Bringing Balance to the Unique
Sometimes unique is difficult to ignore: like this turtle we found attempting to lay eggs in the middle of our yard! I immediately interrupted my routine. I beckoned my husband and children as I grabbed my camera. Our commotion disturbed her serene life-giving event and sent her in search of a safer place for her offspring.
What could have been an amazing documentary experience turned into a brush with almost greatness and left our yard with an unusual hole. Unfortunate for us; advantageous to the next generation of turtles.
But what about when unique disguises itself as mundane?
In his 2007 Washington Post Pulitzer-winning article, "Pearls Before Breakfast," Gene Weingarten describes the results of an experiment to see if "in an incongruous context, ordinary people would recognize genius".
Joshua Bell, an internationally acclaimed virtuoso, played in the Washington, DC, Metro subway - incognito. Three days before his subway performance, he commanded $100 for a decent seat. Two weeks later he played to a standing room only audience. Yet, on the day of this experiment, Bell played his $3.5 million Stradivarius, handcrafted in 1713 by Antonio Stradivari himself, posing as just another hapless street musician.
In 45 minutes time, just over 1,100 people passed by Bell, most of them hurriedly and obliviously. Only one recognized this virtuoso. Only seven made time to enjoy this opportunity of a lifetime: a free, face-to-face performance by one of the world's most accomplished violinists on one of the world's most expensive instruments. Only 27 people were moved to contribute to this musician's cause, rustling up a combined $32 and change.
I wonder how often my daily routine obscures the unique experiences waiting to be enjoyed. Will you join me this week in looking for the unique? I'm guessing it is closer than we think, maybe even as close as opening our eyes.