Remember as a child, when someone would try to insult you by saying, “Who do you think you are, God’s gift to the world?!”

Well, here’s a newsflash: You ARE God’s gift to the world.

And here’s the real wake-up call: What are you doing with the GIFT that is YOU?

On my run this morning, I got to thinking about how we are all given hints of our gifts really early in childhood.  For me, running has always been my thing.  The first “hint” I got of this was in third grade when I won Miss Jog-a-thon out of the entire K-8 school.  Of course, at the time, I was just running circles around a grass field trying to get my laps in so I could raise money.  Another sign of a strength I cultivated later in life:  I’m very “goal oriented” and persistent when it comes to achieving those goals. Sometimes to a fault…

As of today, I’ve completed four marathons and more triathlons than I can count.  Running, swimming and biking are the things that uplift me and keep me sane, not to mention, in shape.  And, because of all my training, I’ve inspired many people to get in shape themselves.

In sixth grade I wrote my first book.  Ok– it was a picture book that was assigned in English class, but there are two things that stand out to me today.  One: It was about helping kids get through a divorce.   A sort of “how to get through the challenges” self-help book for kids.  Whoa!  I was only 12!  Two: My teacher loved the book so much that he kept it to share with future classes.  Damn!  I wish I had it today.

Today, I write a blog about “getting through the challenges” and I’m the author of a relationship memoir.  Ironically, the book is about picking yourself up off the floor after a divorce or break-up.  I’m sensing a theme here…

In high school my dad used to call me the sitcom queen.  I LOVED sitcoms.  I watched them all.  Then at UCLA, I took a playwriting class and got a B in the class because the professor thought it was “too much like a sitcom.”  The read-thru of the play got tons of laughs, so I didn’t give a hoot about the grade.  They were laughing at what I wrote!

Today I’m a sitcom writer and recently started performing stand-up comedy…

My point in sharing all this is to get YOU to take a look at YOUR life.  What are the moments that stand out in your life?  What were you drawn to in your childhood that molded who are are today?  Are you suppressing a talent because “it’s not the right time” or “you have a job to do”?  We all have gifts and it’s our obligation to share them with the world.  It’s why we’re here.  It’s how we find our bliss and share our love.

We weren’t born to make a ton of money (although that’s not bad, it’s just not WHY), or to be slaves to a society that says we must do, achieve, and accumulate.  We’re here to serve, share, be joyful and LOVE.

If you were praised as a child, or even TODAY for a talent that you have, there’s a reason for it.  If something brings you joy, puts you in a place of peace and invigorates you — DO IT!  Whatever it is — painting, inspiring, writing, teaching, photography, sculpting, landscaping, nurturing, cooking… It doesn’t matter what it is.  If it brings you joy, it’s your GIFT.

If you step into your purpose and embrace your gifts, not only will you bring yourself joy, but you’ll also make the world a better place.  Hmmm, how bad could that be?

With Love, for the highest good…

xo, Christy