Can you remember when you were in school and there was always this one student who was the smartest one in class? They always finished their work first, got A's and 100% with exclamations like "WOW!" "Great Job!" with the little :0) on it. I was not that student.
In fact I remember in 2nd grade every week the teacher had a coloring contest. We colored a different picture every week and the best ones were placed above the chalk board with a small red, green or blue star sticker placed next to the students name. I was bound and determined to have my picture up there. I focused and dedicated all my efforts to color an absolutely beautiful and perfect picture, yet to no avail! There was this one kid, "The Smart Kid" who every week had his picture up there. So I studied his work to try to decipher what made his work special. I noticed that he outlined everything in black so as to make all the other colors stand out. So I tried that, I even practiced at home and even thought, "OK this is it, it's really good." I wanted my work to have a place of honor and special recognition just like his. I needed to feel special. Well, as you can undoubtedly guess, I NEVER did get my work posted above the chalk board with the little red, green or blue star placed next to my name. I was crushed!
That experience was the first of many that taught me that some of us will always struggle to "just get by". Year after year I watched as there were those who seemed to grasp complicated concepts with the greatest of ease while I would pour over the material reading and rereading or fighting to memorize something that everyone else had solidly fixed in mind two grades ago. With all that effort my highest grade that I can recall was a B in English everything else, C's, AVERAGE! What happens to someone who spends their entire childhood and young adult life with that sort of experience? ...
What of the person who, because of inborn ability and natural talent has great success in all they do? What happens to them?...
My brother is one of those "Smart People". He's 5 years my junior and was born with all the right stuff. I remember one day he came home from school with report card in hand and tears streaming down his face. He was devastated over one of his grades. He got a B in Handwriting. HANDWRITING? HANDWRITING?! I was so angry at him, how could he be so upset over a B in HANDWRITING? Of course I was immature and he was my little brother so my reaction was not really appropriate(he had set high standards for himself and when he didn't measure up he was disappointed in himself, I get it now)but the experience sort of illustrates my feelings about a situation that occurred recently.
I was sharing a lovely meal with some good friends and acquaintances, and we were engaged in a lovely conversation about life, work, past, present and future. Among the group were a few "Smart People". Among them one such "Smart Person" expressed, with an almost giddy delight, the joy she experienced at her job. She spoke of the endless doors that had been opened to her, the opportunity she was enjoying to enrich her life and be challenged as a person and learn more about her craft. As I listened intently I couldn't help but fell a bit of envy over her experiences. She did indeed work hard to gain the credentials she needed to do well, and I admired her for her dedication and her work ethic. Her motto was "Get paid the most for the least amount of work". OK, that could be taken as a sort of greedy attitude but I don't believe her to be such. I like to say, "Work smart not hard". The idea of being the most efficient and productive you can be is wise. But when she started to lose me was when she spoke of making sure that you know your worth and that you should demand they pay such. Yes, of course you need to know your worth but you will find that not everyone will see your worth nor will they treat you or give you your due. Now apply that to the job market. The vast majority of those in the work force are not being paid their worth. (Because the corporate giants of this corrupt system are being paid far more than their worth! But that's another subject)
Then she said something that made me flush with resentment. She boldly asserted that all a person needs to do is "follow your bliss and doors will open up to you that would be open to no one else". (A cute phrase she has posted on her bathroom mirror) She elaborated with, "I've seen time and time again that when you just put it out there, what you want comes to you." YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
It began to occur to me that she must have had so much come easy to her. Mind you that I take nothing away from the hard work she put into her career. I believe she did indeed earn her position and was well qualified. But this is a girl who got her picture placed up above the chalk board with the red, green or blue sticker next to her name. She was told her whole life, "Wow" "Great Job" :0).
Again I wish to be clear, I take nothing away from her hard work and dedication. But I assure you that just to "put it out there" or to "know your worth" or "following your bliss" will not insure that you will find the job or career or even the life that brings you ecstasy! We are not all alike, some of us were not born with great intelligence, fantastic talents, or even just the gift of self-confidence. Therefore most of us will fight, struggle, agonize and claw our way through life to just get by.
So please, if your one of those "Smart People", the kind that many things, be they understanding or opportunities come plentiful, be grateful, consider yourself blessed. And never ever judge another for what they 'fail' to possess in this life as if they chose to be who or what they are. None of us can know whether or not someone is living up to their potential. Only God can do that.
I still color from time to time and I love it. I think my work is beautiful and I DON'T outline everything in black! I no longer need anyone to tell me "Wow, Great Job" I already know it. But I don't expect to win awards nor be paid handsomely for my work either. It's just the way life is for ME. For now anyway. One day there will be nothing to prevent me from doing and having the life I've always wanted. A life that will be filled with not just temporary enjoyment of job or career but an eternity of ecstasy in all that I do!
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