Year 1, Day 52

What if you never had the opportunity or, worse yet, never took the risk to try something new that you were actually destined to do on this earth with absolute greatness? Could I have been an all star hockey player, or a competitive Chess player, or a famous artist, perhaps? I would never know, because I never played a game of hockey in my life, attempted any board game beyond checkers, and never had the knack to create anything more elaborate than stick figures . . . but what if, what if, my gift of absolute greatness was one of those things, and I never realized an inherent talent? Heck, maybe I could be a world class horse shoe thrower, but will just never know . . .

I was thinking of all this today because I visited the Basketball Hall of Fame with a dear friend, and we were surrounded by the best of the best. These players made a name for themselves through blood, sweat, tears . . . but when did they know they had a gift? Do you only become aware of exceptional talents when someone else sees it in you and believes in you? It got me thinking about my "failed" endeavors, or what I imagined were failures along the way: my inability to hit a golf club or any ball that is in motion and requires hand eye coordination, my lack of skill when it comes to making pottery on a wheelthrower, and my lack of rhythm that causes me issues in dance, song, and plenty of other areas in life.

So, I have tried these certain things and I am not gifted with a tremendous amount of talent in anything yet, but I still hold out hope that I can find that one true thing I was meant to be great at. Maybe it's too late for me? But Jackson should try everything he that interests him, and take risks even when he thinks he won't be any good for whatever reason he imagines.