Yesterday I saw one of the thirty 'street pianos' scattered about London in front of the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. It brought great pleasure to those playing and those of us who were listening. Fantastic.
The 'street pianos' go hand in hand with another simple but effective idea I just heard about of leaving books we have read in designated areas at train stations around London for anyone to take and read.
Simple ideas, but ones that can really make a positive difference.
For the past two evenings, I watched the BBC reality show/documentory called 'Famous, Rich and Homeless'
Other than highlighting the fascinating and sometimes disturbing differences in character of each of the five people involved, this programme did show clearly the alienation that people must endure who are living on the edge of society.
There is no question that alcahol and drug addiction is certainly at the core of societal alienation. However, when we look deeper, any kind of substance abuse is just a sympton of something much more fundamental.
On the first day, one of the men had the idea of offering to take photographs of tourists on London Bridge. On the first day this worked. People seemed quite happy to pass over some change in exchange for their pictures being taken.
On the second day, after the same man has slept rough, hasn't eaten, changed clothes, washed, etc, he tried to do the same thing, but now no one took the bait.
In short, within thirty six hours of being on the streets, with nowhere to sleep, no food, money, clean clothes, etc. this man was already falling through the cracks of society. People didn't want someone, who was now quickly becoming a smelly looking street person to take their picture!
Fractured familes, lost communities, uninvolved neighbours have all contributed to the alienation of those in society who need support.
Watching this show brought home to me the 'accident of birth' syndrome. After all, surely that odious little man The Marquis of Blandford, AKA Jamie Blandford, AKA Lord Charles James Spencer Churchill, would have been languishing in jail or one of our gutters had he not been born into a life of idle privilege.
On the other hand, maybe some of the real homeless people on our streets could be brilliant artists, teachers, parents, and so on if their accident of birth had been more giving and loving.
As one of the 'celebrities' said, he had never felt so physically, emotionally and spiritually tired in all his life. That's what happens when we are alientated.
Today I show a self portrait I painted just a few years ago in Wales. It was at a time when it seemed as if my life was falling apart. This portrait is a reminder to me of just how important friends and community are throughout our lives.
I feel very grateful today for all the positive things in my life.
A Bientot
