Run of 2009

Someone had told me before that, take the beginning of the year as the start of a new run.

I believe that in life, we need to have stages or levels that we can look forward to. In other words, its like having aims or targets in your life. 'Cause that will be something that can push us to keep on going and encourage us when we feel like giving up. Making yearly resolutions can be one of the moves.

To classified a year as a run, well, this different kind of view really sounds refreshing and attractive, compared to those resolution-makings. And this triggers me something else. A year is actually quite a long run and in a long run, sometimes we'll tired, feel like giving up or even unconsciously took the wrong path. So, why not give ourself pit-stops along the run? Even marathon run has drinking stations along the way.

Hence, we could make our own pit-stops for our 2009 run. At these pit-stops is where we can review the journey we have taken so far, to take a rest and to refresh ourselves again before getting ready to complete the rest of the run.

I am thinking of having a pit-stop at the end of every month, so, I'll be having 11 pit-stops throughout my year 2009 run. Hhm, sounds good and reasonable. Well, looks like I'll be reaching my first pit-stop soon!! 

Want to quote this article that i read recently. It's very interesting and thought provoking. 

What have you been missing all this while? Have you ever thought of it?

Below is the article. Enjoy...

What are you missing?

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 thousands of 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 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 three-year-old boy. His mother tagged him along, 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 six people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk at their normal pace. He collected US$32 (RM112). 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 best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth US$3.5mil (RM12.25mil).

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theatre in Boston and the seats average US$100 (RM350).

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organised by the Washington Post as part of an 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 recognise 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?

• This thought-provoking tale came through the e-mail. If you receive similar stories or anecdotes worth sharing, send them to starmag-heart@thestar.com.my. Include the source or author if possible. Today’s story was sent in by BENEDICT LEE.