“Professors at Penn Station”
Three essential lessons from Croissant Man, AM-New York Man, and Guitar Man. By Dr. Alan Singer
Worthy Reads: This is an article that appears on Aish.com [link here]
July 3, 2024
Three essential lessons from Croissant Man, AM-New York Man, and Guitar Man.
At New York’s Penn Station I frequently meet Croissant Man, AM-New York Man, and Guitar Man. Each of them teaches me something valuable.
I get a wake-up call when I greet Croissant Man with “Hi Jake, how are you doing?” He responds, “Another day.” Despite the intense boredom in his monotone response, his two words jolt me into making each day count. Being productive or bored is not up to chance; it’s up to me.
Another day” can be something you have to drag yourself through, or “another day” can be the opportunity of your lifetime. I remind myself of my goals and dreams to fulfill. Rabbi Tarfon teaches in Ethics of Our Fathers, “The day is short and the work is considerable.” Time, not money, is the real commodity that’s irreplaceable. Use it or lose it.
AM-New York Man has a completely different attitude as he enthusiastically proclaims in his sing-song style, “Good morning to you. Trust me… if you’re breathing, it’s a good morning!”
How often do I step off my commuter train in the morning and thank God that I am breathing? I’m usually running late thanks to Amtrak overhead wire troubles as I jog to the subway. AM-New York Man gives me a lot more than a free paper each morning. When you have your health and another day, you have the whole world at your disposal. He’s sharing Judaism’s age-old principle of life: Focus on what you have in life, not what you’re missing.
Guitar Man sings rock and roll music all day and never tires. His open guitar case has some coins and dollar bills, and a sign that reads, “I’m a street musician – too weird to live, too mean to die.” I’m don’t know what his sign means and I’ve never recognized one of his melodies, but Guitar Man’s unbelievable perseverance really inspires me. He stands in his corner of Penn Station, enthusiastically singing and strumming from sunup to sundown, even if his audience is only one person. I love his passion.
As I put a dollar bill in his guitar case, he smiles and sings the words, “Thank you brother, now you go have some fun… promise me.” The lesson he embodies: persevere in what you love.
To sum up my Penn Station teachers:
Do I use my time wisely?
Do I appreciate what I have?
Am I passionate about what I do?
I’ve learned so much and it’s not even 9 AM yet. Who ever thought that a daily commute could be so thought-provoking and one that leads to wisdom, as Ben Zoma taught in Ethics of the Fathers (4:1): Who is wise person? The one who learns from every person.