The little things
May 1, 2007 – 5:33 pmI recently read Pearls Before Breakfast, a fascinating article in the Washington Post magazine. Here’s the premise:
On a January morning at peak commute time, Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical violinists in the world, set up beside his open violin case in the Washington D.C. L’Enfant Plaza station to play six classical pieces. Bell’s performance in this unusual setting was part of an experiment arranged by the Washington Post.
an experiment in context, perception and priorities — as well as an unblinking assessment of public taste: In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?
The result? People walked on by. A very small number actually stopped to listen, and a few dropped money into his violin case. For the most part, the daily grind went by uninterrupted.
As I read it, it made me wonder- would I have stopped to listen?
Play the clip on the Washington Post site, and even at poor audio quality, the music literally gave me goosebumps. How did no one notice? How was it that only the children were drawn to stop?
Something I’ve noticed since quitting my job and spending more time with my 3-year old son is that children are unparalleled in their ability to completely and wholeheartedly experience a moment. Whether skipping rocks on the water, examining the seed pods of a dandelion, or observing ants, my son throws his whole mind, body, and soul into each new experience. It’s as if his senses are constantly on high alert; he notices things that my age-dulled senses instinctively discard as unimportant.
“Mommy, your shirt is the same color as the water.” (so it is!)
“What does it smell like, mommy?” (freshly mowed grass)
“Those trees look like popcorn.” (trees? What trees? Oh, those ones.)
And I realize that we parents have the opportunity of a lifetime. Being with my child is like walking through L’Enfant Plaza at rush hour while Joshua Bell plays Charconne. Whether I realize it or not, I am always making a choice. On one hand I have my natural impulse to hurry, to approach play as a perfunctory item to be checked of the list so that I can move on to the higher-priority tasks. Or, I can slow down, ignore the voice inside my head telling me that I have to GET THINGS DONE, and embrace the opportunity to enjoy an experience that my rusty senses have long missed; The world through the eyes of my child.
“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind.”- Ashley Smith
Random Posts
Mother. Coffee drinker. Information seeker. Skeptic. Creative. Dreamer. Schemer. Absolutely Bananas.
By Crunchy Carpets on May 1, 2007 | Reply
I am the type that stops.
I am the type that looks up and notices how nice the mountains look today or how pretty some flowers are.
Me n’ the kids are usually down on our knees watching bugs, etc.
By Kimberly on May 1, 2007 | Reply
What beautiful reflections. It’s the sort of thing I remember and forget constantly. Watching the world through our children’s eyes can be a truly enthralling experience…if we put aside our grown up cares long enough to do it.
Thanks for the reminder.
By Maria De La Cruz on May 1, 2007 | Reply
What y’alls needs to do is get your biscuits over to rushmomma.blogspot.com and vote to name the duck “Maria el Pato”. Its like “Vote for Pedro” but funny.
By kellypea on May 1, 2007 | Reply
Good post. When my two older boys were in diapers, I felt I was losing my brain so began to study piano again. Chopin’s Military Polonaise was played hour after hour, as well as a lot of Beethoven. How hilarious that the kids are the ones who recognized that the Smurfs cartoon basically had a Beethoven soundtrack. They noticed, not me. They called it “mommy music.” Is that cool, or what?
By Jennifer on May 2, 2007 | Reply
That’s really good, Jenny. Really, really good!
And I’m super impressed that you read things besides blogs.
By An Ordinary Mom on May 2, 2007 | Reply
I know I need to slow down and enjoy the time with my little ones more. I need to embrace their chattiness, their observations, their inquisitiveness, their energy. Thanks for the reminder. I need to move them up on the list and move blogging down :)!!
By Rory on May 2, 2007 | Reply
I have just read that article this very morning!
This is a wonderful and insightful take on it, Jenny. Really thought-provoking, and right on the button.
By jesse on May 2, 2007 | Reply
Good post; I watched the clip and that guy sounded amazing.
By Lene on May 3, 2007 | Reply
Great post!! They do see things in that way…you nailed it on the head.