"I think we judge talent wrong.

...I have made the same mistake myself." 

-Rahul Dravid

Too often people of all ages - children and adults - say, "I have no talent." 

Have you ever said it? Thought it? If so, are you willing to see differently?

Consider how cricket coach, Rahul Dravid, got a fresh understanding of talent and said this: 

"We judge talent by people's ability to strike a cricket ball. The sweetness, the timing. That's the only thing we see as talent....Things like determination, courage, discipline, temperament, 

these are also talent.” 

Besides a fresh perspective of talent, I think it's about time we get an understanding of something larger - something that is a part of your unique being as one person in all of humanity throughout all time.  

It's "the gift of talent." You have it. I have it. We all have it. It's a large part of who we are. 

One's "gift of talent" might include the ability to strike, dunk, pass, pitch, catch, sink, serve, return, and roll a certain kind of ball. (We sure like ball games!) It might include performing well in any of the thousands of indigenous sports, games, and athletics around the world.

It may include awesome ability in any form of art. 
And it may include strength in an academic area. 

But "the gift of talent" is something bigger than "the big three" areas of athletic, artistic, and academic ability we most readily recognize as talent.

It includes easily-done, joyful abilities of every common and uncommon kind, such as identifying bird songs; recognizing scents, learning the night sky; putting puzzles together; putting people at ease; making peace; sensing feelings and responding where help is needed; fixing things; solving mysteries; cooking; cleaning; clowning; making people laugh; asking tough questions; caring for animals; and a million other things. 

Our "gift of talent" also includes our cares and concerns; what we'd like to change; our yearnings, visions, dreams; and more. 

It's the "whole ball of wax" of all our gifts and talents.

Our "gift of talent" is like a tree with many branches.* 

Perhaps we should start calling it our talentry and recognize that everyone has it. 

With love,
Charlene 

*May yours grow, blossom, and bloom.