time and talent

the good news is that this week watching the voice i did NOT see a vacuum commercial :)  so there's no rant on the way....instead just an observation about how many different kinds of talent there are out there...and always wanting what you dont have.

i wonder if everyone who can't sing really wishes they could?  i know i do.... i think a large part of my love for music stems from my admiration of people with that kind of talent...since i have absolutely NO musical ability whatsoever.....and its interesting because my oldest sister CAN SING... i mean really sing....but she's never had any desire to sing in pubic....so very few people know that about her....which i think is crazy.  if i could sing, you better believe i would out there at least kicking some ass at karoake :)

anyhow, i'm intrigued by how people use their talent and the ways in which they evolve.  jake, much like me, loves music and has zero ability in that area.....but he is incredibly talented as a writer and an actor....which in my mind is where his "art" lies.....luke can rap and beatbox - which cracks me up - but is shy about it....and josh is just plain artistic - he draws, he writes, he makes movies, and he sings - but just a little.....now me, i'm a blossoming writer, and a doodler of the first order, but i think my real creative talent is all IDEA based....i can think of some really cool things - i just dont often have the skill set to bring them to life.....but its fun to try- and i love that all of my kids have some kind of art in them

Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul - and you answer.  ~Terri Guillemets

i spend a lot of time telling my kids that you dont get to be great at everything....everyone has different talents and its where we focus our TIME that makes the difference.....for my boys, they have focused their TIME on sports.....they play something everyday - and that is their "talent" of choice.....if jake wants to be a better writer, then he has to write everyday....same with luke and his music....now josh is my only equal opportunity artist....he plays his sports but he also is pretty focused on whatever project he has working at the time....but hes also younger - i'm sure at some point one will start to take precedence over the other.....but maybe not....the only thing i know that as his time gets more limited he will have to decide where to spend it.....its the age old "jack of all trades, master of none" theory.....it seems like today we are continually being pushed to just focus on one thing.....instead of the whole big picture....

and i'm torn over whether thats the right answer or not....which is probably why i'm always such a basket case....because clearly there are some time challenges when you try to focus on lots of things at once.....i just usually think its worth it.  but its hard to encourage your kids to do that when it seems like life is always going a thousand miles an hour....i do believe its important though....just because you may not be as good as drawing as you are at sports, doesn't mean you shouldnt draw...it just means that if you want to get better at it, you need to make time for it....or you just need to accept that drawing is a fun hobby and that you are never going to be the next picasso.....and that's FINE too...again, we cant all be great at everything....where's the fun in that?

i went into a cute little shop today, looking for mothers day presents, and saw some of the coolest handmade jewelry and  pottery all made by local artists......and all i could think was, i could probably do that if i wanted to....and i could....i'm crafty and have gone thru the whole twisted metal/bead thing....i LOVE to make things...and when i had more time it was something i indulged in....i was never especially great at it, but i enjoyed it and sometimes i ended up with some pretty interesting things (like the wine bottle opener people)....the point is, when my time got a little more constrained, the sports remained and the crafts fell by the wayside....because my true talent and passion lies in athletics.....and i'm good with that.
that is where i have chosen to spend my time consistently....and at the end of the day its what i'm best at.

watching those contestants on the voice you realize that THEIR passion for music has obviously taken precedence over their other talents....but i'm sure they have them.  its all a give and take relationship.....there are a billion well rounded people on earth who are pretty good at lots of things...but to be truly extraordinary at just ONE takes focus and drive and commitment.  not that there is anything bad about that.....i just think that most of us would probably rather be pretty good at a lot, rather than just amazing at one....but maybe thats just me.

i hope my boys will continue to do as much as they can with all of the gifts they've been given - i hope jake continues to write and act....i hope luke goes out for unplugged next year and explores that side of his personality....and i hope josh continues to make movies and tell stories.....and i hope they all continue to love their sports.....because the nice thing about having a crazy mom is that i'm not expecting them to set the world on fire with any one thing....i just want them to have fun with whatever they find they are good at and that makes them happy.  i'm a giant believer in juggling and doing as much as you can in the time you have.....because you never know what opportunity will be waiting around the next corner.....and just because sports were my choice doesnt mean it should be theirs. 

there are so many amazing ways to spend your time.....true stewardship is giving back OF yourself....dedicating your time and talents to enriching your life, your community and your world.....in the christian definition its understanding that our lives are God's gift to us, and how we live is our gift to God....using our time, talent & treasure to serve others.  on a smaller scale what it means is that we should be the best US that we can be.....and that we need to explore all the different gifts we have and how we can use them to bring about joy in ourselves and in those around us.  its a very cool concept when you think about it.....its not just about using the ONE gift you have that you are REALLY good at....its about using them all in whatever ways you can.  so just because art isnt my best thing, doesn't mean i cant still use it - altho i can promise you you wont be hearing me sing anytime soon (unless you sit in the front row of spinning :)

its up to us to both BE GENEROUS AND HOPEFUL and to teach our

children to LIVE GENEROUSLY AND HOPEFULLY!!  to use THEIR time and talents to be the best they can be and to make their slice of the world better as well. 

Use what talents you possess; The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. - william blake