Darrin Guilbeau's Ramblings

A 2010 resolution – awareness, perception, pause, enjoy…

darringuilbeau — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:26:19 +0000

So I was sitting around upset one recent Sunday that I didn’t really get much accomplished on Saturday. Then I was upset that I was upset, and wondered what has become of life that we feel guilty for taking 1 day to stop and just spend time relaxing or enjoying simple pleasures. Lo and behold, my wonderful better half sends me this email. The true story has been passed around the last few holidays. It is a rather poignant statement, and gives rise to many questions and fascinating different directions that one could reflect on. I think it worthy to pull off the email, and post on a permanent location so we can perhaps share our own thoughts about our hectic lives and what has become important, and what we’ve lost since youth.

I’m not sure who wrote this, but I like their point of view, so all credit goes to someone anonymous. Perhaps they will eventually post a reply here. I thought it would be interesting to see if any of the thousand random folks would remember the event, and leave their thoughts too. Then, I read the full, original article, which is posted at the end, and enjoyed the tales from those they did stop afterward, and interview. Well, done. Bravo to the experiment designer.

Granted, I’m biased to the arts, and can fondly say that some of the most memorable “cultural” experiences I’ve had during my travels have been pausing to find serious “street” talent: sitting on the curb for nearly an hour with a sax player on Bourbon St. in New Orleans, a hammered dulcimer artist at a Renaissance Festival in Texas, acoustic flute group from the Andes Mountains in Downtown Frankfurt, a dancer & Spanish guitarist in Miami. Now, they’re great free memories because I stopped – if only for a moment to enjoy.

Thus, one of my new resolutions for the upcoming year. Discover more of this. Pause. Enjoy.

Here’s the email:

PERCEPTION

. . .Something To Think About. . .

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest 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 Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $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 people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*Do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.

How many other things are we missing?

How many special persons pass us by and we do not MAKE ANY EFFORT TO get to know them?

Here’s the full, original story with video from Washington Post

Politics – learn from the past! Now!

darringuilbeau — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:15:09 +0000

Wow – what an education “The Golden Years” has been for me. My mom ran for office in the 90′s and I was very proud of her campaign. I often wondered how things would have changed for her if she had made it, but privately I was grateful she didn’t. Now, after reading the insights from Senator Robert McKnight’s recent book about his experiences in Florida politics, I wonder if she really could have made a difference that is so needed in our current government.

I’m only halfway through the book, and will give an update when done, but Bob’s lessons that he intersperses throughout the book are insightful and as valuable to business life and careers as they are to government. Check out his blog and campaign to raise money for a documentary about what are called the “Golden Years” in Florida politics and how fresh, challenging ideas can make a difference, even for a newcomer.

Practice what you preach.

darringuilbeau — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:08:12 +0000

Blogging can be hazarous to your online health – or not blogging, as may be the case. It’s time I practice what I preach. For most of my search engine marketing clients, I harp on keeping fresh content on the website and the benefits of social media and blogging to maintaining the best search engine results. Well, it has been like the shoemaker’s kids without shoes.

That all changes now, as I introduce my personal blog. My mission? To inform…share…inspire…vent…practice. And goal? To entice you to come back often and leave with a new though or smile.

Scanner Training – CAP

darringuilbeau — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:18:34 +0000

I recently wrapped up the scanner training for Civil Air Patrol. As part of the mission aircrew, everyone has to initially train as a scanner. Basically, your job is to be a sharp set of eyes to look out of the left side of the aircraft since the pilot is supposed to be focused on flying the plane and not looking down at the ground for your target.

Even in Florida, with all of our open terrain, you would think that finding things from the air would be easy. Wow, I would never have guessed how difficult it can actually be. You really have to work hard at learning the tiny clues that can indicate something is out of the ordinary. My hats off to those that are really good at it! With each sortie, I at least feel improvement and we all look forward to more practice.