Walking and Resting Are Both Vital
Or Some Thoughts On Wisdom Offered by Nietzsche
One of Nietzsche’s epic adages was “thoughts achieved through walking have the most value.” (Sorry, I rephrased it a bit).
Now, just like countless other maxims offered by Nietzsche (and innumerable other philosophers, thinkers, and spiritual visionaries), this one is bound to have its naysayers. People like Nietzsche would be the first to advise taking their wisdom with a large helping of salt.
We can see where Nietzsche’s words have a profound impact. Take writing, for instance, and that dreadful reality of writer’s block. If no words are flowing out onto the page for hours and hours, getting out into the world or Nature can get the juices flowing again. Active rebalancing with the Divine at the heart of things through prayer or meditation can help reignite that spark of creativity.
But then, like other tidbits of wisdom, we can quickly hear criticisms and objections spelling out where the maxim does not seem so valid. What about all of those thoughts, reflections, convictions, and insights offered by Anne Frank in her secret diary while her family hid from the Nazis? If no one had ever uncovered those timeless words, would they have held any less value? No of course not!
And what about those millions upon millions of pages written throughout history by just the greatest scholars that have been lost? Some estimates state that 99% of ancient works have become permanently lost over the millennia. Are innumerable ballads of immeasurable riches from these works still not streaming at indiscernible frequencies all around civilization as humans go about their daily lives? And sometimes, slight vibrations from those hidden wonders still can catch us unawares.
In addition to these objections, there is the realization of primal energies and preconscious inklings that lie within human hearts and also at life’s center. What, for instance, of those gut instincts that we cannot fully grasp with our minds but become drivers for our key decisions? What about those unformed dreams or unbounded possibilities waiting to be discovered?
One of life’s greatest blessings can be to mine hidden riches that hold immeasurable value even if they were to have remained hidden(but how miraculous they were discovered). Take, for instance, this recent discovery by writer Chevie Hanssler from her deceased 99-year-old grandfather. This granddaughter is now able to venture through her beloved grandpa’s slides and film captured over decades and decades of a life fully lived.
And let us not forget that it is in the heart and spirit(both individual and collective) where the greatest riches are kept. That is why we may only be able to share some of the greatest secrets, truths, and insights with those trusted few, or perhaps kept within ourselves. Take, for instance, writer Uvebrece’s tale of the secret recipe that also happened to be her greatest. It was kept secret by nuns in Zimbabwe, and she was able to buy the recipe under the stipulation it only be shared with trusted family.
Truthfully, whole unbounded oceans are contained within human beings and at the heart of reality. We hardly begin to capture drops of water with our words and concepts anyway.
Capturing those drops of water is done both through active filtering(or walking and other forms of work, as Nietzche said). It is also done by simply stopping to marvel at the numinous and boundless oceans themselves. Both contrary methods are needed.
