In California, a sacred place is as close as your living room.  This place has been sacred to people for thousands of years.  So sacred, it prompted the government at the time to initiate the National Park system, and name it the first National Park in California.  This place is Yosemite.  I have been to Yosemite a number of times, always learning new things; it is a place where I studied evolution and geology.  I feel very lucky to have such a beautiful and eternal place so near to my home.

Here, in the summer, the air smells of warm Redwood.  The waters in the river glisten in the sunlight, the sound embracing, relaxing.  The cathedral of the sky sits on the mountains, towering majestically into the heavens, dwarfing all.  The water in the falls cascades down, crashing in the mist. The fog leads to feelings of timelessness, the world is primordial.

In autumn, leaves fall.  The river rises with passing rain.  The animals prepare for slumber.  The mountains stand timeless.  In winter, the snow blankets the earth, softening the world, quieting the noise.  In spring the flowers bloom, a riot of color.  The insects and birds sound the welcoming of the earth.  The river, cold with the melted snow, tumbles loudly, singing the awakening of the world with a deafening cacophony.  

And through these superficial changes as the seasons and years pass, there is unity.  Here, eternity is immanent.  Everyone is one - and one with everything.  Here, as you sit in the sunlight, on the rocks, watching the river, you can feel the rocks breathe - and you are one with that breath - as the sun warms your skin and you inhale the smell of the warm redwoods - watching the dragonflies play.

Here, whether it is in the meadows, the rivers, the towering mountains, or through the mist of a waterfall, here is where people make commitments to themselves, to each other, to nature and to the world.  People come to hear music, to dance, to sing  - loudly - full of joy.  Here, people come to meld and find peace.  

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Hilary (right) with 2 happy customers

How to Love your Work

Hilary Wyatt, London

Art in Action

As a youngster, my first Art in Action was spent on Site Hygiene, and I loved it!  Toilets are the place where you meet the public; it's the first place everyone visits on arrival and the last place they visit before they leave. It is truly a 'meet and greet' situation.

Two years ago, I got the job of toilets at Art in Action.  The idea was to make the job attractive for the team.  I imagined an oasis, a place to rest, with plants, a water fountain, trees, a table with hand cream, mirrors etc.  When anyone entered the area it would be a peaceful retreat from the all the activity of the show. People could find respite from the hot sun, with refreshing water to drink. They could walk into a garden of calm and have every need met.  Indeed the level of care would be the same as everywhere else in the show.   

The Oasis

It has taken two years to realise that vision. We started with plants, tables with mirrors and hand cream, sunblock and fresh drinking water. Then last year we achieved our goal of having a water fountain in which children enjoyed cooling themselves. We even added perfume to the growing supplies. Noticing that some ladies who had just come off a coach were using our chairs, we realised that they were simply overheated. We quickly acquired bowls and offered a foot-bath (followed by talcum powder!) to anyone in need. People left us feeling totally refreshed; one lady said, 'I will remember this for the rest of my life - I've never been looked after like this.'  

It was the intention to provide as much happiness and bliss as possible.  And it has been wonderful to see members of the team come up with inspiring ideas which have then come to life. Last year, one of them had the idea of a cloakroom facility and we added a space for anyone wanting to leave baby buggies or items they'd purchased. That led to a baby changing area, a quiet place for mothers to feed their babies, and books for toddlers to look at . . .  all free of charge to the public. 

Enthusiasm

Needless to say, there is now growing enthusiasm amongst volunteers to join Site Hygiene! Last year even my mother came to help and ended up staying for the 'takedown' as she enjoyed herself so much.  

The response from the public is extreme gratitude - this is rewarding for us.  The area is a calm, happy place to be, full of laughter with a delightful energy, and spontaneous conversations between strangers.

How to love your work?  Meet the need - and give it everything you've got!  

Comments from visitors: 

We came again this year having not been for a few years.  I have some positive comments to make...The toilets, both their location and cleanliness were OUTSTANDING - simply excellent and the 'Marigold'-wearing cleaning ladies were doing a fantastic job... We look forward to next year and who knows we might even volunteer to help . . .

Congratulations on bringing the toilets back to their attractive presentation.  I only visited the ones near the Welcome tent but presume the others were just as inviting.  This is a lovely gesture which will remain in people's minds long after the event has faded!

Just wanted to thank all involved in the organisation this year.  It was wonderful to see the attention to detail in the Ladies Toilets, the flowers, sunscreen and the free water - it was - everywhere was, just fantastic. 

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