BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

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

10 minutes later a 3-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but his 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.

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. After 1 hour, he finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

And now for the rest of the story....

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 (no doubt a Stradivarius). 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 question 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?

This story made me stop and think. How many times in our daily lives do we see someone and judge them. This is the way it is with mental illness. People really don't take the time to look at the person, but judge them by their appearances. People with mental illnesses (and their families) face challenges every day. Many times they are shunned by society. From experience, I can tell you first hand, that people with mental illnesses are kind, talented, and giving. They are simply folks that have been dealt a different card in life. The stigma surrounding mental illness can be overwhelming. Even some mental health providers don't understand the dynamics of the person suffering and their family members. How many fine musicians are out there...how many artists....how many potential doctors, had mental illness not struck? Many times family members of a person suffering from mental illness, have to be content to simply hear the small sounds, the small gifts, the small contributions that somone with mental illness has to offer. It is a very lonely walk.........