If you follow me on social media, you might have noticed the following phrase in my bio: “master of talents of surprise.” Aside from wanting to take ownership in all that I am capable of doing, I also have grown to see it as a bit of a curse in a way. It’s admittedly a strange choice of a word that I wouldn’t have considered associating that part of the bio as such when initially writing it out, but as time has gone on and with different life experiences along the way, I now do.
I think anyone who’s a creative can relate to the notion of going out of their way to do everything they can, learning skills necessary, just to get a job or project done. Resources can only go so far depending on how much reach or how much money one has, and so ultimately, picking up different skills is a given when you have either very few people or ultimately yourself to turn to.
I know that has been the case with me. When I was younger, it was more so a way of testing new creative paths and getting lost in them. But as I’ve gotten older, that necessity that comes with being multi-talented not only simmers the joy that otherwise comes with learning a new skill, but also takes time away from doing activities you’d much rather devote your energy to. As I was reminded by a tweet from a favorite independent artist the other day, just because you’re good at something, doesn’t mean you’re passionate about it.
Having a laundry list of varying skill sets can be a good thing, not going to lie. There’s value in that. It can open up so many opportunities for you, and it can admittedly feel good to be needed because you have a particular skill set. But at least for me, at the end of the day, if I can just have more time and more opportunities to write, that’s where I can really, truly give my all.
This is something that has been on my mind as of late, as I start the process of changing up where I devote my time and energy to going forward. What’s worth my time (and money even) that I’d be willing to sacrifice my already limited down time? What will ultimately get me where I want to be in the future? Is taking on a project really worth my time just because I have a needed skill set, when it will take away time for me to hunker down and write? That is something I need to find out already, even if it means letting or turning people down.
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Lola By The Bay 
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