Day 194 of Your Year to Wellness; Don't Forget Your Talent



My one and only painting

What Have You Done With Your Talents?

Talent is defined as a natural ability or aptitude and it’s because of this definition that we get confused about how hard one must work at those talents.

I often think of Michael Jordan and his so called “natural” ability to play basketball. What most people fail to think about is the fact that Mr. Jordan always arrived earlier than anyone else for practice and to the actual game.

We all have an aptitude or inclination towards something or another, but we don’t always apply our self to it. Because you don’t get paid to do the thing you love does not mean that you shouldn’t spend time and effort at doing it.

In fact, when people are engaged in something they enjoy on a regular basis, the things they don’t enjoy become much more enjoyable.

When I’m traveling, I often see people knitting or doing needlepoint. When I ask about how and why they do it; they all say the same thing. “I don’t like to travel, and this calms my nerves.” When I ask what these folks  do for a living, I am always rewarded with answers that have nothing to do with crafting. Over the years I’ve met police officers, executives, nurses and even an airline security consultant.

You don’t have to be paid for doing what you love; but when you can combine work with an internal passion or inclination towards something, your work becomes much more rewarding.

I am very fortunate; each day I get to engage in the things that I'm passionate about. People often tell me that I’m a natural; saying that what I do comes to me easily; without effort. They do not see the time spent on research, preparation and getting there.

When you look at someone’s outcomes without regard for the input, you can become envious and jealous because you believe that they get something for nothing. If talent is a gift from birth, then the talented don’t have to do much to reap their great rewards; NOT SO.

The truth of the matter is this; talent maintenance is hard work.

I know I seem to be a bit all over the place today, but I’m going somewhere with this and here comes the station stop.

Everyone has a talent or aptitude for something. As we get older, we tend to forget what we once loved and were good at. When we see others doing what they seem to enjoy, we wonder why they get to play while we have to work.

Rediscover your first love and get back together. Even if it’s not your job, and you don’t get paid one dollar for it, expressing your natural aptitude will make everything else better.

Energy is energy and love is all there is.

Be you, be well, be talented.

Bertice Berry, PhD.

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