I HAVE GIFTS? SERIOUSLY! WHAT ARE THEY?
I am excited to be participating in the launch of a new website for women called Girly Gazette. This week they are celebrating us, as women, and challenging us to recognize ourselves and our talents. They are promoting POSITIVITY and I am all about that. (Because in all actuality, negativity doesn’t really get you anywhere.)
Today they are challenging us to talk about our gifts and how we are applying them to our life.
What is your gift? Think about this…what brings you joy in life? What have you always been drawn to doing? Do you have a natural knack for a certain activity or talent? Post about your gifts or what you think they are. Now…
What are you doing with those gifts?
I have thought about this question all day. Seriously. When I look at myself I have never thought of my “gifts.” I know that I am “good” at things but I never thought that I had a gift per se. So I asked different people what they thought my gifts were. Unexpectedly the things that bring me the most joy in my life, what gives me the most happiness as I am doing them, could actually be my gifts.
Creativity.
That is my best gift. I have always been drawn to creating things. Whether is was abstract, bright or complex I have found the most peace when I am sitting down and putting my creativity to good use. Whether it be working on my family’s scrapbook, creating cards for my long distance family from scratch, designing a new website or graphic, taking photos, etc… It has been creativity that has brought me extreme joy.
But with that comes my second gift.
Connecting with people.
I love connecting with people. I love connecting people to other people. Since I was in elementary school I have always formed some kind of club. Whether it was an exclusive secret society when I was 10 to an online community for women when I was 26 I have always loved creating places for people to come together.
There have been so many times in my life that I have been outcasted for not fitting in or fitting “the mold” that I often retreated and found solace in being by myself. My entire philosophy on this was “if I didn’t let anyone in, I couldn’t be hurt.” No matter how much I may claim that I like being “left alone” or being to myself, I really am a people person. I enjoy talking to other women who I have things in common with. I love connecting women together who otherwise would have never met.
What am I doing with those gifts?
I’m putting 100% of my gifts into Penny Pinching Diva. I am being creative in the way that I design this website and in the way that I write my articles. I am connecting with women and also connecting women together, both through my blog and through my social network, that wouldn’t have otherwise found each other online. I am forming friendships and helping to form friendships. I am doing what makes me the happiest and I enjoy it SO much.
So I’m challenging you, my readers to answer:
What are your gifts? What are you doing with those gifts?
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Well done! This is what every “Girly” needs: a better appreciation of ourselves and a push to channel our efforts to put our gifts to good use. I like it!
Dear SOFnFREE,
Thank you SO much for your comment. I feel as women we underappreciate ourselves. Especially when we have families, children and a relationship to worry about. Not to mention the fifty other things that we juggle on a daily basis. I never once thought about my gifts until I saw this post and I have to say that I hope that I can continue to put them to good use.
Take care,
Shynea
That is the age old question that I have asked myself for years and have even created a poem about. Is it clear to me? No, but I do know what I am very passionate about and what I love. I believe that one of my gifts is writing. With this gift I have begun to take an active roll in my blog again. I also love to write poetry which I am creating a book of poetry and starting a blog to promote it. I enjoy creating things and helping people. Therefore, I have started a company which created business documents taylored to fit the business. this falls in line with my passion for teaching. I think this is a start, but I pray everyday that this is the path that God has laid out for me to follow and not one that I have created for myself. I think that I am follow his path because it feels so right! Thank you for this post!
Dear Shannon,
It’s good that you have been able to take your gifts and turn it into something that you like to do. Doesn’t it make you feel good to put your gifts to good use.
Take care,
Shynea
Shynea, Great Job! I will definitely be looking out for Girly Gazette.
One of the reasons I started my website was to continue to use my graphic design abilities. In my previous life as an architectural designer I did all the signage and maps for a PGA tournament, designed shops and other interesting projects. I occasionally design interiors for my friends and family, although not nearly as much as I would like. One of my major frustrations since becoming a full-time mom is feeling like I am not able to use my gifts nearly as much as I would like to. I had originally planned to continue my career at home, but the opportunity fell through and I cannot afford the $6,000+ computer software I would require. I know as my son gets older it will be easier to find the time and money to do the things I enjoy…and maybe I will even discover new ways to use my talents that I never would have thought of. It is difficult being patient, but I know that someday I will get there, and when I do I will not regret all the time I was able to spend with my little boy
Dear Jennifer,
Isn’t it amazing how having children will make our former life seem like a thing of the past? I made a lot of personal sacrafices for my children, including staying at home for over two years to be a SAHM. Although back then I looked at is as being a chore, I’m now SO happy that I made that decision. I was there for all of my two baby boys first and I beyond active in my two oldest sons school life.
I would love to see some of your interior design work. Like I said before, you are very talented.
Take care,
Shynea
I don’t know if I can answer that question. I am 31 years old and I still don’t know what my gift is. Your gift and ability to put your gift to good use, has been amazing. You are very creative and when you say that you have brought women together, you are right. Thank you again for all that you have done for all of us!!
Dear Priscilla,
I don’t believe. I feel you know what your gift is, your just too shy to say it.
I know that you love your job and that you work for a catering company. Could that be your gift? I know that you are TOO talented to say that you have no idea. Now, I’m going to bug you until you figure it out. lol
Take care,
Shynea
Shynea, you have such talent and I truly admire it. It’s funny how other people can recognize the gifts that we don’t even see in ourselves. I’m like Priscilla…Still don’t know what my gift is. I’m glad that you are using your gifts to do great things!!!
Dear K.O.,
I don’t believe you don’t have gifts. I know that you are talented at something and I am going to push you just like I’m going to push Priscilla to help you find them and use them.
Take care,
Shynea
>>There have been so many times in my life that I have been outcasted for not fitting in or fitting “the mold” that I often retreated and found solace in being by myself. My entire philosophy on this was “if I didn’t let anyone in, I couldn’t be hurt.” No matter how much I may claim that I like being “left alone” or being to myself, I really am a people person. I enjoy talking to other women who I have things in common with. I love connecting women together who otherwise would have never met.<<
This is exactly the story of my life. I am constantly in conflict between my desire to connect with others and my anxiety that they will reject me. I know it's all about just changing my thinking, but that's so easy to say and so hard to do. Glad I'm not the only one who struggles with it.
Dear Adrian,
I still have this phobia. Sometimes I can be so reclusive that I just make myself go out and be social. And then again, I feel like I can be just as social online depending on what I’m doing. I always second guess and doubt myself, but I have learned that rejection is a part of life and not everyone will always like me. (Which isn’t a problem. lol)
Take care,
Shynea
You are such a gift! I am honored to know you, Shynea and even more honored that you are sharing your life with us.
You are a diva – embrace it! I love your honesty and unless you are asked point blank to talk about yourself you are so humble! I love that about you. You are always thinking of others and your passion is amazing.
I really can’t say enough about you that you haven’t covered! You do have gifts and you rock!!!