Last week I heard the new Halls commercial over the radio. They were promoting their new contest. The script was pretty simple. A man goes, "Patutunayan ko na may pera sa wrapper. Wrapperwrapperwrapperwrapper…" or something to that effect. My supposed response was to laugh and say, "oo nga," but my immediate response was, "sheeet! gago! ‘nang utak yan! humithit ba yan?"
Yes, I was pretty frustrated, not because the ad sucked (it doesn’t) but because I feel like I don’t have the creativity to think like that. Often when my works are rejected, I get upset… to the point of crying. I mean, in my line of work, I feel like I don’t have the capacity to think as creatively as those people who have done the Halls or Coke commercials. And then I think, don’t I have the talent to think like that? And I get all the more depressed and frustrated.
Self-assessments actually drive me nuts. It always leads to a single conclusion: Dompy, jack of many trades, master of none. I mean, I know how to sing, just not like those "birit-eras". I know how to dance, well used to. I know how to draw, just not like my SO or my other friends. I know how to play the guitar, just not like my brother. I know how to write stories and stuff, but usually, they pretty much suck. I know a bit of pastry making, but not cooking per se. So what really is my talent? Do I have any talent at all?
Sometimes… no, most of the time I wish I whip up really cool and crazy ideas and like get recognition for it. Sometimes I wish I had a unique talent that will set me apart from the rest. Sometimes I wish for a lot of things. But you know what? Sometimes, it’s better to be thankful for what we have and not want other things. I had this short discussion with my SO regarding my frustration (which began with the Halls commercial, yes) wherein he told me that most of the time, those who have really amazing talents have something sort of "kulang" in their lives. Something missing in the physical, emotional or personal aspect, because God puts balance in all things. Because if there was no balance and all of us had great talents, we will easily succumb to pride that will eventually lead to our downfall.
Maybe he was right. Maybe there is some balance going on. I just don’t see it His way. And maybe I do have some unique talent that I just don’t see. That it’s kept from me so I don’t get all haughty. Maybe in the future I’ll know what it is. But for now, it’s going to keep my feet on the ground.
Hmm, I kinda like that kind of thinking….
