January/February 2003
Feature Articles
Holistic Health Q & A
by Dr. Ruth E. Bradley
Of quantum physics, vibrational energy
and the power of our thoughts.
The Treasures of the Amazon Rainforest
by Lenny Rader
The story of the pioneers who uncovered
the real treasures of the Amazon: healing, life-enhancing plants.
What is... Human Growth Hormone?
by Marjorie Williams
Research proves natural growth hormone
to be powerful anti-aging weapon that helps reduce body fat, increase energy
and much more.
UnCommon Sense!
by David Findlay
The War on Terrorism.
Articles on the theme "Talents & Abilities"
A Misuse of Talents & Abilities
by Lela Lilyquist and John R. Lee MD
How the Medical Establishment has been
corrupted, becoming a pawn of the drug companies.
Every Child Can Sing
by Barbara Bedingfield
An education that brings out the innate
abilities in every child.
Developing Musical Ability
by Bob & Claire Franki
Regardless of natural talent, it is
training that enables musical ability in children to shine.
Your Genius
by Linda Gaylord
Ways to discover and develop your unique
talents and gifts.
From Russia with Passion
by Oksana Kolesnikova
A talented young pianist and composer's
personal story.
Nature versus Nurture
by Charles Larsen
We all have talents and abilities,
but some are less obvious than others.
Nature versus Nurture
by Charles Larsen
On report cards many years ago there was a section which rated how nearly the child was performing up to his/her abilities. Invariably I received a check under the heading of NOT WORKING UP TO ABILITY. To my child's mind it seemed indicative of some serious moral flaw since my school work was not up to my abilities. No one ever explained how one's abilities were determined, especially in those far ago days.
A certain fascination with words, as well as ability to put words together seems to have been present in me since earliest memory. The discovery of Ernest Hemingway's work in a San Francisco bookstore was inspirational to me as I wrote stories in cramped quarters on board ship. He, I felt, was a most wonderful writer. When he suicided my feelings were mixed sadness for this man whose work had such an impact upon me, also a sense of being cheated. No longer would he spin yarns to reach deep into the soul. He was guilty of talenticide. It then appeared that he lacked the character of his indomitable Santiago, of "the old man and the sea." All these years later, with the benefit of age and acceptance, it seems that perhaps he did, in his own unique way, live up to and surpass Santiago. Like the old Cuban fisherman fighting the great fish, he fought the literary establishment. He won. Then due to illness and depression, was unable to see his own accomplishments and abilities clearly. Perhaps he took control the only way he could.
In the newspaper we often read of a given actor's talents, or, since the athlete is more mythical than anyone in our culture, the talent of those practitioners of baseball and the like who excel. Interestingly, when the accomplishments of certain more reviled professionals are spoken of it is not in terms of a positive talent, but as a conniving person or slick person. When a teenager dies we hear of his/her talent and abilities being unrealized.
Some argue that there is no such thing as talent. Or, conversely, that all have talent and it is only the development of that talent or ability that makes a difference. The argument about nature versus nurture rises up when experts speak about abilities and talents. Are we all potential Hemingways? Are we all potential (age and size taken into consideration) Warren Sapps? If the teachers had acknowledged my efforts to produce good work more positively would I have worked up to my abilities?
When you think of your talents, those inherent abilities which seemed to have always been present, it may be discouraging. Hemingway could write the perfect sentence. Most of us, even if we ape his arduous reworking of sentences, cannot do so. Nor can we speak as eloquently as did John Kennedy or Martin Luther King.
So what is talent? The dictionary states it is a natural ability or skill. Do all of us have such a quality? It would seem that ability and talent are basically the same, in this definition, for you have the ability due to having the talent as a natural quality. Now we complicate matters by asking what natural ability is. The dictionary says natural ability is that which is present without human intervention. In general the terms may more usefully be used to speak of acquired as well as inherent qualities.
What of the person who labors daily at work that is considered menial by the elitists of our society. Is he a person who has not any natural ability or skill? Look carefully. That person has a natural talent or ability if you frame them carefully. The work they do would not be really possible for many who become so-called professionals. It is not going to be the focus of a national educational thrust as scientific pursuits were after Sputnik. But they have the ability to get up each day and go to do tasks which seem to offer little gratification to many. They are called upon to do this due to circumstances they could not control or perhaps by choice. Their talent seems to be the ability to rise up each day and do the work, and sometimes feel the derision of others. This is evident in the use of the Yiddish word, schlepper, which literally means porter, but has become a term of disparagement. What would we do without the people willing to find meaning in their work, however humble. Santiago, after all, was an uneducated fisherman who represented nobility and character.
To the little boy who received the report card indicating that he was not working up to his abilities one could say that, given all the circumstances at the time, he probably was working up to those abilities. To the despairing writer one might feel the real crime was that he did not realize his own abilities and talents then again, perhaps he simply wanted to write his own ending in the face of illness and psychological difficulties. In those tens of millions who go to so-called menial jobs day in and day out one sees a talent and ability to live life appreciatively.
In doing life reviews with dying cancer patients I often discovered, with them, talents, abilities, and accomplishments they had been unaware of or had dismissed as of little significance. It seems that we all have talents and abilities, not necessarily clear to others or ourselves, and that we would do well to try to understand those gifts.
Charles Larsen L.C.S.W. has been practicing psychotherapy
and hypnosis for over thirty years. St. Petersburg FL (727) 894-3088. E-mail:
harrymorgan@earthlink.net.
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