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Live your life to the fullest
Accept yourself as you are.
H.D. Thoreau. 1817-1862. American poet and naturalist. This is a book by Thoreau, the 19th-century American thinker, not the economist Thoreau.
This book is recommended for people who live in the suburbs due to the pandemic, those considering moving to the countryside in search of nature, and anyone who feels overwhelmed by their current lifestyle. I preferred the binding of the Iwanami Bunko edition, but I chose the Shogakukan edition for its readability.
This book recounts Thoreau's experience of living a self-sufficient life in the forest for two and a half years, away from social life. During his time in the forest, he essentially produced everything he needed, including food, and lived with a few classic books that had been passed down through generations. Thoreau's meticulous sketches are used as illustrations, revealing his delicate touch. His philosophy is said to have had a significant influence on later poets and writers.
Thoreau's message is consistently, "Do your best and live as you are." Even if you end up penniless, if you believe you can live a minimal life in the forest like Thoreau, you can actually become more resilient and courageous.
Personally, in Chapter 3 of the first volume, "On Reading," there are many Spartan passages such as, "Let us have a reading time that pushes us to our limits, a time that is at its most awakening and thrilling," which gives me a sense of Thoreau's spirit as he diligently works the land in the forest, reading even when it's sunny and reading even when it rains.
These days, we spend a lot of time at home, and while I don't want to go as far as Thoreau's decluttering, I want to live with just the essentials. Apparently, having more things in your room than it can handle puts a strain on your brain and makes you tired easily. Let's add some greenery, like plants.
"Life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself. So live the life you imagine."
"It is as hard to see one's self as to look backwards without turning around."
"Live your life, do your work, then take your hat."
First reading completed on 2020/12/12
Well then, goodbye. Take care :)
Author: Henry David Thoreau Translator: Yoshiharu Imaizumi Publisher: Shogakukan Paperback: Volume 1: 445p, Volume 2: 437p
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