18
Feb
lol.
15
Feb
unreal.
so beautiful.
14
Feb
yup, yup.
13
Feb
via pirkko12
Feb
my kid.
08
Feb
friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
samuel butler
02
Feb
what are YOU missing? look around :)
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 without stopping 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 top 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 and the seats average $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?
24
Jan
Dear Max…
So my friend Catherine is incredibly inspirational. She’s always thinking and doing the coolest stuff. I love her mind. She wrote a letter to one of her children and it was so beautiful that i felt instantly inspired to write one of my own. so here we go……
Dear Max,
Right now, you’re 2 and 4 months and you are quite possible the greatest little human that’s ever existed. I know how that sounds, I do. Some may think it’s just typical blathering from a new parent, or those who know me might think that it’s simply classic Leah over exaggeration, but the truth of the matter is that you really are a spectacular kid.
You defy every stereotype that one would have about a two-year-old boy (except for your love of trains and trucks…ok fine, and tools and toots). You’re calm and focused, pensive and careful, patient and cautious and so freaking hilarious. You love looking at photographs and reading books is your absolute favourite activity. You can find things in the world and relate it to any number of your stories, which blows my mind because you’re still so wee! You would much rather sit down, chillax and carefully look through a little catalogue of trains than run around.
Your memory is astounding. Truly. You remember the people you’ve encountered and places you’ve been from a long time ago. You know the names of every freaking Thomas the Tank Engine train (and for those you who don’t know, there are approximately 4700 of them). You remember all of the parts of your face in French and the entire Hanukkah prayer in Hebrew! You have memorized every book you have….. and we have a lot.
You’ve been slow and steady since the start. You hardly moved in my womb and you continue to approach life with a nice and easy pace. You were late to walk and running only really came to you in the past few months. We’re still working on jumping and climbing stairs, but you’re getting there. You prefer to stroll down the street at a leisurely pace, noting everything you observe along the way. You love stopping to listen to wind chimes or pointing out different kinds of flowers (impatiens vs. tiger lilies? THAT’S MY BOY!).
You are gentle. You wake up everything morning and run over to find our cat Sammy so you can say good morning and give him a little hug. You never need reminding to treat people and animals with care because it’s just how you are.
One of my fears about having a toddler was that they’re so unreasonable! But you’re very reasonable. You understand a lot and with just a little bit of explanation, you seem to comprehend and accept the logic behind what your dad and I ask you to do. Although you approach new situations with hesitancy, you eventually warm up and put on the charm (especially with the ladies!). I hope for you that slowly, over time, you feel more comfortable taking risks and recognizing that sometimes we fall down, but we can just get back up again and keep going.
A few more things:
I’m proud of you because:
* you can EASILY and quickly distinguish between Pearl Jam and the Beastie Boys AND YOU’RE NOT EVEN TWO AND A HALF! Come on now….
* you’re always happy to share your toys when friends come over to play and you get a lot of joy from watching others play with your things
* your number one meal of choice is always sushi (THAT’S MY BOY!!)
* you’re obsessed with letters and words and you have a penchant for language (I’m a teacher…I gotta be proud of that one!)
* you radiate sweetness and kindness and people all over the neighbourhood adore you for it.
You are going to be the BEST big brother the world has ever seen (again, not exaggerating).
I love you more than you will ever know (until you have kids of your own…)
Love,
Mama
sometimes what we want isn’t what we need.
me
23
Jan
this works.
21
Jan
What is a Friend? I’ll tell you. It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can go naked with him. He seems to ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you really are.
When you are with him, you do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, so long as it is genuinely you.
He understands those contradictions in your nature that cause others to misjudge you. With him you breathe freely—you can avow your little vanities and envies and absurdities, and in opening them up to him they are dissolved on the white ocean of his loyalty.
He understands.—You can weep with him, laugh with him, pray with him—through and underneath it all he sees, knows and loves you.
anonymous
20
Jan
a lovely sarah burke tribute video
steinbeck love advice
In November of 1958, John Steinbeck — the renowned author of, most notably, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men — received a letter from his eldest son, Thom, who was attending boarding school. In it, the teenager spoke of Susan, a young girl with whom he believed he had fallen in love.
Steinbeck replied the same day. His beautiful letter of advice can be enjoyed below.
(Source: Steinbeck: A Life in Letters; Image: Thom and John Steinbeck with their father in 1954, courtesy of UC Berkeley.)
Steinbeck replied the same day. His beautiful letter of advice can be enjoyed below.
(Source: Steinbeck: A Life in Letters; Image: Thom and John Steinbeck with their father in 1954, courtesy of UC Berkeley.)
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First—if you are in love—that’s a good thing—that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second—There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you—of kindness and consideration and respect—not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply—of course it isn’t puppy love.
But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it—and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone—there is no possible harm in saying so—only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another—but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens—The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
courtesy of: lettersofnote.com
amazing.
18
Jan
via graceinplace