I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue does that count?

Either way the ladies sure dig it.

I can do that too, phin. Should I put that on my internet dating ad?

If you can play many instruments, no matter how hard you worked at it it still counts as a talent. There are people who work like dogs at trying to be musicians and the most they achieve is making the dog howl. I know a couple people whose "music" I've been exposed to the point of almost exploding trying not to laugh.

I have a knack for learning instruments but I don't have the will to be super competent on them. I think everyone does something well, whether that means actually doing something or dodging doing something.

Paul,

Sometimes our ingrained abilities seem so natural to us that we don't notice them because they are an integeral part of our being.

Your music is a talent and I'll explain why. It's not becuase you can play the instruments. I have learned the basics of playing a (piano) keyboard. I am horrible at it. I'm sure I could study hard every day and get better at it, but I'll never be good. I could pick up a bass (guitar) and learn to play it, but I won't be good at that, either. I have little-to-no sense of musical rythym or timing. I also lack musical creativity. I could learn a little timing with a metronome, but a good drummer or bassist or piccolo player has to have a natrual instict for it. It's like telling a joke... some people just don't have the comedic timing for it. Some people excel at it. I am not musically creative, either. I cannot do that 'thing' that makes a new, catchy, tune. I also do not have what I call 'music memory'. I have musician friends who can remember a song they heard on the radio and play it on an instrument with an amazing amount of detail. Me, I'd be lucky to pound out the most basic part of the melody.

So, here's my point -- you have talents in areas that support your ability to be a musician. I like music and it would be supremely cool to be in a heavy metal band, but I'd never be anything better than a second rate hack.

What do you think? Talent, or just hard work?

I can remember bits of trivia. I'm not talking about just factoids, either. My memory can fix past experiences with great detail. I have memories that predate my ability to walk. I also have a photographic memory; which is great for remembering maps, diagrams, textbooks, etc. I just hold the image up in my head.

Of course, it all comes at a price. Ask me what I was doing last weekend and I honestly couldn't tell ya. I have the worst memory when it comes to orienting to time and place. If someone says "Hey, call so-and-so next week and remind them to do whatever," I have to mark it down in my calendar to call them. At work, if I don't take notes at every single meeting I go to, I will forget about the entire thing. The worst though is in school. I can be sitting there, and come out of a trance 45 minutes later and have no idea what the hell just happened. Sometimes, when I leave work in the evenings, I start walking in the wrong direction because I couldn't remember where I parked my car. Or rather, I remembered it incorrectly if that makes any sense. It's the oddest damn thing in the world. I'm wondering if it's early-onset Alzheimer's or something.

I can remember anything bad anyone has said to me since I was about in grade 1, is that a talent?

I'm good at languages, but then I think that we're confusing "natural talent" with "fortitude". Natural talent is something that we all have, albeit at little things. Tying the perfect knot. Writing blogs. No gag reflex.

Little things like that.

Paul, you can write about something as mundane as taking a dump and make my sides hurt from laughing so much. As much as I hate to admit it, you're a fine writer.

I was going to post something a while ago, but I have this innate capacity to procrastinate.

I have magic fingers - my massage skills and digital manipulation can almost literally take a lady to a higher plane. I once looked into becoming a certified masseur but the investment to legally charge for backrubs was obscene. Plus, I'm pretty sure I saw "happy ending" on that lesson plan.

I also have the ability to say "no" to really crappy beer. Even when it's the only beer available. At least sometimes.

I forgot to mention: my SBDs have been known to clear subway cars at the next stop. If that's not a talent to be proud of, I don't know what is.

Quote:
"I also have the ability to say "no" to really crappy beer. Even when it's the only beer available. At least sometimes."

That's not a talent boy, that's a disability. Seek professional help.

I wholly agree with Dopple-G. Paul, our ingrained talents are those that come easy to us and don't seem like a talent at all. People that excel at art, sculpture, etc. make it look easy because it IS easy to them. You have a couple of talents that I can see (and I don't know you at all) writing, humor and (based on your blog) music. I agree with those that have said that your music talent is indeed an ingrained talent. Don't sweat the small stuff, hun, and enjoy what you have... YOU ARE TALENTED. :)

only one that I can think of is that I'm highly organized when it comes to getting people to do things as a group (read: complete bossy britches ) - this is not always a good thing

and I think you have quite the talent for writing (but then I've always thought that and you've known that for quite a while - why else would I keep following you from website to website)

I have a talent of ending comment threads... iow I'm a conversation killer, is that a talent?

Just as I was basking in the glow of admiration. Er, well, maybe not admiration, but I was starting to feel good.

You bastard.

Oh, I forgot to mention that talent too...

Spoiling other peoples fun.

Paul, I have always put you in the pantheon of writers, well above me. You have genuine, natural rhythm and skill. You are a virtuoso in the music of words. I enjoy listening.