Being a deep and reminiscent thinker has been a blessing and a menace personally throughout my life. When wielded to troubleshoot a particular problem, it has proved as a blessing, but when used to mentally masticate and regurgitate negative situations and personal mistakes, it has proven a force of destruction to my mental health.
Recently, it has been a fascination of mine to ponder upon the usage of the word talent. Many have ascribed it to a higher inclination and improved adaptation to a particular discipline or ability. Especially in relation to music, athleticism and performing arts.
To begin with, the noun talent is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “a special natural ability or aptitude…” But in fact talent can be traced back to the Old English noun talente or talentan which is a unit of weight. Furthermore, the word talent can be traced back to the Latin definition talenta or talentum, which is a unit of weight.
It even shares links to the Ancient Greek talenton which was a particular weight, especially of gold; it was also a reference to a sum of money.
The context upon which talent is being used to describe is now used as an umbrella term for a great show of athleticism or vocal prowess, when really these are just fine-tuned skills and capabilities developed and nurtured over time.
What is particularly saddening is youths who devote their heart and soul into a particular discipline or sport and attribute the great results to God-given talent.
It is super interesting to even further notice how whilst most of the lower end of society is awe-struck by great feats of athleticism or musical mastery and labeling these as great talent, the upper echelons of society are capitalizing on real talent which is the ownership of vast land, livestock and human resource.
Additionally, the earliest etymology of talent is the ancient Greek word daimon which translates to genius by translators.
In Fiji, where I am from, thousands of youths pursue sports in the hope to gain favour and status in society. While only a few hundreds rise on to create financial breakthrough for themselves and their families, the majority fall into the shadows plagued by injury, lost time, financial instability and family problems.
The direct equivalent to what society deems as talent in the Chinese script is 天赋 pronounced tien-foo, which would explicitly mean, God-given or naturally endowed.
As an indigenous person, it is concerning how the Western ideology of talent is lulling indigenous communities to perceive value in athletic and entertainment stardom rather than the resources of land or the wealth of knowledge regarding survival which has held indigenous people strong for generations. The land, the people, the rivers, oceans, livestock and wildlife are the true talents. These God-given or naturally endowed resources when utilized to optimum potentials, can wipe out starvation, harmful substance addictions, build stronger families, more mature and responsible youths, and preserve language, traditional values and customs.
One day those to which much was given, much responsiblity and obligation will be required.
BIG LIFE QUESTIONS 