Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Have you ever felt like you were no longer gifted?

1st of all you are 25, how I wish I was 25 (50). Even if as you say you wasted 10 years, (You only wasted it if you take nothing from it), and you still have many years for many new choices. Life is not an end goal; it’s a series of choices we build ourselves on. It’s easy to look at others and see what we have not accomplished and may not ever accomplish. Valuing yourself on others achievements will only lead to disappointment. I am all for lofty goals and striving to improve ourselves and a certain amount of life dissatisfaction is needed to help drive us to grater things. I do understand that we are told that we can do anything we want, and that we have the ability to do great things because we are smart. It’s not true, (Some may disagree). Potential means nothing without action; many so called successful people are not bright. Much of what we hold up as successful are mostly hard workers, and risk takers. The basic axiom of you get what you put into things is true. (I can't say this enough, in all aspects emotionally, fiscally, physically, etc...)Your personal success will be based on what you define it to be, and how much you put into it. The best satisfaction in life comes from placing effort into things. I try to explain to my math club kids, math is no fun when it’s easy; it is fun when you work hard on something, push yourself and then solve it. It's hard, (Things are always easy to say rather then to do) but you have to look at things differently. Many of us tend to see the whole mountain in front of us and decide we can’t do it, or we try a little and then give up. Some build up muscle by moving up a little at a time getting stronger as they go, constantly pushing themselves a little more each time. Some never even have an end goal, just a path they start. Also (Since I have my soap box to stand on) I find doing for others is much more rewarding then doing for myself (My personal observation). What you focus on and what you think of, is what you will achieve. If all you see are obstacles then that’s all you will ever achieve. If all you see are solutions, and opportunity’s then that too will be what you achieve. I know it sounds a little simplistic, it's not, our past choices and environments have helped define us. That being said the world will give you what you ask for and strive for. All you have to do is change the way you think, focus on what you want, tell everyone your goal, and take lots of action.