The Grand Scheme

Both Emerson and Thoreau were able to hone in some very important aspects of life, including solitude and conformity. What most impacted me was the clarity of which they were able to see the big picture of life. These men saw the world much different than almost anyone does today. They possessed the insight to see past all of the material and social aspects of culture and lived their life as just one small piece of the grand scheme of life.  To live in solitude, free from all of the easiness and vices of society, must be a truly liberating experience. A favorite quote from Emerson is "We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents." He is referring to God, but there is something dear to everyone in this world, whether it be religion, family, or even recreation, and most of us are sometimes afraid to let the world in for fear that we may be outcast by society for it. That is just one of the hurdles that everyone should overcome at some point in their life, if they choose to feel complete.
All of the authors seem to be centering around one idea and that in order to see the big picture, which in my opinion is the continuance of life on Earth forever, the need for self indulgence and materials is nonexistent. They are trying to show us that a life of fulfillment is ripe with selflessness. Those who actually make a positive impact in this world live their lives everyday aiming to make lives of others more fulfilling. In today's society people point towards religion as something of the past, something that is so radical that it must not be a "correct" way to live life. But if you take a deeper look at religion, you can see that it represents something bigger than those who follow it; it represents all of the selflessness that Emerson, Thoreau, Lasn, and Anderson depict in their works. I am not a religious person myself, so who am I to say that those who closely follow religion have it right? But again, in the grand scheme of things, it's about living life to the fullest, not the FULLEST, and doing your part to ensure that those who follow you have not a lesser, not an equal, but a greater chance to experience the things that you have.