what would that be?
I have been thinking a lot about raw talents. Something one is born with. And I think it is not just one thing like "good voice to sing". It is rather... a set.
But why raw talents matter? Lines like "You can be ANYTHING you want". Argg... That is not true. It is so flattening. If one takes it in a shallow way, it can be suffering.
Back there when I worked at my old school, many medical students came to study english. One of the students..., hmm, always looked out of her mind. Like she lost in thought. If you talked to her, it would take her some time to bring herself back and understand your question, and form an answer. Every time they had a coming exam, she was often seen with big books that she said she needed to study "just for this exam". The AC was always on, she got sweat all over her face.
Besides, I knew two students, also from the medical school. They were dating. They always looked like love birds, they joked, they participated, they looked engaged. Guess what? The male student was top 1 student in the university entry exam, and top 1 when he went to the residency. It was all about how interesting their study specialization was, not how struggling.
My dad went to the engineering university. It belonged to the top national schools back there, and still now. That was an achievement in his time.
He told me, there were folks in his class who always looked like they didn't have to study much and still outperformed the others. My dad said he could never beat the top 1 student: "He did it like a breeze."
Can one be anything they wanted? Yes. With very hard work, and maybe lots of struggles, you would not fail.
But would you see yourself a fish that swimming in the water – like the others? I doubt it.
You might see you as a fish that trying to climb a tree.
Often time, people talking about cultivating your skills, "Shape yourself."
I get it.
But which skills? Which shape would you put yourself in?
There are many shapes that legitimately existing in this world. What if one chooses a shape that oneself has to stretch, shrink, cut, and distort them to become? Is it a simple question of "what you choose to do" or "who you choose to become"?
Maybe the questions should start at somewhere deeper.
Like:
What were I born with?
What I do so at ease – that I don't even realize – but still land me somewhere?...\
Like:
What is my real shape?
I am not a fan of "Endurance is a trophy".
I'd like to think that it is more enjoying to move with what fits, than fit in.