This story has nothing to do with personal finance, but I’m going to find a way to make it relate in some way because it’s just that good of a read. It also puts forth the question of why we are trying to earn all that money in the first place…

Joshua Bell, one of the best violinists in the world who makes $1000 a minute at his trade, decided to street perform in Washington DC using a $3.5 million violin. Guess what happened - he was ignored for 45 minutes of playing and only a few of over 1000 people that passed even bothered to stop and listen.

If we can’t take the time out of our lives to stay a moment and listen to one of the best musicians on Earth play some of the best music ever written; if the surge of modern life so overpowers us that we are deaf and blind to something like that — then what else are we missing?

There is a reason to get your personal finances in order and it is not to have a lot of money. It’s to have enough so that you can appreciate things like this. As I read the article, I wondered if I would have been one of the few that took the time to stop and listen - I’m not sure if I would have or not, but I know now that I will make a better effort to listen to the music from now on. I hope that all of you will do the same…

Update: The story drew worldwide attention and the author received many questions - he answers many of them here