How many times have you passed an empty park bench, sat down and wonder about the world, or your own, problems. Maybe questioned about the obscure plate on the back that tells a small but unknown story.

                          

1.    Visit a park, choose a bench, explain your choice, and describe your bench.

Today’s a brand new day. There’s so much in this bench that I might not even know about. Every bench has its own meanings, stories, and secrets. I asked a question myself that day, “Why did I pick this bench above all of the benches in this particular park?”  I chose to visit a park which is near beside my house and a walking distance. I was first familiarized with the park four years ago when I first came here to Canada; I used to visit and just spend time with my friends and sometimes my family at this park. The park is always empty, always quiet and peaceful. I sometimes imagine as if I am the only one that knows about it. I always go there every time I need a peace of mind; I just think and pause for a moment then at that time I felt like I am out of this world. I have looked through every benches inscription plate but only one of the ten benches truly stole my attention. The bench was alongside a very tall and wide tree. When I first sat on the bench I felt very uncomfortable because the bench is really old that is made from wood, I heard a bit of squeaking underneath the old bench. But suddenly after my mind was hassle-free, I was taken in by nature with the help of all my senses. At that instant, I was worry-free and satisfied. I felt as if the bench is destined more than just a place to sit and it was now a part of me. I was no longer feeling alone, as though I imagined the people which the benches were dedicated to being by my side as I enjoyed the view. The bench which I sat on had an inscription plate saying:

“You're born, you die, and in between you make a lot of mistakes.”

2.From the bench, describe what you see, what you feel, what you think, what you want.

As I sit on this bench, I feel as if I am the only one that has sat down on this woody structure since I last sat on it. I feel like this bench is supposed to be here and only for me. I feel independent and free. As I look upon around the park, I feel unbroken and independent from the world. I see a small abandoned playground. I see a seesaw which looks very dead from a distant. I see swings that don’t seem to be moving all that much for some time. I feel as if the whole thing has stops and only nature is alive. I see a so many things, trees, rocks, plants, and other benches which surround me, each carrying out their own story and significance. I listen to the nature call as the wind makes the outside layer of leaves on trees sing. As I sit in this bench with ten other benches nearby me, I am completely awake about the moment. I feel the soil below my feet; I feel the warmness of the sun .As I sit here, I feel that I’m a part of nature. This bench made me realize how many things have changed in the past few years. I feel safe with nature as though I am a part of it.

So I'm just thinking about how much I don't want my life to be boring. There is so much I want to do, so many dream places I want to explore but I don't surely think it's ever going to happen. I just don't want to be one of those people who work somewhere they hate or live somewhere they don't want to live. I feel like my dreams are too naïve but I learned that we are born, we die, and in between we make a lot of mistakes. Minutes have passed I was thinking of somebody, someone very special in my heart. I can’t help but think about him. There’s something about him, something extraordinary that makes me feel simply happy and blissful. I can imagine him, I can see him, and I can feel his presence. I can picture him sitting with me in this bench. I recall his smiles, his laughter’s, I can hear every strike and pluck of his guitar. I reminisce about our good times together, our remarkable moments that we promised to cherish forever. He loves playing the guitar and he always plays for us especially on special occasions or celebrations. Every day that goes by it look as if I learn something new about him to love, it's incredible to me how some people can make such a big change in my life. Meeting him was destiny, becoming one of his friends was a choice, but falling in love with him was beyond my control. It’s pretty obvious that I like him, but the good thing is he is still my friend. I'd rather be his lover than his friend, but I'd rather be his friend than his nobody. He is one of my closes friends and we have memories that will keep forever and moments that shall never be forgotten. I sit here alone with my music up, recalling all the good and the best moments of my life. Here I am in love with his presence of existence and everything about him. This is my first romance, the instance my heart skipped a bit, the moment I saw him was the moment I found myself falling in love with a simple, smart, artistic and beautiful young man. I have been coming here for 3 years since I came here in Canada but this is the first time I have truthfully given it this much feelings. I want more people to feel the way I do as I sit upon this bench. I want everybody to realize the existence of nature which I encounter when I’m just alone and independent from everything else in this world.

                                                                

3.If a bench were dedicated to you, where would you like the bench, and what would you like the inscription to say?

If a bench were dedicated to me, I’d want the bench in a place where I’ve precious and valued lots of reminiscences. The view would be of the sea. I’d want the inscription plate to say, "the vanishing point is the one thing that makes you reference as an individual existing on land". I admired the forever changing sky and the vast expanse of the ocean, it is very amazing. I would like to see the moving water of the sea and the beautiful clouds hanging above. I always love to close my eyes and listen to the view and magnificent nature. The sound of the deep-sea reminds me of our humankind. I want to feel the sighing and the deep salty breath of the sea. I fantasize about living here with my family in the future. Every now and then sitting there makes me reminisce of my hometown, I used to think that it’s so weird knowing those miles and miles and miles across the deep-sea, there’s my motherland. When I was younger I would go to beaches in our province and look out, knowing that the Canada was on the other side, but it seemed so imperceptible. Our beaches in the Philippines are so beautiful, but sitting here, looking at the distance, knowing what’s on the other side ... it makes me miss my family and my homeland even more. I look out on the horizon and wonder just how many lives have been lost to the sea. I feel insignificant. The rocks have been here for hundreds of lifetimes; every bash on the rocks by the sea reminds me that I, too, am a part of this harmony.

4.If you dedicated a bench, where would you like the bench, and what would you like the inscription plate to say?

If I were to dedicate a bench, I’d want it to in a way quiet and restful place. I’d want the bench to be used for a place for family, friends or couples especially for old people to just sit and cool off their minds. As of now, I’d want the bench to be by the sea- walk at Ambleside where I see a lot of old people walking or running there. I’d want the bench there because nothing better than sitting somewhere to adore the view. The sight displays the beauty of natural surroundings with the vast body of water, the windy shores and the warmth of the sun, makes you really feel relaxed and free. People need nothing more, watching this beautiful world is precious enough already. I’d want it to be a place where someone will understand the beauty of nature, and see for at least a second how humans are just a part of it.  I’d want the inscription plate to be motivating, to simply just say “Every new day is another chance to change your life” I’d want nothing but that word. I choose to have the plate say this because I’d want the person who sits on my bench to go in their own world and to imagine a new and creative world. I also choose this word because it means the most to my family, especially to me. From time to time you have to stop and remember that we’re not going to live forever in this world. We have to stay true and really just follow our hearts. I always remember that we can certainly not turn back the moments of time because the sands of time is meant to fall, and we can't turn the hourglass over. Together, the place and the writing of the inscription should help one clear their mind and motivate themselves to keep going in life and just live every moment of it. The view would help a lot of people to remember their small place in a big world. 

5.Write a journal response about your trip to the park.

One evening when the sun was high up in the sky peering out of the clouds every random second, I decided to make my journey to a bench which I have a lot of memories and sentiments with. The bench is placed in a park which is near by my house. As I peak in to the park I felt as if I was the first one to go there because it was empty as if it was abandoned. I felt very peaceful and completely awake about the environment that surrounded me.  As I go through my journey to the park riding my bicycle the road felt as if it was boundless. You’d still see the same thing at the end of the road. It felt like I was going through time, with all the bushes and trees around me being passed by but yet seeing the same proportion. After finally getting to the park, I realized I was the only one that was there. At first for some reason I was scared, I was being so conscious about the park because it doesn’t seem like the park I used to go before. There were a lot of changes with the surroundings, the playground, and even the aura.   But after finding a bench which came to my attention, I was no longer worried by the fear of being alone in the park. I was solely able to focus on the view and the direction which the wind was wafting. I felt like going back in time. As I sat down I remember the days as I explore the park during autumn. There was a lot of golden type’s form the colour of the leaves that place scattered all everywhere. The leaves are tumbling one by one as i pass by. The passageways are filled with dried leaves that have fallen from the big trees. The wind further pushes more leaves to drop. The bald trees makes it easier for me to see the clouds as they speedily run away, I sure do miss autumn season. After staying at the park for two hours, it was beginning to get chilly. I decided to go home and write about my day and all of a sudden a feeling very strange hit me. A sense as if I was going back to reality and that the feeling so calming which I experienced on the park had vanished.

6. Choose a poem that suits your bench, and explain your choice. Include a copy of the poem.

Poem: The Park Bench

I picked this poem for the reason that it conveys back reminiscences and provides me hope for the upcoming future. This is a very motivational poem that reminds us to stop and value each day that you have. I also hope that these inspirational words of wisdom will inspire people to live each day to the fullest. This poem lets me change my interpretation about life. I particularly picked this poem because the blind little boy encourages me to value my life and to appreciate everything that God and us people have created because not everything is guaranteed to be everlastingly stable in this planet. I suddenly thought about the bench I sat on, that bench made me realize how important life and it also motivates in a way that I have keep going in my existence until I reach the vanishing point. I chose this poem because it best defines the sensation and understanding of the bench which I have chosen. This bench reminds me of my individuality and my dependence with the world and nature. No matter how obscure and superficial my mind is, sitting on this bench will always ease my mind and give me hope. This poem shows us how words of gratefulness and the humblest gestures can have a positive impact on the lives of others. I also picked this poem because it demonstrates that small things have big returns!

The Park Bench

Poet: Unknown

Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.

Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,

For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,

A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.

He stood right before me with his head tilted down

And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,

With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light.

Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,

I faked a smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side

And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,

"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful too.

That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead.

Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red.

But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.

So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,

He held it mid-air without reason or plan.

It was then that I noticed for the first time

That weed-toting boy could not see he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun

As I thanked him for picking the very best one.

"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,

Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see

A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.

How did he know of my self-indulged plight?

Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see

The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.

And for all of those times I myself had been blind,

I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose

And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose

And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in hand,
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

7. Explain how your poem connects to your personal philosophy of life.

The poem “The Park Bench” relates to my philosophy of life in many ways. It shows that the road that life is taking you on has an indefinite purpose. Therefore, one must have faith and trust that hope will help them get through and allow one to experience the best in life. I think that not knowing what’s to come is the beauty about life.  Life is about talking risk and it dares to jump. In my opinion the blind little boy is good role model for everybody; he’s showing that life is about getting back your feet after losing hope. I believe that everybody must certainly make use of every second of their life because the truth is time goes by too fast and nobody knows when’s the end of our life’s journey. It also showed me that we have a responsibility to rely on nature to lead the way and yet have faith for the best to come. We should not force ourselves to be someone else or to do something that they aren’t known for doing, we all have to constantly live life second by second, moment by moment and go with the flow. Every so often we are hectic with too many diverse things that we forgot to slow down, take it easy and appreciate our lifetime journey.