gift·ed – adjective
1. having great special talent or ability: the debut of a gifted artist.
2. having exceptionally high intelligence: gifted children.

tal·ent – noun
1. A marked innate ability, as for artistic accomplishment. See Synonyms at ability.
2. Natural endowment or ability of a superior quality.
3. A person or group of people having such ability: The company makes good use of its talent.

There is often a stigma associated with these two words when used together to refer to a person or a group of people. It seems almost elitist in many aspects to be refered to as gifted and talented. People seem to hold those whom they believe associated with such a title with a certain awkward disposition.

Why? Well that all comes with how the term is treated.

If you have been told that you are gifted and talented and recieve special privileges because of it, well then, it seems only natural that those who have not been associated with the term feel left out and less regarded as individuals. Much the same applies if you recieve this “title” and hold yourself with some sort of superiority over others.

The truth of the matter is, giftedness and talent is all a matter of perception. What one percieves as a work of genius another may see as a waste of time and effort. One might see Picasso as an artistic genius, while another may see his works as childish paint splatters.

In one way, you could argue that each individual, in their own way is gifted and talented. It is whether the manifestation of this potential has gained high regard among those who recognise such as talent. It is also dependent on the specific individual as to whether they harness their seemingly innate characteristics and go on with a strong gusto for life.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what you get told or how you are recognised, it all amounts to how you have lived your life and what you have drawn from within to give the world everything you’ve got. Without each individual in their unique forms, expression and thus eventual progression can never be achieved.

Ponder;

C.L.U