My smile said it all

From an early age, I had a talent for playing sports.

I could be the goalie in soccer as much as I could be the one who scores the goal.

I picked up a tennis racket at age 8 and won a free-throw contest by the time I was 10.

When it came to recess, I was the captain of a kickball team (even the boys wanted me to be captain) or I ruled the tetherball court.

My softball prowess was probably where I excelled the most — playing shortstop and left field until I graduated high school.

I didn’t have private lessons or fancy shoes.

Everything I brought to every game was something I was born with and because I had to work very little, I loved it.

My greatest joy comes from doing things that accentuate my gifts.

You have talents too

Everyone has something we are really good at, no matter where we come from.

Maybe you sing — even in the shower.

Perhaps you are the artist or the fashion designer.

Or you have a knack for figuring out puzzles or organizing events.

Most of our talents are something we can trace back to a single thing…

A moment when we felt like we belonged there.

An activity that seemed so effortless.

Something we forgot about long ago.

Because within those talents lies a fear…

A fear of greatness.

“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

No talent is found in fear.

Happiness isn’t either.

Being who we are

We are much too critical of ourselves.

Wanting to be happy yet never believing we have the ability to make ourselves happy.

But ask yourself this, “When are we happiest?”

When we are doing something we do really well.

As we share our talents with the world, we become free of the walls we have hidden behind for some time.

Understanding that who we are isn’t defined by who we are not is our greatest achievement.

Our strengths never overshadow our weaknesses.

They each hold their place.

Some of our talents can be learned through practice.

Others do not come with an explanation.

The talents we are born with are a part of our purpose.

Find happiness

When I was younger, I didn’t want attention.

I still don’t.

Hiding the shadows was something I did really well.

It was comfortable there.

Then, I realized just how selfish I was being and what a disservice I was doing to the people in this world.

Happiness came when I stopped thinking about me…

When I could just be me.

Feeling free of everything I tried to run from and dismiss.

Letting go of negativity and embracing the good things instead.

Some would say we choose to be happy…

…and I might choose to agree on some days.

The truth is that I became happier when I found the courage to be seen.

Just as I am.

Complete with every God-given talent.

Michelle A. Homme