Go Confidently in the Direction…
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods
There are many words that have power and when compiled perfectly to support you in the direction of a dream, one cannot ask for a more motivational quote than that of Mr. Thoreau.
Traveling through the eastern states a day may be filled with motion and music – like Nashville, or Chicago…some locations are simply for quiet contemplation – this was Walden Pond State Park in Massachusetts.
There is a fluidity in life that gets its balance in silence. Sometimes just sitting on the edge of a historic pond is a drug in itself for your mind. After hours of riding time and helmet contemplation, to sit a quiet peace is awe inspiring.
I found much peace at Walden and even with the locals swimming and enjoying the beaches – many were camped out under the shade reading! It was in this moment that I realized I don’t see that enough anymore…reading… I rarely find people engrossed in books as I travel. Often at historic sites I will see youth on Facebook and completely disjointed from the location they are visiting and this is a bit sad to me.
You will park in a large overflow lot to enter and just a mild hike to the cabin, but there are beautiful hikes around the lake. I would recommend swapping out your riding shoes into your hikers or tennis shoes to truly enjoy that which the park and pond has to offer.
I yearn for Walden some days, and can understand why Thoreau needed to have this! (although I did read once that he left the forest cabin to have his mom do his laundry, fact or fiction – I know not) It still is special and has an air of joy and peace unlike other ponds I visit…is that real or an emotion I have created for it? On my year long motorcycle trip I learned to live off just one motorcycle, the simplicity of life was pure and I often find years later, that I live in a cluttered world. One that holds items over experiences, but when I am on the bike and the open road takes over, just the simplicity that adventure can hold…there is where I find my peace. While at Walden I am not sure if the feeling in me was real, just emotion playing a game, but I enjoyed my sack lunch and hike through Walden pond! It was my joy and to that – thank you, again, Mr. Thoreau!
To all the wandering hearts that yearn for adventure and grabbing hold of your dreams…head confidently, my friends, head confidently on your open road.
Written by Danell Lynn, Guinness World Record Rider –www.danelllynn.com,
@danelllynn Photography copyrights & Images by Danell Lynn.