Tag: philosophy

Coffee Thought

Talents: Genetic or Learnt?

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see.” 
― Arthur Schopenhauer

My thought today is about talent. Lets define it first.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary it is a special and usually inborn ability. It is  a special often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude or a  general intelligence or mental power  also called  ability. The natural endowments of a person.  Synonyms aptitude, bent, endowment, faculty, flair, genius, gift, head, knack.

Are Talents genetic or learnt?

Perhaps, both. Whether we are aware of it or not, we all have a talent. There is a potential that if parents are artists, the children can be as well. Talent without practice becomes dormant. We know of people who an accident or illness  forced them to develop or  exercise a dormant talent or skill. Some examples of great talented people.

1) Stephen Hawking – ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) – Physicist
2) Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Polio – paralyzed from the waist down.) President of the USA.
3) Stevie Wonder (Blind) (Musician)
4) Vincent van Gough – (Mental Illness) Painter.
5) Sudha Chandran – (Amputation of right leg) Dancer

Talents can be learnt. Perhaps a dormant talent can be fired up with an unexpected opportunity or after a  “blessed season of adversity.”  It’s the case of Oprah Winfrey after a troubled childhood, Steve Jobs childhood  and his business ventures  or even Thomas Edison and the 1000 times he tried before created the light bulb.  Just to mention some.

The fact that one have a talent at something , it doesn’t mean that we don’t  need to bother about success.  You see, one may be good at selling but if we don’t  exercise our given selling skills to sell, we may  become one more talented person who never discovered his unique abilities and capabilities.

Lastly, talent is good and is evil and both will affect many people.

If you haven’t discovered your talent, pledge today to never surrender to adversity; …your talent may be about to flourish.

Coffee Thought

When I Think of a Child

When I think of a child, I normally think of a healthy child.
I see him chasing a butterfly,
I see him playing in the backyard.
And I see a book that has begun to write.

When I think of a child, I also think of God.
I see happiness and joy.
I see protection and success.
And  I see a mother feeding him in the middle of the night.

When I think of a child, I think of a song.
I see them singing “We Are The World”
I see them being just children, just that.
And  see the future men and the future dad.

But that’s not always the case.

When I think of a child, I don’t always think of a healthy one.
I see the crying one as well as the begging one.
I see their mothers’ pain
And their miserable lives.

When I see a hurting child,
My hearts shakes my strong faith;
But then I see God’s hand,
And God’s love in a different way.

I see how lucky I am.
I see how much we learn in pain.
I see compassionate hearts,
And protection in death.

But that’s not always the case.

When I see a happy and a sad child,
I see how fair and unfair life is at the same time.
I see people doing their best from what they have
And see people showing the worse of what’s in their hearts.

When I see a child, just a child
I see their loving and tender eyes.
I see leaders coming to God.
I see God answering to their cry.

Coffee Thought, Parenting

She Is My Hero

“How my mother helped me to overcome bullies”

My mom was my hero all the way! Between the two of us there was a magic  connection. she was able to share her heart to me without fear. She was strong , just and wise.  She was love! My dad also had a great communication with me. I remember I used to read the Colombian newspaper  every day to talk to him.  Our daily conversation were endless. I guess I can say that there was not one day of their lives my parents didn’t hear from me one way or the other.

My book is not a scientific book, nor should it be considered as the only way to prevent bullies.  The book is simply the experience of someone who underwent mockery from childhood  due to the physical appearance. I tell how family passes from generation to generation traditions,  behaviors and how families can get involved to help a child who is a bully or the one that is being bullied. No degree is necessary to raise a healthy family.  My parents came from two very different upbringings. My father was an abandoned child. My mother on the other hand, lost her mom at age 10 and by age 13 she was orphan, but surrounded by the love of her brothers and sisters. Their starting was not the best,  but they managed to raise a family of 8, with values, character and honesty.

Life is what we make of it. We either take courage to go on with dignity and decency or we let the circumstances take control of us. We choose what legacy  to leave behind.

I started writing this book back in 2010  after my dad passed away. It actually was hard for me to do it, so I put it aside. This month is the first year since my mom passed away and I decided to publish the book.

The book is available in Amazon. Continue reading “She Is My Hero” →