I decided to spend the second half of my day at the SMART Home, which seems to be unravelling itself as my second home. Brilliantly, in discussing my book with Joshua, I found out that both he and Leroy, one of the other instructors at the home were really huge into long distance running, which is a very central topic of my book. I had the opportunity to have a chat with Leroy, the more religious runner of the two, and the insight he gave me into the world of running is invaluable. I’d love to be able to able to have more discussions like these with other runners. For each person seems to have their own way to prepare for a run.

I got a drum lesson today from Joshua. It seemed like pretty basic stuff at first. And then I realised something. Your four limbs all speak different dialects, and they can’t communicate with each other. I remember practicing on my mom’s drum set as a kid. Wanted to pull all my hair out. But, now that I’ve gone clean on the top, I guess I’d just have to start reaching into my under arms. And once that’s depleted… oh never mind. Let’s not go there.

After a month of bumming around, I finally got round to visiting Joshua, who now runs the Smart Home for kids. The purpose of the home is to use art and performing arts to put a smile on the faces of underprivileged children.

Here’s how it works. Once a week, children from different homes will spend the afternoon at SMART, and in that time attend classes in piano, the drums, percussion, art and dance. For the kids, it’s a nice break to the monotony of the week, and it is the hope of the Smart Home that the skills they pick up will help them down the line in some shape or form.

I had a great time at Smart, and for the first time in weeks felt the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders. Watching the kids was a therapeutic experience. Even though some of them have experienced some really harsh realities that you and I would only wish never to endure in our lifetimes, carefreeness came so naturally to them. Looking at what some of us have become, I think the world would be a better place if we learned more from them, and if they learned less from us.