I’ve been told
I have a ‘talent’ for observation.
I don’t.
I have a skill for it.
I grew up in an abusive household.
I would constantly watch
for signs indicating
if the person was in a good ‘safe’ mood
or a bad ‘dangerous’ mood.
If I got it wrong,
I and the people I cared about
were hurt, sometimes seriously so.
I learned at an early age
to observe well.
Because I learned that
as a young age
and because it is a part of me now,
people call it talent.
But it is truly a learned skill.
And it is a learned skill
that serves me
VERY well as a writer.
We see talent in children
who grow up in a household
where that talent is common.
She ‘inherited’ her Dad’s skill
at painting watercolors.
He is a ‘born’ mathematician
like his Mom.
Or maybe he or she merely learned
the ‘tricks’ of a talent
by observation,
by seeing and hearing
and being encouraged to try it
every day.
I’m not saying talent isn’t real.
There are definitely people
who are born with gifts.
It is merely that
many of the people
you believe are talented
are truly skilled.
And skills can be learned.
YOU can learn them.