I once passed right by Lindsey Stirling. She was under cover.
I'm pretty sure she reproducing a social experiment done a few years ago. In the experiment reporters asked a famous violin player to play in a subway station in disguise. The reporters wanted to see how much money he would make. He was even allowed to use his stradivarius. In the end he made twenty something dollars and went on to explain how humbling it was.
Ignored my instincts
Well a few years back I was in Ottawa Canada. I was following some friends as they raced to get to some pointless place, but they were in a hurry and I was rushed with them.
At some point in our rush we passed the subway entrance. I'm not from Canada. I've only been there twice in my life.
1st clue
That's when I noticed a person crouched down with a camera video taping a nativity scene. That's odd I thought.
2nd clue
Then I noticed a girl with blue hair grey shirt and a camflouge hat playing guitar. What caught my attention was how she was dancing while playing. I smiled. I thought she definitely listens to Lindsay Sterling.
The mental tug of war
As my friends pushed on I kept staring at her. I wanted to go say hi. I was walking forward but my eyes were fixed on her as I debated. I stopped for a second. My friends were still walking. I watched her thinking why would Lindsey be in a subway. Yet she's pretty good and why not go say hi to someone who obviously likes her as much as me.
The decision
My friends wife noticed I stopped and asked me what's wrong. I commented on the violin player? I knew the hymn but wasn't sure the song. Then we agreed it was hallelujah. I felt pulled towards her, but I knew my friend would be annoyed by the inconvenience of stopping. I sighed then just followed my friends.
Regret is worst then looking dumb
It wasn't til months later that i found her video. My heart sank with instant recognition. The hat the hair the nativity scene. Everything. Instantly I realized my instincts where right. I relived the yearning to go say hi. The thoughts I battled as I walked away.
life's lesson
If you watch the end of the video she says that making that video was a humbling experience.
She has no clue how her experience was a complete strangers lesson.
Had i only I had trusted my instincts. The reward for whatever annoyance I would have caused my companions would've been worth the experience. Not to mention I would have saved myself the bitter taste of regret. Oh well. My loss. My lesson.