Talents and Gifts

Here's a fantastic quote that I came across...

"If you have a talent use it in every way possible. Don't hoard it. Don't dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke."
-B. Francis

This quote tugged on my heart strings...I found it on a calendar from 1996 and it just happened to be placed in September's page...my birth month. Freaky? No. A sign that I'm on the right path? Synchronicity? Maybe.

Do you have a talent? Don't say "no!" Everyone has a gift but many people just don't know what their gift is. My daughter is 8 years old. I have been noticing lately that she has a beautiful singing voice. I noticed it a few months ago when I overheard her singing "America the Beautiful" in the next room. I was impressed, but wondered if maybe I just had a biased opinion. I heard her singing again and again and started paying close attention. I really do believe that maybe she's gifted musically. I keep encouraging her to sing for me, but she won't...that makes her nervous. So I am not pressuring her. I told her that one day when she's ready maybe she can sing for me. Meanwhile I'm trying to explain to her that she has a gift and she needs to share it with the world.

I explained to her that not singing would be like me not painting. Please understand that I'm not trying to brag. My daughter is one of my biggest fans. I had to put things into context for her so she could see my point. I wanted her to toy with the thought, "What if mommy, who I believe to be a really good artist, wouldn't dare paint a picture for me?" I hope that maybe using this tactic will get her to see that she shouldn't be embarrassed by her voice...she should share it!! Share your gifts! If you don't know what your gift is then search your soul - what are your hobbies? Your interests? How do you like to spend your free time?

Having trouble figuring out what your gift might be? I like to help people figure this out by telling them to think of their life this way...What if you truly didn't have to worry about money? You somehow managed to have enough money to sustain yourself and your family for the rest of your lives. What would you do with your time? Now be serious...don't make a joke like, "Heck I'd travel the world!!" Maybe you would and maybe you could...but sooner or later you'd have to come home. What would you do then? How would you spend your time? Gardening? Singing? Painting? Decorating? Building? Organizing? Helping children? Helping Senior Citizens?

Seriously think about it and see what you come up with.

Let me leave you with a link to one of my favorite inspirational websites
French Toast Girl:

Click the link below - it will take you a page of her site where she has a great short story that will leave you with lots of thoughts of yourself, your life and how you are living each day!

Paint Me

Jane - A Painting Mom