CrossFit Great Barrington: Forging Elite Fitness in the Berkshires

PERCEPTION
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 approx. 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 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. Â
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 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.
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 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 questions 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?

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? 

. . . Something To Think About. . .

As I read this, many things came to my mind – here are a few:

As a mother of 4, I am always rushing – its time to slow down.
Do not sweat the small stuff – sweat but not the small stuff!
Stop and smell the roses – daily one of my children points something out to me that I would have never noticed.  Hmmmm……….
As Crossfitters we share so much, yes, we sweat together but that is not all!  We are friends, supporters, fundraisers, we have seen each other in our weakest moments and strongest moments.  Those moments when we are raw, lying on the floor, exhasted from a WOD, to walking in the door with that friendly greeting.  We are all there for the same reason, in our little box for ourselves and for everyone around us.Â
In closing, because I am getting a little raw here:) – Thank you!  You are all unique, inspiring people that makes up the Bizfit Crossfit community!!!!!

 Not what we give,
But what we share,
For the gift
without the giver
Is bare.
~James Russell Lowell