Iain Thomas Quote on Being Gifted and What That Really Means

“Being gifted doesn’t mean you’ve been given something.  It means, you have something to give.”

Iain Thomas, I Wrote This For You

Beyond the Quote (344/365)

The question is, will you give it? Or, maybe better yet, do you even know what your gift is? My belief is that we all have a gift. And while you might hesitate at that thought and think to yourself, “Does he even know who he’s talking to? I’m the least gifted person I know”—I stand firmly in my position. Even if you think to yourself about how gifted and talented you already know you are—that isn’t exactly what I’m talking about—I’m talking about a specific gift.

In writing this, I’m taking a risk. Because you’re right—I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you. I don’t know your history. I don’t know you upbringing. I don’t know your misfortunes. And I don’t know just how terribly gifted or ungifted you think you are. But, here’s what I do know. That you have a history. That you have an upbringing. That you have misfortunes. And that you have human emotions. And in this, is one of the most beautiful gifts of all.

What is it? Well, first, let me tell you what it’s not. Being gifted isn’t limited to what the world might have told you being gifted means. You don’t have to be a professional athlete. You don’t have to be a media influencer. You don’t have to be an admired artist. You don’t have to be an envied writer. You don’t have to be in med-school, law-school, engineering school, or business school. And you certainly don’t have to be a genius.

So, what is this gift that I’m pointing to then? The gift of life. And before you roll your eyes and think to yourself “how cliché”—let me elaborate. With the gift of life comes a story. A story that is filled with history, an upbringing, misfortunes, and a TON of emotion. And it is a story that is completely unique to each individual—one that is completely unique to you. And so it is with every other person alive on earth today. And so, what do you do with this gift and why does it matter?

Well, you keep your gift all to yourself and hide it from the world, of course! C’mon—you have to admit that even you felt resistance to that idea. Gifts aren’t supposed to be hidden—they’re supposed to be shared! In fact, what’s the first thing you want to do when you’ve been given a gift that you’re excited about? You share it! You call your friends. You rub it in your siblings faces. You broadcast it across social media. The LAST thing you do is hide it. What’s the point in that?

And so, let’s go back to the gift of your life’s story. Not only do I believe firmly that your story is your gift, but I also feel that your purpose (your excitement) is found in sharing it. While you may feel that there isn’t anything “exciting” “noteworthy” or even positive about your story (in your opinion), what’s always exciting is connecting to someone else who can relate to or learn from your story. Story is, fundamentally speaking, how we connect to others in life.

As mentioned in the beginning, our stories contain our histories, our upbringings, our misfortunes, and our emotional responses to it all, and when we can relate that concoction to another who is caring and attentive, a bond is made. An emotional bond. A unique bond that only stories can create. And that gift of connection—of feeling connected to/ like you’re a part of/ like you belong to—is one of the most beautiful gifts of all. No material gift can ever compare. No talent can ever compare. No IQ level can ever compare.

And what’s even more beautiful is that everybody has a story. Which is why I can so confidently say, everybody has a gift. The only question is: will you give it? If you do, my suggestion to you is that you keep it real, personable, and authentic—and that you don’t try to manufacture it. Your story doesn’t have to be mass-produced, measured, and marketed for it to work its magic.

Think about gifts that you’ve received in the past. The most special gifts were the ones that were the most personable—the most authentic and unique to the person. The least special gifts were the ones that were the opposite—arbitrary and general.

Don’t be arbitrary and general about your story. Get down and dirty and explore your vulnerabilities. Get brutally honest about your past and own up to where you stand in your story as of today. Trace your actions throughout your life and replay situations in your head that you think made you into who you are. Wrap your gift.

And once you have, don’t keep it in the closet, give it away. Share it with someone you trust, someone you can confide in, someone who you’ll never see again, or even a professional who can help you do the wrapping—as some gifts are quite complex. And watch how you feel as you give it away. Watch how other people light up as they unwrap your gift. Watch how your gift comes to life through their heart as they hold it. And watch how your life changes as others reciprocate and give their gift back to you. Nothing in life compares.

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