Twitter Thinking

Do I need another adventure? Who cares . . . I've trotted off into one. A friend invited me to join "Twitter" and it's surely effecting me. First of all, it's more time on the computer AND it's got lots of new, "tech-ie" things that is bending my brain to learn.

But, also, I'm noticing - there are new thoughts AND more thoughts coming into my brain. Now, not always is that good, but this is - cuz they are positive, expanding thoughts. One of the inspirations that has come - is setting a daily intention. I've been wanting to do this for awhile and posted early in the day on my "twitter" site what my daily intention is - sets my day. It's helping me see how I "usually am thinking" and points it in directions I choose!

Another thought that passed my path yesterday . . . was this article:

A Violinist in the Metro

On a cold day in January, a man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. Since it was rush hour, it was calculated that a thousand 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 some money into the hat and continued to walk. A few minutes later, a man leaned against a wall to listen to the musician, but after looking at his watch he walked away. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. Obviously in a hurry, the mother tugged at the boy, but the kid stopped to listen to the violinist. Finally, the other gave a hard push 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 awhile. About 20 people gave him money but continued to walk . He collected $32 when he was finished playing. Silence took over, no one noticed . No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew 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 theater in Boston where the seats cost an average of $100.
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 priorities of people. They concluded that in a commonplace environment, at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? 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?

J. Richard Schultz

This article helped me formulate the intention for today: "see beauty!" And it made me realize that one of the benefits I find in being an artist, in the time I'm painting is that it takes me to that slower, more observant place - where I s-e-e-e-e-e-e-e more! I perceive more color, more texture - I have more awareness. I takes me to a place in consciousness that must be higher, because it heals me, calms me, reminds me who I really am. And I haven't painted in a few days. Today I will!