Not too long ago, a friend proposed the idea that I might be "gifted" and suggested that I connect with a dear friend of hers, a life coach whose focus is gifted children and their parents. I was rather surprised to think that I might be gifted. Honestly, the idea had never entered my mind. I was used to thinking of myself as a lot of things, but never gifted.
Once I connected with Lisa, and we began to talk, I started sharing some of my thoughts and feelings with her. I didn't hide anything. I didn't hide the things about myself that I see as negatives. Her response to me was, "That's classic in gifted people."
It has taken time to adjust to the idea. As I've continued to communicate with Lisa and research what it means to be gifted I find myself becoming much kinder to myself.
Today, I was reading a couple of online articles about being gifted. I found one on the Talent Development Resources site, and the other on the Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted site.
I noticed that both articles said very similar things in their descriptions of the gifted adult. Both articles described traits of a gifted person, addressing the postive and the negative of each characteristic. One of the articles mentioned that the people on whom the article was based exhibited three of the traits discussed.
I recognized myself in both articles. Each trait described is one that I exhibit. Not one or two or three. All of them.
As I continue to research what it means to be gifted, I'm beginning to realize that the isolation I've felt my whole life, the sense of being a weird sort of freakish, high-maintenance and needy person doesn't mean that there's something inherently wrong with me. It doesn't mean I'm crazy. It means I'm gifted.
That's such a load off my shoulders. I'm still amazed by the whole thing. But I'm also sensing a freedom that is new and delightful.
So, what about you? Have you ever considered that perhaps you, too, are gifted?
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2 comments:
I never considered myself gifted until a family therapist we were seeing suggested it. I mean, my oldest son is obviously gifted, and so is my husband (jury is still out on son #2, but he's like me, so I suspect his gifts are hiding), but I never considered myself gifted. Then I met Lisa and she made more noises toward that. I did some reading and...yeah, I suppose I can see that. I just hid it so well that I couldn't see it either. I'm still coming to grips with it. Easier to deal with my son's giftedness (or twice-exceptionalities) than my own.
Thanks for sharing your story with me, Jen. My prayer for you is that you'll find delight and freedom in embracing your own giftedness.
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