“Nature is a beautiful thing”
Here’s NPR’s 18-minute feature on BenchTalk; definitely worth a listen.
We all know the important role nature plays in our health and well-being. But not everyone has access to public green spaces. Nature Sacred, a national nonprofit, is changing that. For the past 25 years, they’ve been creating oases of green in universities, hospitals, prisons, and communities—over 100 and growing, around the country. In each they place their signature wooden bench; underneath they tuck a waterproof yellow journal.
When I first learned about Nature Sacred (thank you Ami) and the hundreds of yellow journals they had collected, I knew I wanted to read through them to see what people were willing to share in a public journal out in nature; it seemed like a story seeker’s dream. I had a feeling there would be some heartfelt entries and gems of wisdom, but I never imagined that the sharing would be this intimate and inspiring, this uplifting and grounding.
For the past several months, I’ve immersed myself in these yellow journals, carefully reading page after page, in turn smiling or tearing up as people reveal their wishes and worries, their hurts and hopes; it sometimes feels like I’m intruding into private moments. But people knew their writings would be read; perhaps that’s why they revealed so much of themselves. There’s something life affirming about sharing your pain and joy, about being noticed and heard, about simply saying your piece. You don’t know who’ll read your words, but you know someone will; you don’t know who might benefit from them, but someone likely will.
My newest book is “BenchTalk: Wisdoms Inspired in Nature” — a collection of heartfelt reflections, gratitudes, and life lessons by people from all walks of life, young and old, shared in these yellow journals—a treasure trove of hope and connection when we need it the most.
Many of the entries are words of encouragement urging readers to keep moving forward: “Life is hard, and here you are surviving.” “Keep on keepin’ on; do what you can, smile if you can, don’t sweat the small stuff.” “Put your phone away—yeah you. Take a second to breathe in the oxygen from the flowers surrounding you. Take in that life.”
There are wisdoms and life lessons: “Be your own soul mate first.” “Eat ice cream in moderation. But DO eat ice cream.” Even one expressed with the profound innocence of a five-year-old: “We should love each other, even if we are different.”
There’s heartbreak too: “Dearest Mommy, I know the time to let you go is drawing near, but I don’t know how to say goodbye.”
And in between, there are everyday life moments. Birthdays: “Turned 30. Not sure how I’m feeling, but this made me feel a little less alone.” Loves: “…two seconds ago, I got down on one knee.” And milestones: “60 days sober today.”
With a dose of humor: “Did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut? He needed a little space!”
And a reminder to let nature nurture us: “When was the last time you laid back and watched the clouds?”
These entries reveal what, as a storyteller, I’ve always known to be true—that people want to share what they keep deep inside, if given the chance; that writing allows us to unburden and gain some perspective; that we all want our story to matter, if only to say, “I was here.”
I discovered one more truth after reading through these journals: that nature provides a calming catalyst for this. It allows us to exhale our burdens, and breathe in a bit of hope.
In these challenging times, sometimes reading other people’s reflections is just what we need to feel less alone:“Thank you, random journal. I think I’ll be fine now.”
I hope you’ll click on the image above and watch the 2-minute video that shares the beauty and intention of the book—each book is handmade, with Italian recycled paper, handmade paper with rose petals and grasses, a wooden bench cut-out on the cover, handwriting and sketches traced from the original journals, and more. Thank you so much Reza Rahman and the Drik team for producing yet another work of art. I’m in awe of this treasure. (Please do click on the photo above.)
Such a joy to work with Nature Sacred CEO Alden Stoner to envision this book and bring it to life; thank you for trusting me with this labor of love, Alden. Incredible to celebrate Nature Sacred’s 25th anniversary this past weekend, of course outside, in the exquisite gardens of Nature Sacred founders and visionaries Tom and Kitty Stoner.
I hope you’ll read this book and support Nature Sacred’s efforts —100% of book proceeds will go to creating more public green spaces. As someone shared in the yellow journal:
“It does my heart so much good to read the entries in this journal. The world is full of good people. Each of us sits alone on this bench as we write. But we aren’t alone, not really, we’re all here together. We are a community. We are alike in our love for this place. We are bound together sharing our thoughts, hopes, love, and peace in this journal. You and me—we’re kindred spirits.”
The hardback handmade limited edition book is available through Nature Sacred. The paperback is on Amazon.
All proceeds create more green spaces.
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A few past newsletters:
Life Lessons for my Son, that I Learned this Week