Thursday is a time...

To Be Thankful!

LS:

On a recent trip to the nursery, I spotted a scrawny looking plant, with barely a few leaves and no flowers, standing all alone at one corner.

When I asked the man, he was surprised that I would be interested. He said most people just walked past without a glance. They probably think that you can't revive a scrawny sick looking plant. But the plant was not sick, it was the only one unsold and then neglected. He told me it's a lovely plant with a lovely bloom. It's called Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow.

I bought it. Not because I have the greenest thumb and could revive the sickest plant. Quite the opposite actually LOL. Would you believe it if I said I felt sorry for the plant? Yes, on the way home I did wonder whether I was out of my mind for buying it. I'd probably drive the plant to an early grave LOL.

But the plant proved me wrong. With a little care and watering it gives me back some blooms and scent, only if I pay attention to it.

Such as it is with life too. A lesson I've learned many a times only to be reminded again. Don't judge a plant by its leaves!

Yesterday it was purple

Today it turns lilac

Tomorrow it becomes white

Everyday is a learning process, isn't it? I'm always thankful for the lessons and reminders. The article below was sent by a friend this morning and again it serves such a great reminder to me. Do read it if you have the time, if you haven't already read it before.

Washington, DC. Metro Station. On a cold January morning 2007.

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 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 continuosly. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, and 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 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 organised 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 recognise 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?


To be a Thankful Dog on Thursday!

Happy:

I'm thankful that LS has learned that lesson. So now she lets me stop and sniff as long as she could (she's still learning) on our walks. I've been trying to teach her from the beginning but in the end it took a plant to teach her that. Better late than never, right?

What are you thankful for?

Note: Just in case you have the plant above and/or you didn't know, the plant is poisonous to dogs. So keep them safely away.

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Thankful Thursday
Dogs on Thursday