Seemingly this story was all over the web in 2007, but I hadn't heard of it before. When my good friend send it to me yesterday, it really struck a chord. There was a lot of criticism directed at the experiment, mainly because it was conducted at rush hour and, of course, people are focused in getting to work, not listening to world class music performed by a master.
This is not just about slowing down. Maybe more of Washington's subway riders would have chosen to be a few minutes late, if they had any idea of what to expect. It's the habit of perception, which is obstructing here. We don't usually realize how much of our life is spent on auto-pilot. Being prepared for beauty to happen any moment of the day is a skill. One can learn it. Art helps. Travel also helps. When I'm removed from the "rush-hour" of life, I'm more likely to perceive unusual concepts and ideas and be open for the new and unexpected.
But there's still one question remaining for me: Would I have rushed by? My friend was wondering, too.
What about you?
Here's the entire article by Gene Weingarten from the Washington Post.
This is not just about slowing down. Maybe more of Washington's subway riders would have chosen to be a few minutes late, if they had any idea of what to expect. It's the habit of perception, which is obstructing here. We don't usually realize how much of our life is spent on auto-pilot. Being prepared for beauty to happen any moment of the day is a skill. One can learn it. Art helps. Travel also helps. When I'm removed from the "rush-hour" of life, I'm more likely to perceive unusual concepts and ideas and be open for the new and unexpected.
But there's still one question remaining for me: Would I have rushed by? My friend was wondering, too.
What about you?
Here's the entire article by Gene Weingarten from the Washington Post.
Great story! I hadn't heard it before either. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteWow... I just crashed and burned 1½ months ago due to stress and I'm now being ... "taught" by therapists how to slow down, focus, to take deep breaths and to be in the moment.
ReplyDeleteThis story really struck a cord with me. If it's alright I'd like to post it on my blog too. With a link to your blog too, of course. :)
I heard about it back then. There was a video too.
ReplyDeleteI like to think that I would at least slow down and maybe stop to listen for a minute or two before giving him whatever change I had on me.
Sophie
How interesting; I'd never heard the story before. Yes, I wonder what I would have done..
ReplyDeleteI catch myself often, at being not observant at all. At all. Like you say, being on auto-pilot. I find it's necessary some of the time, this going through the day automatically (if only to stave of the extreme boredom of hoovering and the like; better to do that dreaming..). But how wonderful it is when you manage, even just for a bit, to really notice things.
(Note to self: do stop, next time, instead of doing the automatic 'hmm', when the children point out a robin. Or a squirrel. Or the silly huge advert, even.)
No, Kathrin, I would not have walked by. I traveled to and from Boston for a few years on the subway and stopped everytime to listen and give and applaud.If I was late for work a few minutes, I would tell the boss, I would stay late. It never mattered to him. Happy travels. Rita
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, and your blog in general. Your posts are always thought-provoking, inspirational, beautiful, and my world is expanded as a result.
ReplyDeleteRachel
I remember when this was going around and watched the video. I know I would have slowed down to listen, possibly stopped, unless I was late to work. Music in the subways was one of my favorite things about nyc. The contrast of music floating through the dingy underground always seemed so sublime to me.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think I would slow down and listen. I know my two boys would. Perhaps we should all follow the lead of children more often.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this, I'd not come across it before, it really makes you think :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think this is about slowing down. It is about how we perceive value: It can't be worth much if it's in the subway and for free.
ReplyDelete^ What Suschna said is exactly what I think. We like to attach status and wealth to things of beauty (even if we consciously try to do otherwise) and forget that beauty can be found in the most normal of places.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this. I was a senior in high school when that article was published--I would've walked by with the rest of them then, even if I had appreciated the music. Now, though, I think I'd listen. I would want to listen, at least.
Thanks for sharing! It made me at least think about beauty and music!
ReplyDeleteThis is just what i really needed this holiday season ;)
ReplyDeleteI stopped what I was doing and read the whole article. It was new to me as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I would like to say that I would have stopped. That I would have been able to hear the beauty and realize. But maybe not. Do I stop and acknowledge even the not so beautiful things? We are running around and missing all of it...