Transcendentalism In Self Reliance

According to Emerson, the author of Self Reliance, “Society is a wave. The wave moves onward, but the water of which it is composed does not” (Emerson ). Everyone living in this world has a limited amount of time, a limited life, but an important tradition is to teach our children how to survive just as we learned. Those teachings, passed on from generation to generation, are the ideas and beliefs that make up a society. These ideals continue on into the future, far past any one individual life, just like a wave moves past any individual drop of water in the ocean. No two people will share the same story therefore no one will tell the same advice. We have all adopted diverse lifestyles personalized to fit our character. However, it is not only our character that is making this change, the world growing and improving every second takes a toll as well.
Transcendentalists such as Thoreau and Emerson looked to nature for simplicity and comfort.
They preferred to live “two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, and separated from the highway by a broad field…” (Thoreau 380). A car, a phone, the highway were not necessities to their daily lives during this time. In fact, they would have preferred to go without them. Emerson describes his feelings in Nature by stating “In good health, the air is a cordial of incredible virtue” (Emerson, 367). On the other hand, here in Stafford our lives revolve around I-95 and Route 1. Nature no longer exists in our lives because the land is taken to build or favorite fast food chains. Teenagers, children, and even adults have been kidnapped from the beauty of the natural world around us. Instead of going hiking or riding a bike around the park we sit in front of a small screen checking the latest updates on everyone else’s life. There is no longer a “simple lifestyle”. Its been complicated by school, a job, a boyfriend or girlfriend, and/ or drama on social
media. “If life is lived in a hurry, it is a waste” (Thoreau ). As a teenager looking forward to starting a whole new chapter in life is all we think about. There are literally several juniors counting down the days until were out of “hell” also known as Brooke Point High School. All around me everyone is rushing to grow up; pause for a moment and think to yourself, you will never be able to go to crazy all night parties again. Who is going to pay your bills in a couple of years? Instead of constantly fantasizing in the future live for today. Cherish every day you wake up healthy, and happy because one day it will be too late. Listen to the wise man from years ago he has lived and learned. Modern technologies have become a big factor in effecting the way we live. Therefore, rather than being persuaded by introspective men and women such as Thoreau and Emerson, we are influenced by famous actors, actresses, and athletes. Lavish lifestyles with fancy cars, mansions, and millions of dollars isn’t how transcendentalists would have lived. If they were here today looking down on us more than likely they would be disappointed. No one can find their inner self and soul in money or social media. Have you really found yourself by listening to what everyone say about you on Twitter and Instagram?