What does it mean to ‘live deliberately’? It is the realisation that there is a difference between truly living and merely existing, and thus choosing to take control of your own life in order to ensure a sense of fulfilment. It is a hunger to live a life that exceeds the societal barriers which force people into complacency and monotony. It is a question we all ask ourselves in one way or another, stemming from a universal fear of the uncertainty that comes with death. Thoreau comments on the passivity of human existence, urging us to seek purpose in our lives and live life with intent. He reflects on his decision to embark on a journey within the woods as he seeks to live a life away from materialism, distancing himself from an indifferent society in order to establish spiritual enlightenment as he believes this will bring him ‘purpose’.

Thoreau’s essay ‘Walden’, or ‘Life in the Woods’ profoundly intrigued me and was strangely relevant to me during this time in my life as I too have been pondering on such existential ideas. I have questioned the meaning of life countless times; and whether or not I’m even doing it right as if there is a correct way to live. You do not truly acknowledge the frailty of life until it is almost taken away from you. When encountering a near-death experience, at first you are shocked and overwhelmed at how short life really is. Next, you find the motivation to grasp onto the aspects of life that you enjoy and focus only on them; this is what I believe Thoreau means by “front only the essential facts of life”. Recently, my mum and I were in a frightful car accident and because of this Thoreau’s intention behind writing this essay genuinely resonates with me as he highlights the importance of truly engaging with life rather than simply going through the motions as one day there will be an end. The line which resonated with me the most after enduring such an experience was, “when I came to die, discover that I had not lived”. An underlying tone of regret is present to me in this particular quote, perhaps Thoreau had a similar epiphany to me and realised the changes he must make in order to ensure that when his life ends, it will have been one that he was proud to have lived. This thought provoked me to reconsider my own awareness of my intent to live deliberately, and I encourage you to do the same.