Have you seen her? The happy girl who sits on The Duck Pond Park sign around lunchtime on Wednesdays? Usually, she’s writing in a spiral notebook, and she’s very happy. Her regular date with the outdoors gets me thinking about the rest of us.
We are an over-achieving town that spends most of the week in cars, offices, and fundraisers. Moving at the speed of light is the only way to accomplish all that needs to be done. Truth is, we are at everyone’s whim except our own, and idle time kind of freaks us out. We only become quiet and still when we are trapped in an MRI capsule or having major dental work done.
Residing in this lively and prosperous Buckhead community, there remains one huge caveat for each of us: that the beauty of our lives could go wholly unnoticed because of the busyness of our lives. Unfortunately, this busyness comes with this persistent nudge that pushes us farther and farther away from what actually matters most to us.
Collectively, we need to make a date with nature like The Duck Pond girl does. But I know we all won’t.
The Japanese have a word for what we cannot do, Shinrin-Yoku. It means forest bathing. Finland recommends five hours a month in nature to reduce depression, alcoholism, and suicide. South Korea has a nature therapy program for firefighters with PTSD. Canadian physicians prescribe nature to patients with mental and physical health problems.
Do you see a commonality with these four countries? Nature is a prescription, not simply recreation. Nature therapy is known to help with ADD, ADHD, dementia, pain reduction, obesity, vitamin D deficiency, and reducing aggression. It also improves memory, cognitive flexibility, and stress management.
Something is fascinating here. Of the many positive claims made about spending time in nature, the most profound benefit goes unmentioned. My husband and I experience it on the Saturday mornings when we dive deep into nature. It is this: Reclaiming our authenticity.
By escaping the hum of life and striking out on foot surrounded by nature, we remember who we are and what we want. With clearer minds, we recall what is important and, especially, what is not important to our lives. The quick and instant peace of mind that comes from immersing in nature helps us decide what parts of our life to keep growing and which we must weed.
Japan, Finland, South Korea, and Canada must have magnificent woodlands. But so do we. As a result of living in proximity to the 400-acre Chattahoochee National Forest, Buckhead is home to an abundance of streams and forest paths. You don’t have to go at it alone. Take a friend. Eventually, you will both find your way to quietude. Nature has a gentle way of silencing people with her awe. Although there are many lovely parks and quiet places in Buckhead, here are a few you may not know:
Sibley Park
You have to be on foot to find this one. So park your car on N. Muscogee Avenue where it intersects with W. Wesley. Then follow the W. Wesley sidewalk toward Habersham Road. Once the sidewalk begins on the other side of W. Wesley, cross over to it and look down into the ravine. Find a granite staircase with the old school black wrought iron handrail. This will lead you down to an untouched forest. The journey to these woods is worth it. This hushed space leaves you awestruck like no other. The deeper into the forest you walk, the quieter your mind becomes.
This park lies a full-story below two of our busiest streets. It is magical how the clamor stays above you there. Most days, the birds make the only sounds. You rarely hear a city peep.
Because this forest is encapsulated by tall earth on two sides, it tends to hold each season’s best offerings so fully. For instance, when Spring’s temperatures soar, this forest registers ten degrees cooler. In summertime, the sweet floral punch of blooming magnolias hangs in the air. Fall starts to feel damp as the forest begins its yearly decay. Last comes the solemn Winter. There is something sublime about walking in winter’s bare woods. Wintertime is when nature reaches deep inside us and dredges our soul in a good way. Then springtime arrives and renews us. On and on and on.
Wander through this forest along its rudimentary path of mulch and rotting logs. The highest side of the trail is reminiscent of being on the Appalachian Trail. Follow the small stream that runs through the center. At one point, there is a boulder path set across the stream. If you stand there around four in the afternoon, you will see your shadow in the water. Somehow, in this hidden lush, the sunshine found a way to sneak in through errant branches. This park is pure wonderment.
Peachtree Park Nature Trail & Community Garden
This one-acre gem sits tucked away in the Peachtree Park neighborhood. Enter the park’s thick canopy of trees from Burke Road and meander to the fourth bench on the right across from the lending library. That is the best spot. Even though tranquility can be found here, this park is meant to be highly engaging. Its many features are well-tended community garden boxes, a lending library, informational markers identifying flora, bird watching posts, and fitness stations.
This park even boasts a mission statement: Promoting natural beauty, public participation, and environmental education in an urban linear greenspace. Incredible, right? By the way, you are under no obligation to utilize the twenty Fit-Trail exercise stations. You have the out; you are there for calm, remember? But do grab a book before you leave.
If the idea of taking to the forests does not excite you, here are two other nature options in our community. Yes, they are in plain sight, but they become majestic at the right time of day.
The Cathedral of St. Philip
This church is incredibly welcoming, you do not have to be a member to enjoy their grounds. This church hosts several options for quiet and meditation. Discover them all before you take your pick.
For starters, the covered pavilion closest to the Lanier Cottage looks to be the most popular. So if it is occupied, slip away to the second choice found around the back of the Lanier Cottage facing Andrews Drive. Spy the two benches and plop down on the one situated on the expansive lawn. Only the birds will meet you there.
The final St. Philip’s choice is the walking labyrinth. This large round maze of pavers is in the courtyard of the Lanier House. The meditative walk lets your feet do the work while your mind basks in the comfort of the rote-ness of the already-laid out path. Go slowly and breathe deliberately. Be in no hurry. The labyrinth is handicapped accessible and open daily.
The Courtyard of Buckhead Plaza
There is only one way to enjoy this locale. At 6:30 a.m. saunter into the St. Regis and straight to the Astor Court. Find the self-serve coffee bar. Grab one to-go (best way to spend $5). Head towards Atlas and exit to the astro turf of Buckhead Plaza. Plant yourself at the steel sculpture titled Ethos and look toward the Buckhead Village District. Wait on Mother Nature to arrive and put on her colorful morning sky show. Sitting there, you realize how peaceful the early hours of morning are in our little village. Nothing compares.
Buckhead Plaza’s sculpture installation, created by Atlanta-based sculpture Phil Proctor, celebrates the beauty and geometry of Atlanta’s street intersections. The four sculptures are aptly named Convergence, Confluence, Ethos, and Emergence. Again, you want to nestle near the steel sculpture.
Buckhead’s quietest spaces can renew us throughout the year. We must search for calm, quiet, and ourselves. The quiet clears our mind, which affects our body, which improves our mood, which defines our day, which culminates in a well-lived, deliberate life. We need nature to simmer our minds and help us reclaim what is lost—our essence, ourselves. Find your quiet spot; it has been waiting for you.
