Look at Your Local Park Benches
I’ve always been one to find joy or romance in the little things. As you probably have caught on by now, I strongly believe in the power of words and often use other’s written language to better understand who they are.
A park bench in London's Kensington Gardens.
When someone talks about someone they love, a whole new level of vulnerability is exposed. It’s that vulnerability that makes love so raw and true.
One place you can often find someone raving about the impact of someone they love is on memorial park benches. A small detail engraved or embossed upon the wood transforms a seating option into a love letter planted out in the open for anyone to see. So, I urge you to start seeing them.
A park bench in London, England.
There is beauty in being seen. It is often said that “to be loved is to be known” - I wholeheartedly agree. Knowing the things that make someone’s world spin is a looking glass into who they are.
When I read these benches, my heart aches for someone I have never and will never know. I wish to experience a connection like theirs, one that would prompt someone to immortalize the person they love forever through a spot they may have visited together or a place they always dreamed of going.
A dedication in front of a park bench in Boston, MA.
These dedications not only give me a peek into someone’s love but prompt me to strengthen my own relationships. This dedication in Boston entitled “Root Beer Float” has stuck with me since I came across it in July of this year. Upon reading, I instantly wanted to cry and knew I needed to call my dad. That is the beauty of sharing love with the world - not only do you get to express the impact someone had on you, but you allow others to cherish similar relationships. I love my dad very much and talk to him often. This stranger’s words truly put into perspective how lucky I am to have that.
There are love letters all around us. Some are written, like on these benches, some heard, like the sounds of birds calling out for partners, and some smelled, like a bouquet of flowers or a home-cooked meal. All I know for sure is I hope to make an impact on those around me to the point where they feel prompted to find a way for my legacy to live on.
Leaving someone with the desire to share your name and what you loved with every park passer-by should be something we all strive to accomplish.
You heard it here first,
Kylie
