The Monkey and The Organ Grinder

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a certain class of beggars known as "organ grinders" would walk the streets of large cities in America and Europe, plying crowds for small donations in exchange for entertaining them in public.  These street performers would carry large music boxes (organs) that were operated by turning a crank.  The grinder would often be accompanied by a monkey who would dance to the music, do tricks to entertain the audience, and then collect donations.

I was reminded last week of the Organ Grinder metaphor, as I danced to the music of several other maestros.  While putting a monkey on a leash and asking it to do tricks for money is now outlawed, the activity appears to be alive and well in the course of human events.

In a free society, it is still possible to dance to one's own music (should one choose to do so).  And, as Henry David Thoreau put it: "...step to the music which [you] hear, however measured or far away."  

Sadly, I lost sight of this sage advice last week as I was grinding it out.  Not Anymore!  As I begin anew, I am reminded to follow my own music, and I am prompted to ask:  

Whose Music Are You Dancing To?