Photo by strangemagee on FlickrWhen I first saw this prompt, I thought about people; people with gifts. Then I started to question the whole concept. What does that mean? To be gifted? Gifted means receiving a gift, a gift to be able to do something that supposedly the majority of people could not. And that seems to be a comfortable definition to rest on. Like there was no better excuse for us to dwell on than to sit with arms crossed and say: “Oh, to bad I don’t have that gift.” Now, I’m not saying that gifted people don’t exist; history has shown us dazzling examples of true geniuses and their incredible outcomes. But a closer look reveals me equal shares of intelligence and plenty hard work. It’s like we get so fascinated by the magic in certain achievements that we often forget that behind it lies a lifetime of search and dedication. And I can’t help thinking that simply calling it a gift seems to diminish all the sacrifice and pursuit put into overcoming difficulties by treating it as… a gift, a present, something handed without effort landing on someone by chance. It’s unfair to those who know the stories behind their gifts. Sometimes I think that there is no truer gift than the gift to love, to love something so deeply that you pour yourself into it without measuring the efforts. The stories of geniuses are to me stories of love, and maybe if we dedicated ourselves as intensely as they did we would be gifted as well.
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17 comments:
I think you have a valid point:
The stories of geniuses are to me stories of love, and maybe if we dedicated ourselves as intensely as they did we would be gifted as well.
Wonderful insight in this piece. The gifts people are given amount to nothing, without the effort to cultivate them. A gift is like a seed, it must be nourished, and that takes resolve and diligent endeavor.
Great post! ;)
Those geniuses indeed gifted the mankind with their discoveries, inventions and innovations.
Thanks for making us think.
Your piece is a reminder that there are many varieties of gifts in life, some that are earned; others perhaps just lucky.
Nice post! Thought provoking piece!
At last a piece of prose! And what a thought provoking piece it is.A great read.
Very nice take on the prompt.
xo
Blue
I agree. Whatever is accomplished (geniuses or not) comes after thoughtful effort. Thanks for sharing the piece.
Very well said, and I really appreciate your musing about finding that place of giving from within, thank you!
Some of the bravest, most wonderful people in the whole world have nothing in things, but everything in life. I think you are so right on.
Hi Gilson! I really like what you wrote. It got me thinking. Gifts/talents still requires hard work and sacrifice and other hardships that might not be readily seen by those on the outside. And you're right about how we can diminish someone's hard work by simply calling it a gift. This was really insightful and interesting. And I also really like what you wrote about "no truer gift than the gift to love...". Really beautiful.
:)
Vc está no meu destino...
Tava escrito tudinho jah..=)!!
Duvida??
=D!!
Xeru coisa linda..
..
*
Thanks a lot for everyone’s comments. This take on the prompt is somehow inspired by my own recent saga of studying 8 hours of piano per day; which tends to show me that talents and gifts do count, but working hard counts a lot more and if people became aware of their own capabilities, learning to explore these capabilities would probably surprise them.
Oi Leila! Foi uma surpresa poder-te encontrar por lá, surpresa bem agradável por sinal. Bjo pra vc!
Hi Gilson! I stopped by to say 'hi' and see how things are going -- I hope you're having a really nice week!
:)
Hallo, Gilson!!!
Wie geht's???
Kd vc no Alemão 2???
Estamos sentindo sua falta!!!!
Küsse.
Hi Clare! Everything's fine, I hope all is doing well for you too! I've been so busy lately that I put the blog on hold. But I guess that happens every once in a while.
Oi Patrícia! Eu gostaria muito de ter continuado no alemão esse semestre, mas as aulas de piano caíram no mesmo horário. To morrendo de saudades. Manda um grande abraço para o pessoal!
Gifted you are!
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