I love museums. And I have visited many of them both here in the US and in other countries. But....

But I had a moment in a museum that changed my whole perspective on art, life, people and art.

I don't remember what museum it was. But I do remember the room. It was a room that specialized in 19th century American Painters. Not really one of my top interests but I was alone in the room so I sat down on a stone bench and took my time looking at the various paintings.

And a college instructor came into the room, herding a group of about 20 students, evenly mixed between young men and young women. The instructor had a lot to say about the work in the particular room. So I figured I could learn a bit by listening in.

And it was very interesting. The instructor had some amazing insights and observations about the various paintings as they slowly moved around the room - from painting to painting.

But I started to notice something else -the students.

The young women students stood pretty much together in a group right in front of the instructor-listening intently, focused and engaged. And the young men were less structured. They broke off from the group, in smaller groups, or as individuals, and adventured out into more areas of the room; looking at various paintings on their own.

That's a rather easy observation to make.

But then I also realized there was a whole undertone to the whole group dynamic.

As a young man broke off to assert his independence, and look at something on his own, one or more of the young women would glance over at him and sometimes whisper something to a fellow student. He knew she was looking, and she knew he knew.

There was this beautiful dynamic of young men and young women, being aware of each others behaviour and presence. It was a quiet and subtle little dance that was going on.

Of course they were college students and the art was important to them. But as young adults, just beginning their journey into adulthood the others around them, those of the opposite sex, were also important to them. But in a subtler, unspoken, yet no less important way.

The young men were very aware of the young women. And the young women were very aware of the young men.

Just watching this subtle dance that was going on I thought to myself that of all the art works in every museum in every corner of the world none of them come even close to this beautiful work of art that is a human being. It is truly a profound gift we have all been given.