...then actually wake up and wonder where the morning has gone?
It's a tough balance. You weigh getting a running start to the day versus actually taking in the precious moments we are all lucky to have.
When I was a kid, I had all the time in the world. Now there are not enough hours in the day. That's life, I guess.
And in that rush, do you notice the tiny pockets of life that go on around you during those waking hours? Don't feel bad if the answer is no.
It's a quirky world we live in. We cross paths everyday with people who represent their own microcosm of relationships, stories, problems, desires, hopes and dreams.
But we never enter their universe, and they never enter ours.
Occasionally, something hits our frequency and breaks through the din. For me it is usually a busker. Most often at a train station. If I have a coin and they are half decent, I will usually toss it in their hat. Paying it forward, I guess.
So, imagine you are on your way to work. On the way, you see a busker playing a violin, near the entrance to a train station. You couldn't be sure, but you could tell that this busker was particularly skilled on the violin. Much better than your average train station loiterer with a guitar.
Would you stop?
Or are you too busy and focused to take the time?
How would you feel if you then realised you missed the chance to hear one of the greatest violinists in the world? A man who usually commands roughly $1000 a minute for his performances?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html
Yes, unfortunately this is a true story.
At a subway in the United States, world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell performed incognito to test whether people would stop for a busker of his extraordinary ability.
They didn't.
The meaning that was extrapolated from this experiment was that people do not pay attention to the tiny details of life, even when something truly incredible is on offer. We are, apparently, too busy to see the beauty around us.
Personally, I think that conclusion is a stretch.
There are, however, a few lessons for you from the impromptu concert of Mr Joshua Bell.
First and foremost, for the filmmakers and content creators amongst you: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!
If you are trying to appeal to everyone, you will dilute the message of your work and appeal to no-one. If you are writing a horror film, write it for people who like horror films. It's fairly simple, but content makers get this simple idea wrong all the time.
Second: GO WHERE YOUR AUDIENCE IS!
How else will they find you in the sea of content? If you are playing classical violin music, play it where there are people who appreciate and want to hear classical violin music. If you are making a comedy film about two caucasian men who banter about their jobs and smoke weed, make the film available in places/platforms where audiences who love 'stoner comedies' congregate.
Don't play classical music in a train station. Audiences there are looking for, well, trains.
And finally, this one is for everyone: LOOK AROUND AND APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS OCCASIONALLY.
We really are lucky to be the evolved monkeys we have become, floating on this magical dirt ball in space. It can only help you to appreciate it, enjoy the little details, from time to time.
You are unlikely to see a world famous violinst being ignored at your local train station.
But it can't hurt to pay attention, just in case.
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