I talk a big game when it comes to my disdain for the
trappings of the modern world – cell phones, Facebook or even the Internet in
general, but I’m addicted to it just like everyone else. I’m always texting or looking for a response
and if you give me a computer with internet, I’ll waste hours and hours
trolling the depths of cyberspace, believing that I’m actually learning
something. After one of these episodes,
I’ll feel ashamed at my lack of productivity with all the reading or writing
(not arithmetic) I could’ve accomplished.
I’ll go to my shack with the hopes of “getting away.” There’s no TV (or electricity), a radio that
sometimes works and cell reception that is scant at best. So it shouldn’t be hard to live like I was in
the Dark Ages right? Well maybe I’ll
turn my phone on and set it outside where the reception is slightly better and
see if anyone’s trying to get ahold of me.
I wonder how the football game ended up last night so I’ll try the radio
for a bit. These are all distractions,
needlessly taking up space in my head.
After a worthless day with nothing to show for it, I’ll
start forcing myself to restrain from turning on the cell phone or radio and my
mind will start clearing up. I’ll get
into a good rhythm of just living. I’ll
read, grill, go for a walk and write the day away. At days end I can finally look back and feel
good about it. Today was not a lost
cause; today was a good day.
Those days are, sadly, rare.
I let distractions overrun my life, never letting me achieve my full
potential. I need to get better at
releasing my mind from the wired world, while still living in it. I make it sound like other people are holding
me back from leading a fulfilling life, but that’s not the case, because I’m
the culprit. Thoreau wrote about finding
the solitude in your mind. You needn’t be
secluded in the woods to find that inner peace, but anywhere you can take a
step back and block out distractions can be your Walden.
As I write this, I’m in the middle of the Chequamegon
National Forest on a log overlooking the Chippewa Flowage while texting people
trying to find the Badger score. Looks like
I have a long way to go to find Walden.
