My Niche in Life

What are you here for? Why were you born? What is your talent? We learned early in life that each one is given a talent, something that he or she can specialize in pursuing. Well, my friend, hang in there. Someday along life's way, it will happen. Trust me.

All my younger years, then all those middle years, and even until I turned 80, I wondered what I was designated to specialize in doing. I even asked numerous close associates. Most told me that it was my positive, smiling, friendly approach and kindly and generous nature. So I let it go at that. Humph! Not such a great talent!

Guess what happened. I can't recall when the idea hit me, or what my thoughts were. But I had been steeped from childhood in my father's knowledge of our ancestry and knew anecdotes from his childhood. I started thinking that, perhaps, the young folks of today might be interested in reading of an era long gone.

I was pretty good in high school at writing "compositions" and I also loved to write poetry (to amuse myself only). So I decided to write about our ancestors, with anecdotes wherever they suited the script. The Voice was available for anyone to express oneself whole-heartedly, so I took a stab at submitting some "stuff."

The response was gratifying. I even came to meet relatives, people heretofore unknown to me, who shared those common ancestors. So I gradually expanded my range of topics. Wow! I had fans and their comments and praise from everywhere.

Today, I write of many things: my loves, my dreams, spiritual comments, gripes, every topic imaginable. And I love every minute of it. I sometimes can't sleep, so I get up and write an article that just pops in my wakeful head—and it may be 4 a.m. before I finish composing, and oftentimes, even typing the finished product.

I write as I talk, which seems to be the reason so many of my readers seek out my name, weekly, in the table of contents of The Voice.

My talent? I was over 80 before it came "like a bolt out of the blue." Now I know why I am here, and it is the joy of my existence. And I have met some very dear people through my writings. That's a blessing in itself. My talent has truly blessed my life, though it emerged late. Don't despair, yours will appear at the right time, too.