Hello, I’m Catherine, park bench sitter, lover of beauty and dreamer of a better world.
In August 2021, I decided to sit on a park bench every day for a year. On my first attempt, I made it to 76 consecutive days. It felt like hard work sometimes. I trudged to the bench in the rain on some days, leaned into a cold wind, or sat there staring out into the darkness at night because I was so determined to complete what I had decided to do.
I couldn’t stick at it though. It was hard to keep finding the time for something that seemed so pointless.
Sitting and just watching the world go by is a bit of a lost art. Many of us are too busy, too stressed, or maybe too uncomfortable in our own company, to simply sit somewhere without distractions or purpose.
As the months passed, I realised I missed my ‘benching’. It was clear that I gained something by doing it – there was some kind of gift waiting there for me.
So, on the 2nd of February 2022 (what a wonderful date if you like numbers), I went “Back to the Bench” to start again. At the time of writing, I am now up to 236 days and it’s just the beginning. I have sat on benches in three different states of Australia, some up to 2,400 kilometres apart. If there is no bench, I sit on a wall, picnic rug, camping chair, rock, tree, ledge, or even just the sand or ground. The bench isn’t the point, it’s sitting by yourself and being present that counts. The bench is just a starting point.
After 236 days, I can tell you there is a gift to be found, something I think would benefit almost everyone. I encourage you to try it. Just go and sit on your local park bench without any distractions or expectations, and see what’s there for you.
I’d love to hear about your benching experiences. You can get in touch using the form below.