So often, we get caught up: caught up in the past, and its joys and pains; caught up in the future, and its promises and stresses. Too often, we forget to focus on the present. We hurry through the "now" to get to the "later," often without seeing the beauty of the moment.
That is the purpose of this blog: to get caught up in the present. I created this space as a reminder to myself that there is something to be discovered every day. I wanted to show life the way I see it. To remind myself to not take moments for-granted.
Before I do this, let me tell you a little about me. I'm a senior Communication major. I'm also a sister, a friend, a part of CSU's A Cappella group, Resonant Ramblings, and the girlfriend of a wonderful boy. My guilty pleasures include (but are not limited to) DP Dough, Jersey Shore, and Twilight (before the movies ruined everything). I am much more of a dog person, although an occasional cat will strike me as cute.
As graduation approaches, I become even more aware of how soon my world will change. I am making my biggest transition yet. This blog is a chance to document this transition, and to focus on the future without losing sight of the present. As I prepare for the "real world," I know it will not be without fear, worry, or uncertainty. I also know that it will bring excitement, adventure, and transformation. I look forward to the months to come. But for now, I look forward to the present.
So welcome to my blog. Welcome to today. Find the beauty in now, and appreciate it.
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Part of my inspiration:
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?
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Live for Today.
-Linds
