Today I read an article in a forum about a busker who was playing his violin at a subway station in Washington. This article really struck a chord with me, and I have set out below the words for you to read.
(quote) “A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theatre in Boston and the seats average $100.00 each.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?” (unquote)
Reading this really made me think. Do we all let the days and weeks go by without a second thought?
Yes we all work hard – too hard maybe. Maybe it’s time to “Stop and Smell the Roses”
I guess it’s time to talk to one another a bit more, to keep in touch.
Please let me know what you think about this? I’d really love your comments. Thanks.
Till the next time
Maggie
Hi Maggie
I simply had to write a comment on the above. What an inspiring story!
Even more so because it’s true.
It really makes me stop and think, and I do agree with you, we all do work far too hard and rush around far too much, and we should keep in touch more.
Tricia
Maggie,
Such a great story. Thanks for sharing it. It hits home the fact that most people have become so intensely drawn into their every day drudgery that they act almost like robots.
They rush to work, rush to lunch, rush back to their desks and at the end of the day rush back home to their TV sets and TV dinners!
If they only knew what this does to their health and well being in the long run they would take the time to appreciate something that would enhance their lives, make them happier, give them more satisfaction and above all keep them HUMAN!
Follow your “tweet” over and am glad I did. I live on a small farm in Kentucky and do my best to pay attention to the world around me at the time. So much to see and experience and so little time to do it all.
As a writer, much of what I see flows out the end of a pen. Some people seem to like it, others not so much. But that’s not important; I write for me. Since I starting writing, my mental acuity has seen a vast improvement in finding the minutia in things. I wrote this small piece several years ago if you have a moment to read. I did my best to capture that moment forever in words. Leaving Houston.
This one of my blogs that I have guest writers and poets from our region of the world contribute work to as well. Stop by if you care to, you may find something that tickles your fancy.
Regards,
Mike
Maggie that really makes you stop and think doesn’t.
I live in East London and the pace of life is such that I doubt if anyone in this area ever “Stops to Smell the Roses” but this makes you realise how important it is for us all to take time out and slow down and enjoy not just our surroundings but most importantly our lives and loved ones.
Frances
Follow up to my note to you via Twitter. Genius idea for the newspaper. If more “papers” were as inventive the Washington Post, in this instance, and other failing big name papers would not be failing as they are. More important though is that you Maggie thought to create this post containing the information I would not otherwise seen. Genius in that too, Maggie. Thank you and thanks for asking me to add a comment on your blog.
Thanks to everyone for their lovely comments, – thank you! It’s good to know my posts are appreciated.
Hope you all keep coming back to my blog!
Maggie
Maggie,
This reminds me of one of my favourite sayings:
“Don’t hurry, don’t worry, and don’t forget to smell the flowers”
I have this on a bookmark, but do I live up to it?? Hmmmm!!!
Regards,
Ann
Great blogs Maggie!
To stop and make people think and look at the world in a different more positive way is amazing! Keep it up! – regards Thea
Greatings,
Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.
Have a nice day
Zoran
Hi,this is Glayds Bothof,just observed your Blog on google and i must say this blog is great.may I quote some of the article found in the post to my local mates?i’m not sure and what you think?in either case,Thank you!