I Can Do Something

I’ve had many conversations with my sons, Evan and Ben, about how we each have gifts – not just a special few, but everyone has gifts. Some might have easy conversations with others, some might have the ability to fix a faucet or a motor, some might create beautiful paintings, while others solve math problems with the precision of a calculator.

Yet instead of remembering our talents, our abilities, our gifts……we often focus on what we can’t do or what someone else can do better than us. A friend yesterday spoke of “negative self-talk” or chatter in our heads that says “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t”; it is commonly known that whatever we tell ourselves enough…..can become our reality.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” Edward Everett Hale

At The Mama Ada Foundation, we believe that knowing each other’s stories can transform the world – so let’s begin by understanding our own story a little better….and remember what we can do, rather than what we can’t do….and say “I can, I can, I can” and see what happens.

I’d challenge all of us today to make a little list of our “gifts.” Don’t be shy or humble even – let your colors shine for the world to see – because the world needs each of us to remember our goodness and abilities. And after we have our own “gift lists”…..let’s make a pledge to do one tangible thing this week to use our talent to help another person.