I get a lot of requests to review books, and unfortunately I can’t get to them all. If this was my full time job, I still wouldn’t have the time. I do try to read as many of the requests as possible, and if something resonates with me, I’ll add it to my TBR list.

Such was the case with Benchtalk, simply becaues I really liked the idea of it.

“Nature Sacred is a non-profit organization who have made it their mission to create green spaces all over the U.S. in areas that need it most, including hospitals, centers for disability, prisons, and urban neighborhoods. These green spaces are deemed Sacred Spaces with the hope that they will foster a calming environment and free, creative thought.

BENCHTALK contains journal entries collected over 25 years from Sacred Spaces across the country. Stirred by nature, people from all walks of life, young and old, have been jotting down their wishes and worries, their grief and gratitude in little yellow journals hidden in benches in these green spaces.  They are gathered together for the first time in a new book, available now.”

Mindfulness

I try to take a walk in nature daily, no matter the weather. I like to walk mindfully, and there’s something about being around trees, listening to birdsong, under blue skies (sometimes) or even the patter of rain. My thoughts tend to drop away - it gets me out of my mind, from the ten radio DJ’s shouting over each other in my head. Adrian FM I call it.

I really like the idea of someone sitting on a bench in one of these green spaces finding one of these little journals. Surrounded by nature, it’s an opportunity to take a breath and share your thoughts anonymously. What a lovely idea that someone in one of these ‘sacred spaces’ in a hospital, prison, university or just their local neighbourhood will discover this wee book and jot down their thoughts.

Many of the entries are people acknowledging the nature around them, allowing people to feel grounded and share. Recognising the space provides an antidote to mobile phones, the tumult of everyday life and the constant demands for our attention. It’s hard to find space in this world.

It’s divided into sections such as ‘Wisdom and life lessons’ ‘encouraging words to keep you moving forwards’ and ‘Connection and community’.

Resonant

You’ll have your own favourite that resonates. As someone who can contentedly sit in the park for long stretches, ‘Sitting on this bench makes me feel like a caretaker of wonder’ rang like a bell. Many relate to a temporary reprieve from the stresses of living, an escape. A child writes in a scrawl ‘This is my happy place’ and my heart breaks for them a little. As it does for the nine year old at a hospital for a CAT scan who feels better after visiting the garden.

When people find themselves with some space, and as their thoughts quieten down, wisdom rises to the surface of the mind. ‘This too shall pass’ is one of my own constant refrains. ‘The past is a great place to visit. But you’re not meant to stay there very long.’

Summary

We’ve lost so many of our green spaces, as Neo-liberalism means that everything has to make a profit. Books like this remind us that we need them for our mental health, for our wellbeing. Nature is sacred and we need to protect our places of healing. It seems trite to say so but we need more of them.

Life can be unbearably hard and cruel. It’s a tough world we’re living in at the moment, and our circumstances can change overnight. As the book shows, being in nature allows us to draw breath and find respite. Those momments can make a world of difference to our day.

There’s a lot of beauty and clarity amidst the pages of this little book, with lovely drawings and doodles on some of them. It’s a heartfelt and ultimately uplifting book and what a beautiful idea.

(I should say I received a Advanced Reader Copy PDF of the book - I’ve had a look at the webpage and it looks like a beautiful item, especially the handbound collectors edition on recycled paper.)

Amazon US Amazon UK