A story for you...
I saw this young construction worker at the Queen Victoria Building yesterday. (In Australia, they call themselves 'Tradies.') It was close to closing time, and he had come to one of the most beautiful, lavish, iconic buildings in Sydney to play this baby grand.
His drink from McDonald's (called 'Maccas' by all of us here) was plunked beside him; he had on heavy work boots and a construction jacket and he was playing the baby grand.
His music was stunning.
This young man has talent....of the real, heartbreaking kind.
I would have loved to hear his story: why he was there after work, whether he had a piano at home, how he'd learned to play so well.
Did he come every day?
Did his co-workers know about his gift?
But a group of teenagers came up and asked him to shove off. They told him they wanted a turn and proceeded to whack out a rendition of a thin and jazzy tune.
The tradie picked up his bag, took his Maccas' cup, and walked away.
It made me think about talent: about who gets where and why. We only need to look at the explosion of beautiful photography brought on by iPhones to know that so many people have talent inside them. So many people are bringing beauty into the world.
So many people deserve to shine.
I believe beauty for its own sake is worth it -- whether we get recognised or not. The pianist-tradie may not get to play in a theatre like the State Theatre of New South Wales (below). He may always sneak in his daily practice on a baby grand in a glitzy shopping mall after work. But there he was, an encouragement to everyone: putting his beauty into the world.
Let's all do that, however and wherever we can.
Talent has its own way of getting out into the world, whether it's on a global stage or in a shopping centre, or even (quietly) in our own homes.
Have a beautiful weekend, everyone.
Catherine x
ps. Want to hear the gorgeous Pianist Tradie? You can listen to him on my Instagram here or come to Sydney to the Queen Victoria Building...I bet he'll be there again. :)