Saturday, January 15, 2011

Genius

I am finishing up my 3rd of 5 classes to earn my gifted endorsement. As one of the last assignments, we had to watch a talk/lecture by Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of "Eat, Pray, Love") about genius. She explains how people used to believe that we were visited by geniuses when we were toiling at our work; it was not until the Renaissance that people proclaimed themselves geniuses. It was very interesting and it's 19 minutes long. So, if you have a little while to spend, I suggest you watch!

If you can't (or don't have any interest...which I completely understand!), I wanted to share a quick quote/idea from the last few minutes of the lecture. Ms. Gilbert talked about how, long ago, when dancers in northern Africa would transcend and be seemingly "godlike" in their dance, the spectators would chant "Allah, Allah!" (God, God!) When the Spaniards were introduced to the region, they adapted the phrase to "Ole, Ole!" When people did fantastically in something, or were godlike in their performance, they would shout "Ole!"

"And when I have to sort of keep telling myself when I get really psyched out about that [her "freakish success"] is: don't be afraid. Don't be daunted. Just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it, whatever it might be. If you job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed, for just one moment in your efforts, then "Ole!" And if not, do your dance anyhow. And "Ole!" to you, nonetheless. I believe this and I feel that we must teach it. "Ole!" to you, nonetheless, for just having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up."

So, keep on being your fabulous self.

And "Ole!" to you for that.

:)

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