The good life
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- See also: The Good Life (disambiguation)
The good life is an ambiguous term for the life that one would like to live. It has especially been used in regards to simple living in the memoirs of American back-to-the-landers, Helen and Scott Nearing. Living could be simple if somebody intend to do it like that. This concept was fleshed out by Jonathan R. Wilson in his book Living Faithfully in a Fragmented World where he defines it as a sort of telos for humanity, specifically "the life spent in seeking the good life for man." This is defined in different ways for different people, but it is generally accepted as seeking wholeness and unity with one's surroundings. Wilson goes on to discuss the concept of practice, meaning that this seeking of a good life is not something that happens overnight, but a life style of scholarship and discipline.At a glance, we can see different types of people who endeavor to have their certain goals. Obviously, all these goals are made to have a more convenient life. Whether these goals are easy or hard to be attained, you will find each person has his own strategies and plans through which he could satisfy his desires and then live a “good life”. As long as the people differ in their backgrounds, cultures, religions, and thinking, they absolutely differ in the definition of “Good Life” and in the way through which they attain it. There are many answers for the question of “What is the good life? And how can it be attained?” When we ask the little kids in a pre-school about what they want to be in the future You will see a diversity in responses. In most cases, these responses reflect their adolescence and adulthood concerns. So, I believe that the goals of those little kids are improving over the time and become the incentive for them in adulthood. Upon maturity, our needs change and so does the meaning of good life. Because of new relationships, jobs, education, marriage, and children our values and sights change, and hopefully for the better. At an old age, our relationships and how we deal with others become our main concerns. Therefore, the meaning of good life is improving according the life stages and other circumstances and interferences. To live in a good life, you should not focus only on your main concern, whether it is education, money, happiness, fame, or religion, but instead, take your sufficiency from each of these living demands but do not be greedy or covetous. Try to control and overcome the circumstances and the interferences which may compel you to favor one specific demand over others. After you attain a stable comfortable life, concentrate on your main concern and try to be a proficient in that specific concern. In order to keep it good in your life always recall your good morals and values which inspire and motivate you to do meaningful things. Always be a good person, it is important for your own well being as well as for the others. By doing so, you will guarantee at least an acceptable life and you will have your desires satisfied and your fancies restrained.
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[edit] Practice
The good life will look different for everyone, but most people choose to read the works of others who have sought this lifestyle before them, and there is normally a large emphasis on both community and nature. Just like Ralph Waldo Emerson's prescription in American Scholar, the three primary ways of "learning life" are nature, the past, and action.
[edit] Religious Approaches
There has been a pattern in the life of the Christian Church of monasticism or ascetism, wherein members of the body of Christ separated themselves to be consecrated to a more contemplative lifestyle, or decided to live in voluntary poverty in order to better meet the needs the world.
Recent developments in this field have been made by what some call the new monasticism. Young men and women, both monogamous married couples and celibate singles, share their homes and lives, usually in the inner city as a means and method of growing in their faith and ministering to the marginalized and hurting people surrounding them.
[edit] Non-Religious Approaches
There have been many instances throughout history, especially American history, of individuals or groups of individuals attempting to return to a simpler state of existence, or, as Henry David Thoreau said, "to front the essential facts of life". Thoreau wrote his influential memoir Walden about his personal experience with simple living. A century later, Helen and Scott Nearing published a series of books on "the good life" detailing their alternative lifestyle.
[edit] References
- Living Faithfully in a Fragmented Worldby Jonathan R. Wilson
- The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing
- Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
- School(s) for Conversion edited by Rutba House
- The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claibourne
- Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald J. Sider
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau
- The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder
[edit] See also
- back-to-the-landers
- La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - Federico Fellini's 1960 film may be seen as an antonym of 'the good life' concept
- Helen and Scott Nearing
- new monasticism
- simple living
- Henry David Thoreau
- voluntary poverty
