Sunday, May 07, 2006 @10:19 PM
“I started drawing and painting …and I think I enjoy it!”
One of my sisters recently attempted in discovering what she would consider as her hobby or even something she’s good at. Like some of us, she’s been searching that for many years. She used to be a ballerina. She was even representing her studio in performing for charity in our home-city. She completed the Royal Academy of Ballet Dancing examination and she’s just one step away from her teaching qualification examination. She did not continue because our mom wanted her to focus on her studies. She had no choice, except to obey our mom and dropped her interest and talent reluctantly.
All these years, she hasn’t returned to ballet dancing. I know her heart has never left but she feels that she no longer good at it. Whenever we mention about our interests, she’s the only one who always remain in silence.
“I don’t have any interest. I don’t know what I like.”
“No, you’re good at ballet dancing.”
“I was, but not anymore. Now I am good at nothing.”
“Well, I’m sure you have other hidden talents or interest too. You just need to discover them.”
So when my sister told me out of the blue that she started drawing and was thinking she could possibly like it. I felt excited for her.
“I am quite happy with my painting. But mom and some of my coworkers laughed at my painting when I showed it to them.”
“Maybe they didn’t mean it that way. Regardless of what they thought, if you enjoy drawing and painting, then just continue doing so. You’ll get better and better later. But hey, maybe you can scan it and send to me so that I can give you some comment although I really suck in drawing and have no talents in art whatsoever.”
My mom sent me to piano, Chinese Guzheng, ballet, computing, arts, and swimming lessons when I was a child. Most of the time, I had never enjoyed all these classes because I always felt that I was not good in them. They weren’t my interest at all, hence I discontinued. I used to think maybe I was just good at nothing. Then once I entered elementary school, I started liking different things. I like listening to contemporary music and even joined the school’s broadcasting team in being the school deejay. I discovered that I love the task as being an emcee in hosting functions. I finally found that I can be good in something or to the least; I can name something that I enjoy doing.
A famous Chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai once said, “Everyone must be good at something.” He said it well. I quoted this line as the introduction of my impromptu speech when I was picked for public speaking topic of what I was good at during a camp at High School by my senior.
And I am going to quote this line again. Everyone must be good at something. It doesn’t matter how good you are compared to others; what matters more is how you enjoy doing it. I’m sure my sister will manage to find out what she really enjoys and likes one day. It could be ballet, painting or even drama. So how about you?
