Being preoccupied is one of the biggest time wasters there is. Learning to pay attention can bring you many valuable things that you are currently missing out on. The following story shows what happens when we are not paying attention. The three year old was paying attention….Lee
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The Man with a violin played six Bach
pieces for about 45 minutes.
During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After 3 minutes: a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and
stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the hat without
stopping and continued to walk.
6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to
walk again.
10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look
at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the
time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their
children to move on quickly.
45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.
About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any
recognition.
Findings – No one knew this, but:
The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest 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 Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each.
This is a true 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 people’s priorities.
Questions: “In a common place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we
stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?”
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop
and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with
one of the most beautiful instruments ever made… How many other things are we missing?
Vote for Teresa Jacobs for Orange County Mayor on Nov 2, 2010……She is honest, smart and effective.
