How did you know you were talented/good at something?

[Plainjanessuperbrain]

I’m in awe of people who are great at art, pottery (I lose hours on instagram watching people make things), writing, painting, singing - anything really.

Like, how did they find out they had a talent? If you can sing, how did you know you were great at it?

How do olympic cyclists get there? How did they go from riding a bike in the park as a kid to that?

I used to love drawing and art in general as a child, but no one ever passed comment or encouraged me to do it, so I never knew if I was good or not - I tried to go to art college when I was 19 but I was laughed out of the interview, like actually laughed at by the course leader. But that was mainly because everyone else turned up with canvases and proper, beautiful portfolios of work - I’d been working 12 hour shifts trying to pay my rent and I couldn’t afford proper materials. I just had drawings. I was so embarrassed. They said I obviously didn’t take it seriously because of that and the fact that I said I hadn’t been to any exhibitions, I worked 6 days a week to support myself and earned next to nothing, I didn’t have the time or money.

Ditto every thing else I was ever interested in. There was no encouragement to join classes or to do anything.

I had extremely uninterested parents, my schools didn’t give a monkeys about me because it was clear I wasn’t one of the students who were doing to go anywhere (v. selective grammar school), is that where it lies? In that some people just have people who are interested in them and help them succeed at things they are good at?

I have to reign myself in with my children. They do everything they have an interest in.
My eldest dc was amazing at music as a younger child, I spent my life talking him to classes and performances, helping with practice etc. My middle child is just fantastic at art - every spare penny goes on finding materials for her and finding books etc to help her with the style she likes. I sit with her for hours when she wants, learning with her to encourage her, the house is full of her artwork. She is also very good at one particular sport, again, I will take her anywhere to facilitate it. I have to reign myself in from getting to over excited on their behalf’s. So I really over compensate with my own children.

So is it just that I had no encouragement?

It’s not a dissimilar story to my own OP. I absolutely loved drawing as a child. I started painting last year, at home, just for me and I discovered I’m ok at it by repeatedly going at it.
Could you do some art alongside your DD.
Start off with drawing …?
Reason I say this is it probably does come down to encouragement and possibly competitive parenting but also opportunities.
it’s also devastating to be mocked (I was too, by my art teacher so dropped it at age 13).
You don’t need to go “it’s all for the kids” because you deserve to enjoy your skills too. You don’t need spare time to draw if you are doing it alongside your DD….??

Yes, it's just that you were discouraged. What a pity.

There was something on maths yesterday on radio 4 which made the point that talent in any area is interest and a bit of innate ability made real by practice and learning what works. So I echo the poster above, start doing what you love and work out your style through the things you are proud of.

This thread made me so sad. How many people like you had a desire to do something but were discouraged because nobody encouraged them.

It made me want to cry when I read about how you help your own children to fulfil their talents/desires. So moving.

Sorry for posting to an old thread.