7.12.2011

It's Henry David Thoreau's Birthday



I read his journal almost every day. I find comfort, grounding and refreshment in his writing. I am in awe of this gift he left the world. The way he savored nature is a north star to me. He writes of sitting under a bridge in his rowboat looking at a moth; of ice skating on the river at 10 o'clock on a February night; of eating watermelon while huckleberrying with friends; of finding a stray kitten; of his neighbor who gets pleasure out of each task he does around his farm. I like the way he is never sentimental, but yet writes of deeply moving  experiences. He was so true to himself. I get the feeling that others took him to be "difficult". Each entry in his journal, even from the very beginning when he was 20 years old, is so rich with insight and careful observation. If I could be one tenth as engaged in life as he was, I would count my life a success.

3 comments:

Victoria said...

I read Thoreau's Civil Disobedience years ago, but never his journal, which I think I would greatly enjoy. I could use a little of that contemplative mindfulness of the present moment.

kitty kilian said...

Oh, how interesting. I must find that book too.

Kathryn said...

Living life like this is so hard to come by these days. Just being in the moment and observing the world around you as it is. And if you do, people say you're off in a dreamland. I don't care, it's perfect to me.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...