Growing up, I idolized my older sister. She was a talented piano player who introduced me to Beethoven when I was a child. In my eyes, she represented the person I wanted to become, which sparked my interest in learning to play the piano. However, I never played as well as she did, and this made me feel inadequate. What I didn’t realize at the time was that by trying to be like her, I was overlooking my unique qualities. Looking back, I wish I had focused more on my strengths and been okay with not being good at everything. If you’re anything like me, there are people you admire. But what do you admire about yourself?
Natural Talents Vs Developed Talents
There are natural talents, and then there are developed talents. This lesson is one that I would have loved to have shared with my younger self when I was learning to play piano. I didn’t realize at the time that my sister wasn’t born a great pianist; she became one. She had been practicing for years before I even started lessons, which is why she was more advanced than I was. In hindsight, it wasn’t my lack of talent that kept me from improving, but rather my lack of interest. At the time, I felt inadequate. Now, I realize it wasn’t something I was passionate about.
Chasing Progress, Not Perfection
But there was something that I became passionate about during this time and that was running. My peers were great runners, which pushed me to become a better runner. It became a friendly competition for me. I will never forget when I ran past one of the fastest runners in my class. I felt proud of myself because it wasn’t easy, but I was determined. I didn’t start as a fast runner; I became one. I appreciate this moment more now than I did as a child. It wasn’t about being as great as my peers, but more so about pushing myself to be better. I saw how much progress I’d made, and that motivated me to keep getting better.
The Power of Passion and Determination
One of many things I admire about myself is my determination. When I am passionate about something, I’m not afraid to go after it. Not only will I pursue what I want, but I will not give up until I get it. This strength developed in childhood and has followed me into adulthood. It has helped me graduate from college as a first-generation student, earn a promotion at work, and turn a blog I dreamed of at 16 into reality. I marvel at how this one quality has led to the best experiences of my life. Now, it’s your turn. What do you admire about yourself and why?