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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Andrew N. Cothran who wrote (49277)	6/8/2004 9:27:56 AM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793958

That Thoreau line threw me. I do recall taking a look at Thoreau in a Philosophy Course and I tried to read Walden for a Lit Course. I looked to see if I still have the notes, but I don't. I expected to like Thoreau because we share an affinity for the outdoors. But Henry's writing style was very difficult for me to comprehend. I needed the teachers' lectures to explain it to me. I did read Walden or parts of it again later. It was still too difficult. The two Thoreau lessons that stuck with me are a variation of, "Don't forget to smell the roses." 1. Never be afraid to make a change that might improve your own life. 2. You do not have to own something to enjoy it. Two seemingly simple lessons that so many continue to miss. Someone explained to me many Americans and others are in a constant race to own things. The race is so intense, they do not have time to enjoy what they already have. Yet they continuously strive to own more. Years ago, I adjusted my goal to this... "To have a nice day today." I consider it my personal responsibility to ensure that happens everyday. I have finally learned that much more pleasure comes from using money (even small amounts) to improve the world than accumulating it to buy myself more stuff so I can think I am winning the race. I saw George Carlin's spoof about stuff ("A Place For My Stuff") and the storage industry in Honolulu some years ago. As I laughed, I realized he had it all thought out and brought it all together for me. uw