Tokens with value

I was waiting for train on Earls Court station this morning. A man sitting on a bench sat holding, in both hands, a small slip of pink, slightly crumpled, paper. It was a print out that you get from a newsagent with your lottery numbers on. He stroked the edge of the paper looking intently at it. It seemed as if he was running through the numbers, possible important numbers to him (his daughter’s birthday, his first flat?). The fascination and concentration that held him reminded me of the power we can give to simple tokens. Quite ordinary looking things can be endowed with huge significance. We are surrounded by more hyper graphics in video advertising hoardings, mobile application, etc. It felt good to be reminded that this is not always necessary.