Gifts

I walked outside my house this week and stared at the porch.

The rocking chairs were bright white, and the lights shined.

It was a picture of beauty.

A week ago?

Pure disaster.

Chaos.

We all have gifts.

Gifts of time and talent.

Physical gifts.

Yard work is not mine.

I prefer to create beauty [in my mind] of the chaos.

My significant other prefers to be actionable.

We complement each other.

How often do we appreciate the gifts that we have?

The ones we use at home or work and enjoy?

The ones that cause us to get angry or frustrated.

A story to close your week.

JC

We have known each other for three years and have crossed paths prior.

While we don’t get to meet in person often, the conversation is easy.

JC often tells me about her family, and we share a laugh.

We banter.

The other week she sent me a note.

“I’m sitting by myself.”

While there were a few words added on, I paused.

My initial instinct was to find her.

I got up and walked toward where I thought she was.

Realizing she was sitting somewhere else, I picked up the phone.

I joked. She laughed. We then got serious.

I talked more than I should have.

She listened.

She smiled on the phone.

30 mins went by.

“No more sitting by herself,” I thought.

JC loves a good Gif.

You may know someone else that does.

“No more sitting by herself,” I repeated to myself as the days went on.

As the weeks followed, I randomly sent her a Gif.

She would send one back.

I recently was able to sit with her in person.

No words needed to be said.

I walked up to her and gave her a hug.

Later that day, we had a conversation about our talents.

Our frustrations.

I talked to her about her note.

You are not alone.

The feeling was mutual.

She is a gift.

My Working Genius is Wonder and Enablement.

A bit of Invention and Discernment as well.

I used my gifts to help JC.

In return, JC balances me.

My frustrations?

Galvanizing and Tenacity.

It zaps my energy.

I love a good list, but I often have 12.

Results? Love them, but I prefer to help you execute.

I thrive when you see your talent with very little input from me.

Public galvanizing? Not for me.

As we go into the latter half of the week, how have you used your gifts?

Do you know what your gifts are?

In teams or in our households, we all have them.

The yard work?

My significant other is a blessing.

JC?

Loyal to the core.

We need to recognize each other’s gifts and capitalize on them.

Learn about them. Use them. Share them.

Just a Note.

Want to learn about your gifts or your teams? I personally recommend the Working Genius assessment. For my fellow book lovers, a new book for you too by Patrick Lencioni on your gifts.