LETTERS FROM LOCKERLY: Remember to slow down

Published 8:15 am Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Every morning when I come into work, I greet all the critters we have in the Woods Museum. It has become routine to walk past each enclosure and say, “Good morning!” — taking a minute to appreciate each of these wonderful creatures. Sometimes, I too am welcomed by a sleepy Sparky the Eastern Box Turtle, or more rarely a curious Teedo the ball python. With the warm morning light filtering in through the windows and onto the shells and scales of these creatures I have come to love, I am reminded of what Lockerly has taught me during my time working here: to be present, mindful and curious.

Life can get busy, and sometimes we rush through the day, ignoring all the small beauties surrounding us. I’m a senior at Georgia College and have never felt pressure to stay busy and focused on the future like I do right now. Lockerly has taught me to slow down — to appreciate the small moments that bring peace or spark curiosity. I find myself constantly snapping pictures of trees or insects to learn about species I have never seen before so I can provide next week’s field trip students with a new bit of information. I take my time looking up at the canopy of leaves far above my head, seeing if I can identify the trees I walk beneath every day. The bird calls outside my window are no longer just background noise, but nature calling me to take a closer look and see what lives in the tree just outside. I have learned to use the outdoors as a break from the chaos of life and focus on the beauty that is ever-present.

With only a few short months left in Milledgeville, I am fervently trying to etch into my mind the beauty that this city has shown me. Walking the Greenway, I notice how the light passes through the large American sycamore leaves or how the bright pink blooms of the mimosa trees spring to life in the summer. At the arboretum I sense spring upon us as the Japanese magnolias come to life, sharing their delicate blooms with the world. The catfish and carp in the pond rush to the surface as their food is tossed out by the folks from the Oconee Center, disturbing the still water and sending ripples throughout. A camper finds a Georgia Thumper, grinning with such abundant joy you’d think the lunchtime they have endlessly been asking about has finally come around.

It is within these small moments my mind has captured that I know Milledgeville — and Lockerly — will forever have made their mark on my memory, especially in the way I take in the natural world around me. I challenge you to take a minute today, and maybe every day, to find a moment of peace and beauty in the world around you. They exist no matter how hectic life may be, so take a stroll outside and learn a new tree, insect, or bird call. Let nature be a calming antidote to your daily stressors.

— Ellen Patton is a part-time Lockerly staffer and graduating senior at Georgia College & State University.