Henry David Thoreau

I love it when Henry David Thoreau says "to front only the essential facts of life". He hits every major problem -in my opinion- that we face in the world right now. Nearly every other person lives in the cyber world. Wether it is facebook, twitter, e-mail, video games, computer games, or especially texting. These things not only limit the amount of true human interaction they bottle everyone up inside their homes. It is painfully obvious that the social skills of many Americans is next to zilch. Just go to Wal-Mart and try to make eye contact for ten solid seconds with anyone. I bet you the one who even acknowledges you is the cashier; sometimes that is only when telling you the price of your purchase. We are utterly lost as a society when it comes to actual social interaction. Do you remember what you did the last time the power went out and you had no wifi? I know how dare I even bring it up. In all seriousness, what did you do? Did you walk back and forth through your house aimlessly? Did you sit on your couch staring at the blank television screen just praying it would suddenly flicker to life? If you answered yes or you mind jumped to something equally sad and pathetic -you know who you are- fix it. Instead of texting your best friend that is sitting right next to you. Say something! The second struggle that we face as a society is staying indoors. I myself am guilty of hibernating in my man cave, even in the middle of summer. I love reading which I grudgingly admit can be added to the list above of things that keep us from real life. Nature is amazing! There is no other way to put it. Nothing compares to going on a hike and seeing the vibrant greens of shrubbery, the deep absorbing blue of the sky, and the endless kaleidoscope of colors found all around. There is so much to enjoy outside. Sadly, the human race has spent the last few centuries perfecting the indoors we miss out on the perfection just beyond our porch. All you need to do is get up, get out, and see it. Rain storms -though wet- are quite fun to dance in. Thoreau mentions very strikingly "to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life". Awesome? Heck yeah! Have you ever sucked the marrow from a bone? I have and it is no easy task. First of all you have to crack the bone. Now don't use your front teeth or they will break. Use your back teeth which are much stronger. After that don't start chewing what you broke apart; it tastes good at first then rapidly declines in its appeal. Instead pull it out of your mouth and proceed to eat only the marrow by sucking it out. Apparently it is good for you because it is pure calcium. Right, the point I am making is, that it is not easy. Life is not easy; if it is you are doing something wrong. Marrow is good for you though strange for most Americans to even think of eating. I failed my drivers test the first time; I took it again and passed by exaggerating my head checks which were the cause of my failing the first time. Now I enjoy the freedom of a drivers license. I have started running every morning. I listen to audiobooks to distract myself from pain that so well accompanies this exercise of running. I bask in the quality of my elevated health because I stuck with it. Life is not easy, nor is it supposed to be. "Live deep" -which I believe means sticking with the hard things no matter what- and you will find that it is well worth it. Then when you see it is well worth it. Invite others to join in. Thoreau's goal was to share what he learned of life. We should do the same.