In our busy, hustle and bustled busy lives we tend to forget to stop and smell the roses. To stop for a moment and live in the NOW! “To live in a painting,” is what I call the moment where I remember to look up and see the clouds in all their glory for this day. To look around and absorb my surroundings and where I stand in the ‘living picture’ of life. When I catch myself walking fast paced towards a place and I stop and slow my steps to live in every foot step and be in the now, not the …’what I am racing to.’
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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 1,100 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 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, and 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 most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
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 the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
(this story found here…)
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He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that who ever got there first won the sweet fruits.
The message is straight.. “Have Heart, Will care”
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pay exteraordinary attention to everything and everything will become extraordinary
(~_~)
6 comments
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September 15, 2012 at 10:14 am
Cat Forsley
YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 15, 2012 at 11:56 am
Sandy's Hopeful Room
This is a most appropriate post for such a hurried world. I found that I tend to walk fast. Don’t know why I am racing anywhere. Then I notice how fast I am walking and slow down because there just is no need to run. The beauty of these writings is in showing us to slow down and enjoy the beauty placed before us all as a free gift. Thank you for showing this to us. I would like to reblog this on my site.
SandyO
September 15, 2012 at 11:59 am
Sandy's Hopeful Room
Reblogged this on Sandys Hopeful Room and commented:
I am reblogging this glorious post from Zendictive. Stop. Read. Enjoy. Slow down.
September 16, 2012 at 4:28 am
renxkyoko
Wow ! This is fantastic.
I’d stop and listen, actually. I really, would.
Thanks for sharing this,
September 18, 2012 at 10:42 am
evilnymphstuff
Wow a beautiful story! And a true one! Your posts always make me reflect on such philosophical stuff… and I like that. 🙂 Keep it up!
September 18, 2012 at 5:11 pm
yearstricken
I loved both of these stories. Thanks.