What We Really Need

Henry David Thoreau spent two years in solitude while according observations for his book, Walden. In these two years he determined that man has only 4 requirements he must maintain for himself in order to survive: fuel, food, shelter, and clothing. A perfectly functioning human being can exist so long as he quenches these 4 thirsts. 

With the holiday season in full swing, it is a good time to consider what the brilliant Thoreau had to offer us. When we sit down to make our holiday lists, what should we ask for so that we don't bury ourselves with "not indispensable" items. When I asked myself that question, I remembered hearing about a sponsorship charities, like the Christian Children's Fund , in which a small portion of our money goes to ensure that children in third world countries do not go without the 4 basic needs. 

It is very hard to live like a transcendentalist today, with more  and more people worry about looks and luxuries. How can we strive to be individualists, when advertisements insult us with their low brow humor-- trying to connect with the common man?Advertisements are just plain bad. 

Anyway, I hope we live conscious of Thoreau's efforts to show us that we can live happy without the luxuries.