Standing forty stories above West 60 Street in Manhattan, we had a panoramic view of iconic structures including St. Paul’s Church, the Dakota Building where John Lennon died, Fordham University, and the magnificent Lincoln Center. Sprinkled between these historical buildings, and even on top of the buildings where we were perched, were green spaces, gardens, and trees for residents to enjoy.
Also within our aerial view were playgrounds, a soccer field and basketball court, trees on top of other shorter buildings, and the grand Central Park. If you blocked out the mirrored, brick, or concrete high-rises, you would think you were in a residential area anywhere in America.
Realizing how much New York City has grown on me since both sons have lived there for a decade, it’s really within these natural nooks and crannies of the urban landscape that make me realize how special the Big Apple is for people who reside there. City planners have taken into consideration the need for humans working in a steel landscape to have the ability to immerse themselves in nature even if they are dotted within the city grid.
Thinking back to volunteering at Upstate Hospital this winter, they also had chapels, serenity spots, and outside courtyards for patients, visitors, or staff to rest and escape the cement walls to experience calm, nature, and peace. Although the busy hospital cafeteria was buzzing consistently, people seeking solace found alcoves to tuck into when they needed .
Today’s Wednesday Wisdom asks you if you seek out quiet places, nature, parks, or patios to gather yourself or center your thoughts during busy days and times. Do you have special rooms or outside areas for yourself or your staff to relax and enjoy during their breaks? How important is stillness and quietness to get through a workday? Could more harmony lead to better productivity? What sounds, sights, smells, or touches could you add to make your workplace a more serene haven?
If you aren’t sure where to start creating something special, walk outside on the next beautiful summer day, pause and notice what you see and feel, and write it down or draw it out. Also pay attention to what you hear – birds, chimes, water flowing – for more inspiration to bring to your workplace setting.
Please consider making a special place in your work environment to experience the same calm that New Yorkers find right outside or inside their workplaces or living spaces even in a metropolis of millions. Peace equals productivity.
Women TIES 