Talentd enough

People who know me best know I'm sarcastic. Talentdmrripley is the furthest thing from a pat of my own back, but rather, a snarky, tongue-in-cheek self assessment. (And a blantant rip off of a movie starring Matt Damon.) In no way do I throw it out there as a moniker to be taken seriously.

It's a 15-letter, made up word which speaks volumes based on the misconception that I'm either talented, or very impressed with my own abundance of said talent. It's sarcastic, which makes it fun, but only for me.

It's not to say I don't wish to be talented. I do. Who doesn't want that? To be a gifted musician or singer, an artist, or writer, a businessman, physician, or scientist. But from where I'm standing, the expanse between wanting something to be true about yourself and the spot where true talent is realized can be far too distant.

Or maybe it's too much work.

So cheat. Bridge the gap by merely saying something is so: like having talent. Now, I'm talented because I say am.

Do you believe it? Do I believe it?

True talent is beautiful -- possibly even divine. There's never a doubt when confronted with true talent. You know it when you see it, or read it, or hear it, or taste it, or smell it, or touch it. True talent stimulates and energizes something in us that I believe is the essence of life itself. It reminds us that, though, we are merely flesh and blood, there's so much more residing in the wells of our spirits and souls.

Our heart might keep us alive, but alone, it can never switch us on. True talent shakes our very core, and isn't even shy about it, imprinting the experience on our soul forever.

I believe I know talent, but remain unsure if I'm in possession of it, or have the courage to secure it. I must try, though, even if it's a joke.

My friend Lisa W shared a quote last month that I love, yet still hard to equip:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson