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A skill or passion that goes unobserved.

4 replies

StarlingSpark · 25/01/2026 20:25

I was reading some older MN posts and found some interesting discussions about people who thought they had no special skill or talent, and yet they really wanted to develop one, felt unnoticed, a bit sad about it.

Had me thinking about myself, and my own skills (of which there are few!). But I do write, mostly poems or short prose. No one ever sees it, and there's no desire to change it, but it started me thinking.

Like the famous zen (?) saying, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it....or one hand clapping?
What is the point of a skill or talent that goes unobserved? It certainly satisfies the soul/mind to pursue it, yet we are often told that we ought to capitalise on our talents, especially in the age of social media.

I have a very ordinary life, income, job. I have never wanted to enter the cut and thrust of competition or success, and perhaps that makes me odd. And where on earth would you share a poem in real life? Over coffee with friends, or at work? Grin
Not quite as accessible as sharing a photo of a painting or a clip of one's music on youtube. It isn't something you film yourself doing (like embroidery or watercolours), and thanks to the intimate nature of poetry, it is a very strange thing to 'ask' someone to read. But I love what I do, so it never tends to concern me.

So do you have a 'quiet' talent or passion that isn't as socially captivating as most?

OP posts:
CostaDelProfessor · 25/01/2026 20:36

Not exactly what you asked but have you considered spoken word meets?

MagpiePi · 25/01/2026 20:41

I do crafty things like knitting and cross stitch.
I enjoy creating a pattern, and then making it.
I hang the cross stitches up if I like them but I wouldn’t dream of sharing pictures on SM. It’s the doing rather than the finished article that I enjoy.

oshitradio · 25/01/2026 20:41

I do pottery and am planning to build my own little shed studio at the back of the garden. I currently borrow a friend's studio and while it's amazing but want need need my own set up. I'm TA and the children I teach all know about my hobby passion so not sure how secret it is. I would like to have more secret talents, maybe learning other languages. I am so envious of people who speak more than one language, noe more excuses I have to made the time for it.

StarlingSpark · 25/01/2026 20:44

I wish I had more 'proper' life skills, such as languages, knitting and so on. Oh my misspent youth!

OP posts:
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