Hey everybody! As I mentioned before, I am going to share some inspirational quotes from Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" which I read during my rehab retreat.
I want to stick with the subject of internet and television addiction for just a bit because I was strongly inspired during my retreat to address this issue for myself and share it with you guys on the blog. Also, Thoreau's writing is very applicable in today's world despite the fact that it was written over 150 years ago. I would go as far as saying that his writing is even MORE applicable today because of the influence of television and internet in modern culture.
"Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind."
This quote made me consider the fact that our own imagination and creativity is not engaged in the act of watching television and surfing the web. I have heard people express dismay over the fact that we haven't seen the likes of Einstein since he has passed away in the 1950's. Sure, we have some inspiring and smart people, but nobody that has expanded our thinking of the universe as far as he did. And I always remember Einstein's quote, "imagination is more important than knowledge." So where is the new Einstein? Is he sitting at home playing video games instead of wondering about the cosmos?
"Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end"
So somebody please tell me what the last great invention has been!?! Many would say the internet, but let's be honest, what has it really done for us? For our lives? Ok, so yes it has been used to share some important information and dismantle some corrupt governments in the Middle East. And I admit that it has some good qualities. I love laughing at the newest YouTube silliness and I am obviously making use of it now. But it has hardly been an agent of social change in this country. About the best it does here is promote the cult of celebrity or help you reconnect with an old boyfriend. I will admit to being wrong here if I am being narrow minded, but I need some help being convinced.
"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone"
I love this quote. If only because it appeals to my non-conformist (wink, KC) bent that I seem to have. But, in addition to that, Thoreau is honestly trying to get the message out that our lives are not being improved by the luxuries of life. If we are not engaging our creativity or interacting with nature, how is it possible to have a fulfilling life? I am not saying there aren't other ways, but I haven't heard about them. The television and the internet may expose us to some interesting and valuable ideas, but if all we are doing with those ideas is putting them in the back of our mind so we can watch the next episode of "Jersey Shore," what the hell is the point?
"If men would steadily observe realities only, and not allow themselves to be deluded, life to compare it with such things as we know, would be like a fairy tale and the Arabian Nights Entertainments"
What I think Thoreau is trying to express here is that we are walling ourselves off from a greater, richer, more glorious reality when we allow ourselves to be deluded. Sure it is great to get swept away in a good movie or just relax with a mindless show once in a while, but we have to realize that without the steady engagement of imagination and creativity, we are blocking ourselves off from real life. And, according to Thoreau, "reality is fabulous." But, how would we know this? We have spent out entire lives being plugged in to the boob tube or reading about what kind of dress Kim Kardashian wore when she was served with divorce papers. But try it out for yourself. What is the longest stretch of time that you went without seeing a TV or looking at a computer screen?
I am not sure what this reality is that Thoreau is talking about, but I have glimpsed it. Since I have seriously restricted myself from the internet since my retreat, I have felt more motivated, have been waking up earlier, and have a more palpable sense of joie de vivre Try it for yourself, you won't believe me until you do.
"That which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake"
Ok, so this might be my favorite. What Thoreau is effectively saying is that unless we are using our own eyes, hearts, and minds, we are essentially in the dark. And this is what TV and internet does. It shuts off our own brain and we are linked in to somebody else's creativity and imagination. He goes even further to say that the mass of men are "asleep" in the sense that we are not seeing the true reality of the world because we are too busy looking at what other people are creating. It's time to wake the fuck up. I am not saying that television and internet should be banned. How could I talk to you here? What I am saying is notice how dependent you are on technology. Notice how we walk into a living room and without even thinking about it we have turned on the television and 3 hours later realize that we haven't moved from the couch the whole time. Notice how the simple intention of going to check your email leads you to an endless search to see if you can win a Publisher's Clearing House prize or find out about Justin Bieber having sex in a public bathroom.
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