The Meaning of Life? Probably Not, but Interesting Nonetheless

My friend Debra Kahnen wrote a poem tonight, and I thought I'd share it with you, but before I do, here is an interesting story.

I recently heard about a fascinating study, and I apologize that I don't know what book it was extracted from.

Groups of kindergarten students were surveyed. The results went something like this:

Who here can draw?
All hands up immediately, enthusiastically.

Who here can paint?
All hands up immediately, enthusiastically.

Who here can dance?
All hands up immediately, enthusiastically.

Who here can play a musical instrument?
All hands up immediately, enthusiastically.

Who here can sing?
All hands up immediately, enthusiastically.

Who here can write?
All hands up immediately, enthusiastically.

Who here can make up stories?
All hands up immediately, enthusiastically.

And so on. You've got to ask yourself -- what happened between kindergarten, when you would express yourself in a completely unabashed way, and NOW?

Have you noticed that you tend to qualify your answers now?

Heck, I even do it. Since my name is "Amy Grant" people always ask me if I sing. My answer is "only in the shower." Yeah, I've been asked enough times NOT to sing that I got the idea that I can't sing.

It took me forever to finally write my first success book, because I didn't think I could write. Why? Because some stuffy professor I had in college gave me a poor grade on my essays. Who's laughing now? Me, all the way to the (click)bank.

People who come to my house see my piano and ask me if I play. Instead of saying yes, I get all squirmy and noncommittal (because oh my god, what if they asked me to play something?)

Go on, admit it. You do it too.

So of course I'm excited when one of my friends sends me an email and says "thought you might like to hear this poem I wrote tonight." Now that's ballsy.

I hope Debra would enthusiastically say YES if I asked her if she writes poetry.

Here's Debra's poem (to my knowledge, it's untitled):

Each day I awaken
my life is anew.
I can create what I want
or have nothing to do.
There isn’t an answer
there is no right or wrong.
For to live your life is like
writing a song.
Start with some words
add a note or two.
Soon the whole song
will be apparent to you.
If you let it unfold
It won’t let you down.
For you are loved from above
whether you laugh or you frown.

Your QoD: What are you really, really good at, that you are afraid to admit to people? What would happen if you stopped being afraid and just started being your wonderfully perfect true self?