Through Other Eyes
Sometimes we get so used to our surroundings that we don’t even notice small changes. Whenever a friend sees my baby, I inevitably hear about how big she has gotten. I don’t even notice. I see her everyday, and these small changes just don’t register with me.
I had the good fortune of spending last week with my cousin who was visiting from Chicago. His first trip to the city was about 20 years ago. Since then, the city has experienced big changes. Even those who have lived here that whole time notice the difference. The streets and subways are cleaner, you feel safer, things look nicer. But, we are going through another round of changes and these changes are aimed at making city life more enjoyable. For instance, the bike path along the Hudson is so lovely compared to what it used to be. It seems like each day another new park opens up next to the bike path, each with its own feel. Each park is so beautiful and adds such texture (and green) to our city. My cousin and I biked down from 90th Street to Battery Park. I can’t count how many times he said, “I never knew New York City was like this.” I felt so proud that my chosen city could impress my Chicago cousin, as if I had something to do with these changes. Other small changes are happening: the pedestrian areas near Herald Square and Times Square have added seating and life to an otherwise car-centric pavement mess. Likewise, seating and greenery has been sprouting up in random areas around the city. Some of these changes were referenced in the recent New York Times editorial, “Life in the Slow Lane” (September 18, 2008).
Get out and start noticing the small changes. Be proud of them. Get involved in making changes. This is OUR city, and we need to continue to improve it. I personally love having my visitors say, “Wow, I never knew your city was so amazing.”
