I often spend an hour or so each day in my local library, musing over a quiet book or watching sleepy university students snooze their way through what is meant to be a study session. One of my favourite perks of the library, though, is not the huge collection of books or the impressive art installations, but rather the glossy black piano that sits upstairs—with an invitation to play it.

And people do. It’s glorious to watch schoolkids belt out Fur Elise over and over, and serious adults trail their fingers across the keys when they think that no one’s watching. It’s a marvellous addition to the otherwise quiet library, and serves, I think, to draw everyone together in a shared love of music.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be sitting by the library window when an elderly lady, hair white and stringy, shoulders hunched in painful curves, and legs spindly as pins, sat down at the piano and began to play. But what she played was nothing like a schoolkid’s attempt at Fur Elise—rather, she played Rachmaninov, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Mendelsson. She was clearly a classically trained pianist, perhaps a concert pianist, and as I watched and listened, the space before me was gradually obscured by the dozens of people, young and old, who were climbing the stairs to watch. It was exquisite, and we exchanged glances that said quietly how lucky we were to experience such an event.

Here was a woman whose playing could no doubt draw crowds in our concert halls, and who could likely charge a fee of her choosing to perform, but instead she chose to share her gift with us, with strangers who would probably have otherwise never had the chance to see an accomplished pianist perform. The sheer generosity of the act astounded me, and I can only hope that others take the time to share their gifts and talents with everyone else.

Just came across this online competition where the prize is time at one of my favourite and best all time ever ski resorts. Everyone should really enter, this would be such a cool way way to spend the long weekend!