Henry David Thoreau was the famous American author who
wrote Walden, Or Life in the Woods, in 1845, a book considered to be an American classic. One of the main themes in Walden is the idea of appreciating the simple qualities of the natural universe around us ("sucking the marrow out of life").

Thoreau actually spent about two years living in a cabin in the woods near Concord, Massachusetts, living on natural foods and some plants that he grew.

While many of us probably would never be able to embark on such a lengthy getaway, there are opportunities in our own area for one to get away even for a short time (say, one or two days).

The importance of getting away was supported in the life of Jesus. who is often found going to the mountains or to the garden to pray alone, and sometimes with his Apostles.

My wife and I recently had the opportunity to spend 24 hours at a nearby bed and breakfast inn. The time, although short, was renewing and refreshing. There was no TV, no distractions, just a beautiful inn overlooking a small lake, and plenty of walking trails in the woods.

In our antique-filled room was a small "room diary" in which former lodgers wrote about their experiences at the inn. One couple wrote that the time away was athe perfect "therapy" for their marriage, which had fallen on some hard times.

Another couple wrote that they loved the time together, because they had lost "touch" with each other over the past several years. They believed the time together in this quiet place had rekindled their love. Story after story reflected the same theme.

I hope some day you can visit a place like this one and write your own Walden experience!
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Dr. Phil Scozzaro is a psychologist employed by Blick Clinic, Inc. He is an ad hoc faculty member of the University of Akron. E-mail phil2@mbusa.net .