Being gifted… A “Blessing” or a “Curse”?
In this world, almost everyone thinks that we’re all the same, but ask you ask yourself, that is that entirely true? Sure everyone is human but what separates us in this world is, not saying about nationality, culture, gender, race or religion, but saying that some of us can do the ordinary, and some of us can do the extra-ordinary. For example, you get people that can draw, that can sing, that can dance, etc. which makes them feel like they are separated from the rest, but then, they ask themselves how they can do these things… Is it a gift that they are born with naturally? Or were they trained, or self-trained to have these gifts? But sometimes, those gifts can be the unexplainable, like, you get a blind person that can draw, or you get a person that can calculate numbers like a real calculator, etc…(amazingly crazy, right?)… you would say, they’re SUPER-HUMANS – the people that can do the impossible that no normal human being can do in whatever category, like Maths, Science, Art, Music, etc… I, too have gifts, and I considered myself to be multi-talented, but then I choose to favour one gift than the other. I am an Artist in Drawing and a Musician, which is the gift I mostly do in my life, but then I have a special ability that makes me being more musical that being artistic. I have “perfect pitch” (technically is called ‘absolute pitch’). To tell you what that is, it is the ability to sing or recognize the pitch of a tone by ear. Funny thing is I didn’t notice this when I was a kid, until high school in 2008. I was repeating Grade 10 for the 2nd time at Ferrum High School (sorry to mention that #embarrased) and just changed my subject choice, from Consumer Studies ( took the subject 2nd Term in 2007 by the way) to Music. It was also the same year I started singing in my 1st year of the NKZN Youth Choir #Junior_Year , and still singing in the school choir #Senior_Year_beginning. I did Vocals as my instrument for Practicals in this school subject, then suddenly one day in the 2nd Term, my music teacher/conductor of both #FHSChoir and #NKZNYC, Mr. William Silk, was sort of testing me of my musical knowledge, while doing vocal warm-up’s and breathing exercises during my practical period. The way he tested me was different, like he didn’t ask me general knowledge questions, but sort of like a guessing game. I had to guess of the chords, notes and starting notes/chords of the songs I sing in the youth choir, by singing/humming them. And that’s where he told me I have perfect pitch. So then, for all over the years in high school, this ability has helped me very much by getting straight A’s in my Music class, which made me being the top student in my class, and has helped me learn music like fast, from reading sheet music in front of me to learning a song from a soundtrack either from my phone or computer, without the help of a physical instrument (well, …sometimes). But then, there’s always a burning question (or questions) inside my head which keeps me asking it over, and over: “How did I get this ability from the first place? ... Why didn’t I noticed if earlier in my childhood?... Am I the only one in this family who has this ability? ... ” I find these questions inside my head, had turned to be a curse sometimes… sure you could say that it is a blessing from God (yes, I accept that), but I find it that to hear that is not enough for me to accept it, and having this gift is still a mystery to me, and I really want to trace back to my family bloodline, like maybe I want to find out who in my family, also has this ability, like from my ancestral path. This is why, I say that this sort of investigation of knowing the origins of my ability is a curse but hope to be resolved soon… And now, beginning my college year in Durban at Creative Arts College, majoring in Music Production, for three year, or I think I’ll remain in this college until my 3rd year (it’s complicated for now…still unsure of certain decisions) and still use my ability today, for composing choral music and a cappella covers for a group that I was just instantly being put in by my old NKZNYC friend that I know from 2010, Zama Zwane (sort of a funny story how I got in). She asked me one day for a favour to arrange pop music as a cappella covers for her group and then, unexpectedly, I’m automatically in her group, and appointed as musical director for her group. Anyway… I’m still working on the music and we’re both still looking for members (especially looking for guys coz I’m the only guy in the group), but overall, I’m okay where I am and what I do. Which brings me to my final note about my gift: “Express what you’re gifted with and explore more if your talents that God has given to you… ”. It may still be a mystery for me, but it is definitely a gifted blessing from God. #Amen