Many years ago I purchased a metal sign that said “Simplify Simplify.” Of course that short statement comes from Henry David Thoreau, the famous writer, philosopher and environmentalist who lived for a time in a tiny cabin that he built on Walden Pond. 

The irony of that sign is that I found it at Hobby Lobby which is a bastion of “stuff” that we really do not need but we sometimes have to have. I mounted it in my laundry room as a reminder to make my life a bit less consumed with possessions and for the most part it became lost in the chaos of cleaning products and appliances that I use to keep my home tidy. I did not even remember seeing it of late until I watched a lovely three part Ken Burns program featuring Henry David Thoreau.

With all of the stresses in the world today it was quite enjoyable to sit back and learn more about the man who spent most of his life attempting to determine how humans and nature are intertwined. His philosophies of how to live without the “quiet desperation” that most of us endure was a lovely change from the doom scrolling and worries that seem to crowd our daily routines. For three hours I was immersed in Thoreau’s wisdom and appreciation for the humble aspects of living. 

Thoreau was so much more than I ever realized. He and his elder brother had both run a school for a time. He was a natural born teacher who enjoyed educating the  young people of his time. When his brother became ill they closed the school and Henry nursed his sibling until he died. Somehow the loss of his brother seemed to heighten his belief that we should all be striving to find a kind of harmony with the world around us because it is in such ways that we find the best of ourselves. 

After living for a time in the simple environ of Walden Pond Thoreau became a leading voice in the anti-slavery movement. In fact, his thinking about the enslavement of of humans was rather radical, believing that anything was fair in abolishing this horrific practice. When he voiced support of violence to rid our nation of slavery many of his followers were appalled but he felt that anything that would stop the vile tradition of slavery was necessary. 

Thoreau was a deep thinker whose passion was understanding the world and its people. He wrote thousands of pages in his daily diary that outline his belief that we humans are supposed to be stewards of this world, not owners who destroy nature and other people. While his thoughts often appear to be idealistic he actually predicted many of the problems that modern men and women encounter because of our hubris in believing that we have the right to destroy nature and others for the sake of progress. 

Thoreau died rather young from tuberculosis, an illness that ran in his family. Nonetheless he left a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom in the many articles and diary entries that he wrote. He was a futurist who understood the need to balance human needs and wants with doing what is right for the common good. He understood quite clearly how our place in the world was being perverted by greed and lack of empathy for one another and for the nature around us. 

Somehow Thoreau reminded me of my Grandma Minnie Bell who seemed to be a child of the elements. She had a connection with animals and plants and the environment that was stunning. She communicated with birds and carefully guarded the soil and the plants that she used to grow her own food. Somehow she understood that she was but a part of the ecosystem and that her role was above all to be kind to the earth. Without being able to read or write she was a genius when it came to caring for the planet on which we live. She recycled and enriched the land with great respect and care. 

I enjoyed learning more about Henry David Thoreau. I had only ever viewed him as a kind of hermit living in a tiny cabin away from other people. I learned that he was very much involved in the world around him and that his quiet and seemingly humble way of living often became quite vocal when it came to protecting his fellow humans. He was much like my grandmother in that regard. Both of them embraced other people without prejudice. Both saw themselves as simply one among millions tasked to care for every living person and thing. 

It seems fitting that in this time when greed is often destroying our planet there is a program about a man who understood our true responsibility for each other and the world in which we live. We would all do well to consider Thoreau’s ideas for living in harmony. When we forget what is really important we seem to hurt each other and the beautiful planet on which we live. Our desperation comes from a lack of understanding that we can live in harmony and still find great happiness. Life has never been about power, destruction and selfish endeavors. We are at our best when we work together and simplify the way we live.