Jeremiah Johnson is without question my favorite movie of all time. In fact, the name of this blog is based from its theme song. There are a lot of meanings I take from this film that can be applied to my life right now. Maybe you can get something out of these too:
Leave the world behind for a while – it could be the best thing you ever do.
Jeremiah left the world he knew behind. It is not really revealed why he does this, but I can only guess that he was tired of the way things were going for him. He needed to find himself and discover what the future held for him.
I’m leaving in a couple weeks so I can take a good amount of time to think about what I want to do with my life. I have a basic idea, but six weeks in the woods should clear up a lot of my questions and give me a more clear perspective.
Live for yourself.
A life that is spent trying to get the approval of others is a waste of time. This idea kind of ties in with my first point. Too many people get thrown into a life that they don’t want to live because of pressure from family, their peers, and what society sees as “normal.” Take the time to figure out what YOU want out of life and go for it. You don’t need the approval of anyone.
Be ready for challenges that you might face as a result of your decisions.
Jeremiah Johnson chose a life in the wild western territories. These territories were full of hostile natives, rugged terrain, brutal winter seasons and countless other dangers. He was prepared and in turn he survived. Be prepared for the repercussions that come from the decisions you make about your life.
For example, let’s say you decide to start your own business. You may have to deal with a tight budget and maybe even a loss of money at first, but you will be doing what you chose to do. Being prepared for these types of things is key. You also need to be able to stay positive and believe that things will turn around.
Well, those are some life lessons Jeremiah Johnson style. If you haven’t seen this movie you really should. I would be interested in hearing about the things you get out of it.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Nate,
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Jeremiah Johnson. It was a family favorite, especially for my Dad. But the movie, and your post, makes me think Walden by Henry David Thoreau. (And even the TV show Grizzly Adams.)
There is something special about being in nature that seems to put all the craziness of life back together and smooth it all out. It’s easier to see your path more clearly.
I can tell that you’ve been thinking a lot about this, since you have your getaway to the woods coming soon. I look forward to reading about your self-reflection and what you’ve learned from it when you return from the woods. Nice post!
Regards,
Scott
Thanks, Scott. Yes, nature definately has it’s way of clearing a lot of things up. I just got back from camping for 5 days and it was awesome I really feel great.
I have thought about this often; too live like Johnson; away from these worthless jobs and people………….to go up into the wilderness and enjoy what God made; and away from all this crime and corruption. I don’t know if i could live with a Walmart or a KFC close by……….. lol
“live without a walmart or a kfc……(correction