The Art of Sitting in Parks

Originally published November 10, 2021

I spent two months in Paris during the fall of 2020. During my stay there, I fell in love with the simple joy of sitting in parks. Let me explain. 

I can’t remember when was the last time I intentionally sat down on a park bench in my hometown Helsinki in Finland. Sat down in a park for just the joy of it. But in Paris, this act was downright unavoidable.

You simply cannot travel to Paris without visiting the gorgeous and famous parks of Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin du Luxembourg. But in additioin to these huge historic parks, the multiple smaller ones you come across while exploring the city, will steal your heart just the same. Paris has more than 400 parks and gardens, covering over 3,000 hectares. The city is also the most wooded capital in Europe. 

In Paris, parks are integral part of the shared public spaces, offering greenery and outside space in the midst of high-rise buildings. The parks and gardens are well maintained throughout the year. Inside these parks you’ll find a variety of plants and trees, works of art, fountains and elaborate floral beds. Some feature cafés, children’s playgrounds and old-fashioned pavilions. Each has its own history and charm paired with human sized pathways and captivating sceneries.

I particularly love how these outdoor spaces are enjoyed by everyone; you can spot people of all ages, families, friends, groups of teenagers. People by themselves, reading, eating, smoking, speaking on the phone. Locals jogging and walking their dogs. People simply sitting, resting, observing.

I sat in parks quite a lot during my stay. Partly because I just completely fell in love with the activity and partly because so many of the indoor activities were closed (thanks to the corona situation). Every time I settled myself on a park bench I quit being bothered about the craziness going on in the world. I’m not sure how exactly to explain the magic. But sitting there midst all the greenery felt like I had arrived in a space I had forgotten even existed.

As if I had all of the sudden gained access to an alternate way of being and living. A subtler universe, one that was slower, fuller and more open somehow. The buzz of the city would quiet down and I was able to take a moment to remember how beautiful everything in fact is, that actually - nothing more needed to be done, not in this very moment the least.

I particularly remember this one October day. I was on a lunch break from university and found a cozy place under low hanging trees in a park in the 11th arrondissement. I'm surrounded by huge chestnut trees and small birds that are taking an interest in my sandwich crumbs. Across me, is man in sunglasses, crosslegged, reading the newspaper. I watch him. Every once in a while he takes glance at the people walking by, with such elegance, that I think I am looking at a movie. On a park bench near me, is a couple discussing quietly. And then suddenly getting into a argument. And then making up again. For a moment everything in life seems so sweet. So right. 

There's also this one Saturday afternoon I vividly remember. I've spent the day exploring the city and made sitting in a park a destination in itself. Even though the air is getting colder the sun is still out. There’s children running around the grass and a group of men playing petanque. Everyone seems to be out at this hour. I’ve brought a book but it almost feels like a distraction to open it. The scene opening under my eyes is way more interesting, captivating, and alive. I close my eyes and spend a moment surveying my thoughts. I think about all the people I miss. I wish I could spend this moment with some of them, make this experience a part of them as well. 

It was then, that I had this thought: I want to sit in every single garden and park in Paris. And if I don’t manage to do that (I probably won’t), I want to the very least sit in parks more. I want to get really good at the art of sitting in parks. Somehow mastering this the act feels very essential to the art of living well.