Ookay. So you want to be yourself. Do you know who that “self” is? Have you determined where is your niche in society? Some people determined they were artists, others say they get satisfaction from being in the clerical field; others in management; still others in education; carpentry; architecture; sign making; working for charity; writing, etc. Not everyone knows what their gift or their talent truly is. Some people like to sing and play musical instruments. There are times when your heart yearns to do something. You just keep leaning towards that desire or you find yourself always in that arena. Then you find that is where your gift or calling is. It was years before I truly realized that my calling was in education. As a child, I grew up teaching little three and four-year-olds. Looking back over my life, I realized education was always in my life. Realization set in: “Eureka! Education is my calling, my gift! It was quite encouraging and enlightening to know that and a relief. My search was over to know my gift. If you just want to be yourself, look around and see what is it that keeps you entwined with something in retrospection. If you find what that gift is, and follow it, most likely, you will be successful in it. That doesn’t mean everything will be easy. No, not at all.
The hard part comes in the making it work on your behalf. It may not mean you will make great amounts of money. Your inner peace and satisfaction will be your great reward. You may have to get another kind of work to supplement your income from your gift. Lou Rawls [recently featured on “UnSung”] A Natural Man: ‘Cause I want to be happy and free Livin’ and loving for me; I want to be happy and free; Livin’ and lovin’ for me, Like a natural man. Livin’ and lovin’ free; can be quite detrimental. The problem is what does that mean? How much livin’ and lovin’ can you do and stay within bounds of God and society? You don’t want to live it up with drinking and carousing all night [do you?]. Not that I am saying he did that. Let’s weigh and balance our daily lives. There are singers saying, “I want to be Myself.” It’s a popular statement. BlackBones [singing group] singing, I want to be myself. What is yourself?
Who is yourself? Is it a discovery? Or do you know from your early childhood who yourself is? Some do, some don’t. KANYE WEST says “MY GREATEST PAIN IN LIFE IS THAT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SEE MYSELF PERFORM LIVE.” Huuum. Live your life to its fullest potential at its best. That’s an accomplishment. Teach the children at home.
Jeanette Grattan Parker, Ph.D., Superintendent Today’s Fresh Start Charter School; speaker, marriage expert. Writings are copyright all rights reserved: Will You Marry Me; Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” [email protected]; [email protected]. 323-293-9826
