The Authentic Life

Do you ever feel like your life is a bit meaningless? Sometimes I get to feeling like that. Like the daily activities of my life are so far removed from what nature would have me do that I fail to accomplish life's real objectives. I think it's funny, for example, that I shut myself up in an office for a large amount of time each week, accomplishing interesting and useful things perhaps, but without any physical activity. Then I pay money to go to another fancy building to work out and get the physical activity that I denied myself by spending so much time in the office. We build large structures of wood, stone, metal, and concrete to shield ourselves from nature and gives ourselves a life of ease ... and then we pay homage to nature by building more of those buildings to shield ourselves from her elements so we can work those muscles she gave us ... in comfort. Doesn't all of this seem strange to you?

Leo Tolstoy was born a count and had a life of ease, dissipation, and pleasure. As he examined his life, however, he came to see it as meaningless and he wished to live a more simple, natural life. He was the count who wanted to be a peasant, but was unable to make the transition and died quite unhappily. He is one of my heroes ... for a lot of reasons. He became convinced that agriculture was the only valid profession and that it was our natural duty to provide for our needs with our own hands. I may be overstating his position slightly, but that's ok. It's my blog and he can argue with me later.

I don't think I see things quite that starkly, but I am convinced that agriculture is one of the noblest professions. By digging in the dirt, caring for plants, and harvesting food, we're taking elements that are relatively useless to man and providing products that are of the most basic necessity. Without food, we all die. Who cares if you just invented the coolest electronic gadget in the world? If the world has no food, we're all going to die in a few weeks. Philosophically, I would love to be a farmer. It's too bad I stink at it.

But I do have a hope that someday I'll be able to live a more natural, simple life. Perhaps after I've run the rat race for a few more years, I'll be able to buy a place where I can dig in the dirt and provide food for my family by my own sweat and strain. Something about that idea is really appealing to me. But I'd better get some practice in raising crops because I haven't been very successful with gardens in recent years. That means I need to find some time in the spring and summer to take care of my plants instead of letting them go to weeds because I spend all that time in the office. This year isn't looking too good. Maybe next year? :)