Talents

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “You need never feel inferior. You need never feel that you were born without talents or without opportunities to give them expression. Cultivate whatever talents you have and they will grow and refine and become an expression of your true self appreciated by others.” (from his book, One Bright Shining Hope) .

“Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known.” D & C 60:13

Too many people feel that because they can’t play an instrument, or they can’t dance or sing, that they have no talent. I can’t do any of those things but I consider myself very talented. I have a talent for putting others at ease, for being a good listener, for seeing what others need and trying to provide it, for showing my love for others, for being a good friend, etc. There are so many other talents. So, let’s have some fun with this one.

Make a list of all the things you are good at and/or enjoy doing. Could you do it professionally? Would you want to? For instance, I love to arrange flowers. I could be a florist (but would I want to? No). I love to plan parties. I could be a wedding planner (hum, I actually think I'd have fun doing that...unless the bride had her own ideas of what she wanted ... nevermind.) You get the idea.

(I won First Place in my division and a "Special Award" for overall best entry for my floral arrangement and table setting at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club's Flower Show)

Letter to My Younger Self:

When I was sixteen, I wrote a letter to myself to be read when I turned twenty-one. Then when I was twenty-one, I wrote a letter to myself to be read when I turned thirty. It was interesting to see what was important to me and what I thought I would be doing at the next stage of my life – compared to what I was “actually” doing. It never occurred to me to write a letter to my “younger” self. However, after reading “What I know Now” I’ve been thinking about what advice I would give to myself if I could go back in time knowing what I know now.

I would talk to my thirty-year-old self and say, “you are NOT fat, you are NOT stupid, you are NOT dorky. Quit comparing yourself to what you think you should be. Enjoy the piece of chocolate that is in your mouth right now instead of thinking about what you’re going to choose to eat next, and after that. There is always going to be someone who is better looking than you, thinner than you, smarter than you, and richer than you – don’t even think about them. Focus on your own talents and continually look for ways to share that talent with others. Don’t dwell on the past. Don’t dwell on the future. Live in the present – because really, that’s what each day is - a present (gift). Open it with enthusiasm in the morning and put it away each night looking forward to what tomorrow morning will bring you (what new challenge? What new opportunity?). Do everything you do to the best of your ability. You are stronger than you think. Don't let fear hold you back. The consequences of all that you fear are not nearly as bad as the regret of what is missed while standing on the sidelines. You are better than you think you are and you will accomplish more than you ever thought possible.”

I thought I was fat because when I watched the Miss America pageants the contestants that were my height (5’9”) weighed 115 lbs and I weighed 135 lbs. I thought I had no talents because I couldn’t sing, dance or play the piano (I didn’t know being thoughtful, kind, and a good listener were talents). I thought I was stupid because I had a short-term memory. I did well in school until it came time for finals at the end of the year. I had to study all the material over again because I couldn’t remember what I had learned at the beginning of the semester. I thought I was a dork because most of my friends were dorks (I was always nice to the kids that the other kids picked on). Now I look at photos of my younger self and want to kick my butt.