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Status: Drafting the fourth book in the PERILOUS series!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

I'll show you mine if you show me yours

When I was in grade school, I remember the propaganda every adult and parent preached at us: "Everyone is good at something. You just have find what it is."

This statement always woke up my cynical side. I was quite certain I had no talent, and I was fairly sure half of the kids around me didn't, either.

Just goes to show you that teenagers DON'T know everything.

The other day I sat around with a dozen of my girlfriends (isn't it wonderful to have friends?) and we admired the beautiful baby blanket that one of them had sewed. Someone else mentioned that her photography business was picking up. Another showed us the diaper covers and headbands she was crocheting for her Etsy site. And we talked about how beautifully so-and-so sang in church that Sunday. All of this while we munched on the delicious chocolate-caramel brownies someone had brought.

I sat there with these ladies and felt a bit overwhelmed. "Wow!" I thought. "I can't sew. I can't crochet. My singing's nothing to honk about. I'll just keep my mouth shut before they realize I don't have any talents and don't fit in here."

And then, like an epiphany, it hit me. I'm a WRITER. That's a talent. It's MY talent. I have a PUBLISHED BOOK.

And then I felt so good about myself, sitting there among my talented friends, feeling talented. Isn't it awesome that God gave us all such different gifts??? Turns out all that adult talk was right, after all.

What's your talent??? You know you have one. Share! Let's see how many diverse talents we can find!

16 comments:

Stephanie Faris said...

Yep. I've been saying that since I was 20! We excel in the areas where we apply ourselves and you and I have decided to apply ourselves to writing. It's all in what makes you happy.

Joanna St. James said...

I am the best shower singer ever! even writing comes 2nd to that. okay seriously my mom told me the best thing about me is the fact that anywhere I go people just know me, even if I don't make friends and its true I went to 5 HS. I hope this translates into the pub world.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

This is funny because I imagine those friends of yours feel like you have all the talent. A published author. Many people are in awe of such a thing.

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

You have an excellent talent. Heck, if I were a published author,I'd probably put it on a t-shirt.

DL Hammons said...

When I see you Friday, remind me to tap you on the back of the head and say...."DUH!"

:)

Ann Best said...

My disabled daughter, with only one good arm and hand, can't do a lot of the things she could before her accident, such as cross stitching and arts and craft, which she really loved. And because her brain was injured, she can't write stories anymore, because the analytical part of her brain was damaged enough that we can't pull details together the way you have to when you write.

BUT, she has a GREAT gift of friendship. I think sometimes we look at the big things, like writer, artist, doctor, musician that we all talk about so much, and forget about the "talents of friendship, good humor, etc. etc.

Thanks, Tamara, for making me think of this.
And I'm now that I'm back from my 3-dat break from care giving, I'm starting to do catch up on what everyone's doing. I'm so excited for you with the upcoming promotion of your book. YOU have the gift to be very excited about life, and right now about your published book. Hooray for you!!
Ann

Lisa Miles said...

Karen's probably right. Your friends probably think you're the talented one (and you are!). My talent is writing too:)

Christine Danek said...

I agree with Karen and DL. They are thinking you have all the talent and DUH! :) I'm not sure what my talent is. I like to write. Whether I'm good or not is another question, but it makes me feel so good.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Joanna--lol, that is an awesome talent! Feel the envy!

Dominique--that's a good idea. a t-shirt. w/ the website. better yet,a link to buy the book. :)

Ann-- what a nice reminder!

Christine--I get nervous every time I see your goodreads status. :)

Terri Tiffany said...

I think each of us has a talent that we don't even count--like making others feel good, or being a great listener etc. Those count too:)
I always wanted to be a painter, and then a musician and then a dancer etc. When I finally followed my love of writing, I did feel like I had a talent like those:)

Talli Roland said...

We all have talents - and sometimes we're the last to recognise them! Yay for writing and yay to you for being published!

Aaron and Emily said...

Sometimes you have to Recognize that you have that talent. Tamara, did you know you have one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard? You are an amazing singer, so don't give us that bull honky about not being able to sing.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Em,I just knew you were going to say something! LOl. It's not that I can't sing.It's just not anything special!

Anonymous said...

This is a difficult one. I have way too many to list haha!!

Amber said...

Your blog looked different when I first went to it...anyway, great post! I know that feeling. Always trying to find more talents so I don't have that feeling! I'd say...I crochet. and make cards. and you cook! You gotta claim that!

Don said...

I gots me a little singing and some instrumentation and maybe a touch of comedy. Writing has come late to the party, but it may actually be the one I'm best at.

And my kids think I'm an okay daddy.

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