tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post7819208858498291670..comments2024-03-28T08:54:28.654+08:00Comments on Cresting The Hill: THE QUIET SIMPLICITY OF THOREAU'S WALDENLeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-17476954831138123992022-12-15T08:57:29.419+08:002022-12-15T08:57:29.419+08:00Hi - I'm so glad you found me and I hope you&#...Hi - I'm so glad you found me and I hope you'll be back to keep reading and engaging - I love meeting new people and sharing ideas and thoughts as we journey through Midlife - it's such a time of discovering what really resonates with us and discarding what doesn't work any longer. :)Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-52153249331694614132022-12-14T14:58:46.037+08:002022-12-14T14:58:46.037+08:00I've just discovered your Facebook page and yo...I've just discovered your Facebook page and your blog. I remember how much I like blogs! Anyway, thanks for your thoughtful posts - they very much resonate with me at 53 and now I need to go read some Thoreau!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-91368158206727723472019-09-06T15:00:48.217+08:002019-09-06T15:00:48.217+08:00It's certainly a different life atm Deb - as y...It's certainly a different life atm Deb - as you'd know, retirement can come as a surprise, but when we embrace it and look for the silver lining, then the quiet joy that Thoreau describes becomes our reality - and it's very pleasant indeed!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-25032784260742958152019-09-06T14:59:46.553+08:002019-09-06T14:59:46.553+08:00Hi Menaka - I think simplicity is something that i...Hi Menaka - I think simplicity is something that is overlooked in today's busy world of trying to do more, own more, and be more. Being satisfied with less and living a quiet life is under-rated but such a joy when you discover it.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-71554015141664171412019-09-04T14:05:51.674+08:002019-09-04T14:05:51.674+08:00What a delightful way of looking at things Leanne,...What a delightful way of looking at things Leanne, I really enjoyed your take on the quotes and learning more about you. Your life certainly has changed and for the better I’d say! Deb's Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12706654888846671781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-70585736526863971162019-09-02T20:56:56.024+08:002019-09-02T20:56:56.024+08:00Thoreau fascinates me and your take shines light o...Thoreau fascinates me and your take shines light on the positive aspects on life today- simplicity is the best way to get grounded. Thanks for joining us in Bloggers Pit Stop - Pit Stop CrewMenaka Bharathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13617425033945354776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-77946924621042624372019-08-30T12:39:53.672+08:002019-08-30T12:39:53.672+08:00I found it fascinating that he was looking to step...I found it fascinating that he was looking to step back from life too Denyse - and his life would have been a lot calmer and unstressed than ours is in the 21 century. I guess there are always those who prefer to be out of the hubbub and in a place of serenity - I'm definitely one of them!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-58471187410658770692019-08-30T12:38:45.052+08:002019-08-30T12:38:45.052+08:00Hi - thanks so much for sharing that, I'm find...Hi - thanks so much for sharing that, I'm finding very similar truths myself these days - a deeper connection to God, more time to listen to good teaching (I found a fantastic podcast series of sermons that I'm devouring atm) and more headspace with the time and flexibility to apply myself to things that interest me - not just the "have to's" anymore. I'm learning peace too xLeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-28847021295618750972019-08-30T12:36:50.177+08:002019-08-30T12:36:50.177+08:00I feel exactly the same way Linda - I almost feel ...I feel exactly the same way Linda - I almost feel guilty when I think about how easy and pleasant my life is these days. Wouldn't it be lovely to always live this way? I'm hoping to continue in this mode until the day I die - no more rat race for me!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-8943175188482086982019-08-30T12:35:27.683+08:002019-08-30T12:35:27.683+08:00Love that quote Deb - and I just found such a sens...Love that quote Deb - and I just found such a sense of connection with what Thoreau was trying to do and with where I've been heading. Escaping the rat race is definitely intergenerational and international!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-28086363052310778522019-08-28T16:39:59.183+08:002019-08-28T16:39:59.183+08:00Through my explorations of others' works I hav...Through my explorations of others' works I have read about Walden and the experiment Thoreau carried out living there. One thing I am always fascinated by in life today, is that there always seems to have been some kind of problem to be solved in no matter what era or time frame. <br /><br />Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week's optional prompt is 35/51 Share Your Snaps #7 2/9/19 and I hope you will join in. Denyse. Denyse Whelan.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16888810644186418559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-41028512334718256672019-08-28T04:29:12.068+08:002019-08-28T04:29:12.068+08:00Leanne, this post is very beautifully written! So ...Leanne, this post is very beautifully written! So are the comments. I've had an unusual life: I wasn't fully in the fray of the working world. But, I have found that, in my latter life (I'm 65), I have become better acquainted with myself and God, and am learning to release my frustrations and allow God to handle those things that try to bring anxiety. I am learning peace.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04605869811777245540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-50824302644875003042019-08-27T20:42:00.560+08:002019-08-27T20:42:00.560+08:00I haven’t read Thoreau but from what you’ve descri...I haven’t read Thoreau but from what you’ve described, I can certainly relate to what he’s written. My simple, mostly carefree life, brings me so much joy, there are times I can’t believe how lucky I am. I’m truly living for myself now and choosing how I spend each day. No more nagging thoughts about what I’m not doing right. It’s too bad we can’t experience this type of contentment our whole lives!!!Linda - Retired Introverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019487737498029521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-23932708081277503362019-08-26T09:43:39.832+08:002019-08-26T09:43:39.832+08:00I LOVE Thoreau and his quotes are some of the only...I LOVE Thoreau and his quotes are some of the only ones I recognise. I love his take on simplicity and life. <br /><br />My fave quote of his: "Being is the great explainer." Debbishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305239848096384084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-15050310335047654392019-08-26T09:21:16.840+08:002019-08-26T09:21:16.840+08:00I think it's a never-ending process Pat becaus...I think it's a never-ending process Pat because the world around us promotes the dog eat dog way of living that we've walked away from. I look back at my working days and how pressed I was to stay on top of things and how tired of it all I was, it makes me sigh and then breathe in deeply and appreciate the absolute joy of having stepped away from it all and not having to deal with any of the stress and competition - bliss!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-59254234251841194092019-08-26T09:19:08.094+08:002019-08-26T09:19:08.094+08:00Thanks Donna - I see your island life as very Wald...Thanks Donna - I see your island life as very Walden-ish in it's closeness to nature and being away from the busyness of major city life too.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-62836007741768171132019-08-26T09:18:27.046+08:002019-08-26T09:18:27.046+08:00Hi Suzanne - I'd love to be more of a scholar ...Hi Suzanne - I'd love to be more of a scholar at times - those authors from the 1800's are a tough read, but there's so many nuggets in there that we can still apply to life right now aren't there? I think there are so many of us casting off from trying to meet society's expectations, and enjoying a quieter simpler life instead - and the rest of the world doesn't know what it's missing!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-51326770214586936872019-08-26T03:56:51.834+08:002019-08-26T03:56:51.834+08:00I like many of the Thoreau's quotes and have h...I like many of the Thoreau's quotes and have him on my "to be read" pile! I also have found the shift from negativity to positivity in retirement has been so wonderful. For me it was a combination of the environment, but also the person I had become to survive in it - critical, never happy, constantly having to prove myself again and again. I talk to colleagues who are still working and hear the negative environment is still there! And they are still trying to survive in it, as I was. Practicing positivity plus learning to enjoy being (and not always doing) - yeah. I am happier every day. But even at 5 years retired I'm still practicing/learning this!Pat WDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01058910207832261196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-16399349901196114062019-08-25T04:41:30.660+08:002019-08-25T04:41:30.660+08:00I completely agree with the power and beauty of si...I completely agree with the power and beauty of simple living. You have expressed it very thoughtfully and articulately!retirementreflectionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256842249783275416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-17321032986316254542019-08-24T20:39:25.868+08:002019-08-24T20:39:25.868+08:00Leanne, I have 'skimmed' Walden, but I hav...Leanne, I have 'skimmed' Walden, but I have read Thoreau's mentor, Ralph W. Emerson's journals extensively over the years. Both offer beautiful insights regarding a life well lived. Learning to BE takes time and a lot of letting go. You have been peeling back the layers and it shows; 'throwing off the yoke of man's opinions' as Emerson would say. Congratulations Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902618824470167859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-70104407967781324822019-08-24T09:24:45.586+08:002019-08-24T09:24:45.586+08:00Hi Jo - I confess to a lot of skimming (that gener...Hi Jo - I confess to a lot of skimming (that generation writes in a very ponderous fashion at times!) but it resonated deeply with me too - that desire to look beyond what others see as success, and to reach a point where you're content with yourself and your choices - something we all aspire to I hope :)Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-8762839025700961032019-08-24T09:23:27.824+08:002019-08-24T09:23:27.824+08:00Erica, as I've gone through this whole job dra...Erica, as I've gone through this whole job drama incident, I've been surprised at the number of Midlife women who have similar stories to tell. All felt like they'd been thrust into a situation not of their choosing, but all have moved on to better lives. I was a bit lost when it all happened, but as time is going on I'm coming to see that it was necessary and has led to a much calmer and more settled phase of life for me - and that's a blessing in itself - "quiet joy" indeed!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-54845871523792001702019-08-24T08:26:44.654+08:002019-08-24T08:26:44.654+08:00I haven't read any Thoreau but I adore your ta...I haven't read any Thoreau but I adore your take on this. It resonates so much with me. The money, the expectations, the price on freedom...all of it. Have a great weekend.Jo Traceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01096756433952821037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-90285203382773465432019-08-24T08:19:18.836+08:002019-08-24T08:19:18.836+08:00I have heard of Thoreau although I admit I have no...I have heard of Thoreau although I admit I have not spent time pondering his writing. I do understand first hand some of the ins and outs of your past work environment. Of course, you had some specific challenging circumstances and challenging people. I appreciate reading and learning how you are moving forward. I ‘get it’ when you write about “the money” and “the expectations.” <br /><br />I love your words, “life is a quiet joy” “slower and calmer”<br /><br />It truly looks like success to me. A wonderful post, Leanne:)<br /><br />Erica/Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05542330143072789332noreply@blogger.com