Life is too short to be wasted; humans need to learn to live by the guidelines of a simple lifestyle.