I always look forward to November 24. I love the aroma of foods such as turkey, stuffing, rice, greens, and cranberry sauce dancing in the air throughout the house. Aside from the smell and the consuming of food, I now have something else to celebrate on November 24- Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day.
While it is unknown of how or when this day originated, I can tell you that the purpose of this day is to celebrate your unique abilities, share them with the world, and in my opinion give thanks that you have them. Each and everyone one of us has a talent that make us unique. That talent can be anything, such as playing instruments; singing; dancing; martial arts; swimming; writing; public speaking; designing; sowing; etc. What is your unique talent?
Bianca Joseph, sales and support generalist at Victoria Secret’s PINK, has two unique talents- music and photography. As a baby and young child, Joseph saw her father playing music. She liked hearing it and seeing him play. It made her want to try as any child would, so she would try to sing and bang on the instruments. When she was old enough, her father taught her the basics.
“When I was about 14, I liked cameras and wanted one, so my dad got me a point and shoot camera. I took pics all the time. Now I have a DSLR camera and have been taking pics with it since 2012. I just brought a newer one this year.”
Like Joseph, I too have two unique talents- writing and singing. I discovered my love of writing during my high school senior year as I wrote articles for the school paper The Viking Conqueror. I was tasked as the head world news person. Doing the research and putting the words to paper to inform others gave me a second voice. Interviewing individuals was like opening a book because each person had something to tell. Over the years, I expanded my writing horizon by writing news articles for the Austin Peay State University newspaper and doing creative writing. In creative writing I feel free to use more of my imagination and use my own words. Writing in general is a spectacular gift because it is a way for me to voice myself in a way that I can’t quite do as well verbally. Henceforth, why I have my own blog.
I’ve been singing for many years; from doing special music in church to school choirs. I first happened upon the gift of song in second grade. Before I was singing in front of anybody, I was singing underneath a table in class until someone heard me. It wasn’t long before I sang in front of the class and other teachers down the second grade hallway. One of my fondest memories of singing was in high school show choir, during my junior year on Cabaret Night. The theme that year was Disney. That night I stepped onto the stage for the first time to sing a solo. The song choice- “We Are One” from The Lion King 2. As I stood in the dark with my friend Chris with his guitar, gripping the mic, I kept thinking, God, please don’t let me mess up. I stood barefooted from the prior dance number; feeling the cold stage on my heels and toes. Chris played the first chord, and I began. The spot light shined bright on me, at first feeling as hot as the sun. Each stanza of the song flowed from me like a gentle stream of water. At the climax of the song, I motioned for the crowd to clap slowly. With no hesitation they followed. In the crowd I beheld all the smiles, and I managed the biggest one of all. Any fear I had prior to then had disappeared like my stuttering always seems to do whenever I sing. The appplause I received at the end of the song made me feel golden. I was so flustered that I couldn’t quite get the mic back on the mic stand, so one of my choir members gave me a hand saying, “You did such a good job, David.”. Before rushing backstage to change, I heard a familiar voice in the crowd say aloud, “That’s my son.”
Singing is important to me because as I am doing it my stuttering seems non existant. While I refuse to put my words to music, the singing gives me hope. It gives me hope that one day I can overcome it like many famous individuals have, such as Joe Biden; Ed Sheeran; King George VI; and James Earl Jones. I don’t expect my speech to be flawless, but I can hope and pray that I can get my speech to where I’m talking just as good as anyone. I believe I’m doing better.
This Thanksgiving as you are giving thanks for family; friends; and accomplishments, be sure to give thanks for your talents, because they are what make you unique. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless.
Sources:
“Nov24 Fun Holiday – Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day.” Fun Holiday – Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2016.
Digital image. Http://img.picturequotes.com/2/200/199186/talent-is-truth-on-display-quote-1.jpg. N.p., n.d. Web.
DavidSpeaks 