“Perhaps prison is anything that severs and alienates, paradise is the reclaimed commons with the fences thrown down, and so any step toward connection and communion is a step toward paradise, even if the route detours through jail. Thoreau was demonstrating on that one day in Concord in June of 1847 both what dedication to freedom was and what enjoyment of freedom might look like – free association, free roaming, the picking of the fruits of the Earth for free, free choice of commitments.” - Rebecca Solnit, The Thoreau Problem.
Reading Thoreau’s writing on the powerful, healing experience that is enjoying a walk in nature, and Solnit’s subsequent response to his philosophy, I am reminded of Newman-Bremang’s dissection of the duality of self-care,…show more content… Thoreau takes the time he needs to cultivate his best self so that he can continue to be a revolutionary thinker and advocate for others. In this way, the ideas of revolution, rest, self-care, and community-care are permanently intertwined and balanced, structured in such a way that none can exist without the others. As an extension of community-care, Solnit points out that some activists believe no one should enjoy pleasure until those pleasures or privileges are available to everyone, and I often see a similar condemnation of people for contributing to the system that harms and oppresses others. But, realistically, we cannot work against the system without working within it. We can’t all afford to quit poor working conditions and find a better job or go on strike. Similarly to McMindfulness’s piercing slight about how the blame for climate change is shirked onto the general public for not using reusable straws or overconsuming plastic instead of being placed squarely on the giant corporations that are emitting dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere,…show more content… Practicing mindfulness trains the mind to allow us to keep our thoughts and energy focused, taking in what is around us and being present. As technology advances, this is an issue that has increasingly come to the forefront of discussions, spurring friendly competitions to keep us off our phones and engaged with our loved ones as well as scathing articles that criticize young people for being “chronically online.” Artists nowadays see more of the audience’s phones than their faces at concerts, with everyone reeling to record every moment of the performance instead of just experiencing it. I do see this debate from both sides, as I am an extremely sentimental person who hoards hundreds of thousands of photos and videos on my phone, but I make a point to set aside time for sentimentality and time for mindfulness. I took a few photos to remember the experience, then resolved to put the phone away and live in the moment. Still, I find myself, like Thoreau, struggling to be present. My mind drifts away to work that I need to do, emails I need to send, presents I need to buy. This, as with anything, comes with practice, and clearly, with Walking being written over 150 years ago, this is not a problem exclusive to modern life. The disconnect between mind and body can be rectified with sincere effort, continuously refocusing your thoughts until your
