Capturing Chaos

Writing is a perfect example of something you’re encouraged to do because you do it well. As too many prodigies have found, to their profound regret, the pressures to forge careers out of talents can lead to lives of frustration rather than fulfillment. The simple truth is that the possession of an ability doesn’t always bring with it the enjoyment of using it, much less the desire to devote a lifetime to it.

No talent stands in isolation. The talented violinist must perform publicly, must tour, must make him or herself a somewhat public person. Every career comes with requirements which have nothing to do with the original talent, and which may be difficult or even objectionable.

Even for someone with a small talent and small ambitions, there can be unpleasant factors to deal with and costs that may seem too much to pay. Somewhere along the line, you may even realize that you were looking at the talent in the wrong way. The violinist may decide that he wants to write music for the violin rather than play it. (more…)