My favorite phrase when someone is complaining is “where is your shovel?”. Meaning, “what are you going to do about it?”. It’s the same philosophy I use for myself. Any time I find myself frustrated with the way things are I look for a way to initiate or influence change. Our recent excursions have left me feeling dissatisfied with the way we Americans prioritize our outdoor space (already a sore spot for me) and thinking about how we can change.
We recently spent an afternoon in La Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Garden. It is a fantastic place, truly, truly incredible. I love every inch of it. There is a formal garden, a pool to race toy sailboats, fancy fountains, a teaching garden, a 100+ year old carousel (built in 1879 and still going), a playground, and loads of beehives. We have already decided to make it a regular stop while we’re here. Even Gus wants to spend time racing sailboats.
Spending time out in nature is central to my being. This space fed every single part of that intrinsic need for me. It also made me enormously frustrated and sad. Sad that we just can’t have places that nice in the U.S.
It’s not just the Luxembourg Garden. There are parks EVERYWHERE in and around Paris. Some are simple shady green spaces with a few benches to rest on and some are complex, winding places that have playgrounds for different ages, bathrooms, and public vegetable gardens. The investment in green space is obvious here.
The French have declared that these spaces are a priority. They have done this not just by creating these spaces but by caring for them. You don’t have to wait long to see someone come by to empty the trash, vacuum the sidewalks, or wipe down a surface or two. The public is equally careful about maintaining the areas. I have seen very little litter (virtually none in the parks), no graffiti, no one tromping through the flower beds, no one even talking too loud. The green spaces are remarkably clean and well landscaped, even the tiny ones. They also feel very safe no matter where I am in the city, unlike the U.S. where parks can feel ominous in certain areas or certain times of the day.
The immense discontentI feel with the way things are in the U.S. has me asking myself over and over again. “What can I do about it? Where is my shovel?”.
The truthful answer is I don’t know if it’s possible to do anything. Back home everyone seems entrenched in the societal norms that put individualism over the community and open green space is just a place to sell to the next developer. But doing nothing is unacceptable to me. There has to be a way to prioritize green spaces and maintain them well. I don’t have any answers yet but once we’re back home you’ll find me in the shed, looking for the right shovel.
This is sadly true, though I think there are glimmers of hope, mostly with small grassroots projects. But nothing really replaces long-term investment…