GREATNESS

Have you ever thought about the things you are truly good at?

Most everyone has at least one thing they surpass being average. Some folks can seemingly talk to animals, knowing how to make them comfortable and happy. Some folks can fix things as easy as breathing, repairing and restoring just about anything, all the while, making you feel silly you couldn't. It SEEMED easy right?? Some people can understand computers like they were wired themselves. Nothing is too complicated or impossible to complete. Some can paint a picture where the rest of us have trouble with a straight line. Some have athletic gifts such as speed, agility or the sheer size to compete in a sport such as football, basketball or water polo. Some can even speak to people and inspire them to be more than they ever imagined.

Sometimes, we can make ourselves great through practice and passion. We spend thousands of hours getting it wrong until we can get it right consistently. Again and again and again, practice until you could do it blindfolded. That's one way.

And then there are the lucky ones. The people who can play a piano the first time they see it. Or the ones who can take a picture that looks like a postcard. Or those that can imitate someone you know so closely that you can hardly tell who is who. They just have the gift. They could hit a baseball no matter who threw it. They could cure your plumbing issues almost like they could see through the pipes. Lucky....

I don't know about you, but I had no such gifts. It seemed like everything came hard. Some things, no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much practice I put in, I never got all that good. I loved to play tennis but I never was much of a competitive player. Playing pool? I stink but I still love it after playing hundreds of times. As much as I enjoyed cars, I never got to be a fine mechanic. Just didn't have it I guess. I'm not complaining though. The few things I DID get good at, I'm sure I appreciate it more.

Bowling was one of the few things I did better than average. Not only did I enjoy the competition, I liked the fact that most folks couldn't throw the ball like I could. I've had a couple of perfect games and averaged over 210 for a season in leagues years ago. Good times...

Being an insurance agent also seemed to be in my wheelhouse. It came easy and natural, once I put in the effort to learn what the heck I needed to do. While I give some credit to being successful on being a newly married man wanting to provide, most of the credit goes to seeing a small bit of glory and wanting more. For once in my life, I wasn't average.

It seemed like everything I did, I was VERY average. Grades in school, athletic ability, brain-power... average average average. I was tired of that label, even if I put it on myself. When you get a taste of winning or doing better than anyone, it's like dessert on an empty stomach. Heavenly....

I hope everyone would feel that way at least once in their life. Once to feel like king of the world. One time to feel like a champion. At least one time you feel untouchable. One time, at least.

What are YOU great at?