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What are Your Gifts?
I was inspired by an idea from Dr. Bastiat’s post on intelligence. @django mentioned that he was a person who could see things outside the standard patterns that others missed. That’s quite a gift. I was thinking that each of us (unless you’re a young whippersnapper) knows our gifts, especially those that we appreciate and others do, too!
For example, I have been told in certain environments when things are confused and chaotic that I can see into the heart of the matter, and can clarify the situation for others. I like having that ability and having it appreciated. I also have convinced people that I am a person who handles conflict well and tend to be balanced and even-tempered on Ricochet. You should see me in real life! Actually, my experiences on Ricochet have helped me grow a great deal in this regard, so I consider those of you who have “triggered” me to be my teachers. Thank you.
I’m sure many of you have dozens of talents that you treasure and that have been appreciated by others. Or you may treasure them and others hate you for them. Or others love them and you hate them. H.m.m.m…. I thinking I’m getting sidetracked.
Anyway, would you mind sharing your gifts? Rather than just artistic gifts (which you are welcome to include), you might think of the gifts you have that show up in your interactions with others.
So, what are your gifts?
Published in Culture
I’m just telling you what the book says. It’s quite persuasive, and based on extensive research. He doesn’t claim that innate aptitudes dont exist, but that they are much less important than people think they are.
Personality makes a difference because not everyone would put in the work that Mozart did. That was his personality: it was what he wanted to do, he gravitated toward it, he was comfortable with it, and he enjoyed it. No one is going to practice for hours every day at something they hate (not, at least, unless they’re forced to).
Well, Mozart started learning as a kid, as many musicians do. Much of what we practice as kids is involuntary.
Every kid in my family had to take piano lessons, though sticking with it was optional. I only took drum lessons and joined the school band because it was the deal for getting a drum set. It was my drums teacher, ironically, who taught me the “blues scale” (on marimba) which got me started creating my own music.
Being forced to learn skills as a kid, before one knows what one likes to do, is helpful. On the other hand, I knew a lady who used to travel internationally as a world-class flutist. She ditched it as a young adult because she was pushed so hard as a teenager. She picked up smoking and eventually her lungs prevented her from ever playing flute again.
I remember when an older teenager, a guitar phenomenon, told me he practiced 5 hours a day. That sounded crazy. Then, after a year of playing guitar myself, it didn’t seem so crazy. It definitely helps to love what you do.
I thought you were talking about Mozart?
That’s my gift, I do take praise well. Just test me and see.
If I have any special ability that came naturally, it would be glibness. (Cue the Bachman Turner Overdrive song about taking care of it.) Gift and a curse.
Perhaps memory as well, but for things I’ve seen. This is why I can place an old ad within a few years of its appearance, but can’t remember what my wife told me to do last week.
Yeah, but that’s a matter of what one pays attention to. 😜
It’s cool. I have friends that had similar timelines. Anecdotally, I’ve noticed that with people who got diagnosed later it is less a part of their identity. Have you noticed anything regarding that?
“I always know when someone’s uncomfortable at a party.” – George Costanza
Me too, especially right after my wife kicks my shin under the table.
I am an excellent first responder to people in family law. Three groups especially come to mind, victims of domestic violence, reluctant respondents, and people in recovery.
With domestic violence victims, I help them prepare and file a petition for an order of protection or walk them next door to “Victim/Witness Services” who can help them.
A “reluctant respondents” is the person (usually husbands) who is being left by the other person. (The person who starts a divorce or paternity case is the “petitioner,” the person who is being divorced or left against their will is the “respondent.”). I listen well to them as they are crushed by what is many times one of the worst days of their lives, and have empathy for their terrible loss.
I love people who are in recovery. I share my AA chip which has an “XVIII” on it (18 years). Two days ago I took a man with 17 days of sobriety to his first AA meeting, and introduced him afterwards. He got a pocket-sized version of the AA big book where the other male members had written in their first names and cell phone numbers.
Terrific, Gary!