Thursday, September 15, 2011

Central Park

Over the past few weeks I have been visiting Central Park more and more. Not having a job kind of frees up a lot of time to make this possible. Some days I want to get out of the apartment and in effort to save up money for this pair of brown boots I want, I walk the six blocks to the park. I haven't found my favorite area yet. It all depends on the day and the mood I am in. 


Some days I love sitting on the benches by the water where people can sail their toy sailboats. It's a great place for people watching. When I'm really stressed and needing to be alone, I will go lie in the grass, close my eyes and listen to music. It somehow seems to heal my soul. Other days when I just want to be outdoors for no particular reason, I will find a tree to lean against and read a good book until my butt becomes numb from sitting so long. Other days I like sitting nearish to one of the many playgrounds (in a completely non creepy way of course). On days I sit near the playgrounds I am always amazed at the groups of people I see in the park.


There are all types of people at the park: families, gays/lesbians, kids, fraternity pledges, elderly couples, teenagers looking for a place to make out, couples having a picnic date, dog walkers, running groups, nannies, friends catching up, work out groups and many many more. 

For people who think New York is a horrible city, way too busy, crowded, a place with no family values, etc. I challenge them to go to Central Park for an afternoon and just observe the people who cross their path. While yes there are some crazies, you would also be surprised at the amount of love and families in the park. 

The other day I was reading up on a hill and was amazed at what I saw. Behind me was a father chasing his little girl while she giggled and ran away, another father playing catch with his son, a couple taking a walk with their newborn in a stroller, a grandma taking pictures with her granddaughter, a family of four eating lunch, a mom helping her daughter control their new puppy on the leash and a dad teaching his son how to ride a bike. 

While I was sitting there taking all of this in, I realized how often people take these common things for granted. So often we believe that families don't spend time together anymore or that there isn't that bond/love between them like it used to be. People look at New York and automatically assume it is a place where family isn't as important as say in the South. After sitting there for 15 minutes, I knew this was nowhere near true.

Seeing all the love these people had for each other truly made me happy. It felt good to see people taking time out of their busy New York lives to spend time with loved ones and to do simple things with them. Often times it is the simple things in life that are the most important and normally it is the simple things that are taken for granted.

For anyone who doesn't believe me, needs a pick me up, or a reminder that there is still good out there in this world, I say go sit in Central Park for an hour and you will leave with a feeling a love and happiness. If you were having a bad day before, it will instantly be improved. I promise.

2 comments:

  1. I keep commenting on your posts, ha...but I really like that second picture.

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  2. I seriously love reading your blog! :-) You are such a good writer. I WISH I could go sit in central park today.

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