So you’ve taken stock of your gifts, talents, and interests, and made a list. You like to play the violin (electric), you like to dance, you like to make and dress up in costumes, you like to write music, and you think it might be fun to make videos. What do you with such an eclectic list of gifts and talents?
If you’re Lindsey Stirling you put them together and forge a singular career. If you haven’t heard of her then you’re missing out. In 2010 Lindsey was a finalist on America’s Got Talent. For her quarter final performance, she stepped up her attempts at dancing while playing the violin. Admittedly she left room for improvement, but the judges were less than encouraging.
“You’re not untalented, but you’re not good enough to get away with flying through the air and trying to play the violin at the same time.”
“You need to be in a group. … What you’re doing is not enough to fill a theater in Vegas.”
“The world does not want an electric violinist.”
She was understandably devastated. But through determination and some lucky breaks she pushed through that period, honed her skills, developed her talents and gifts, and by 2013 she had produced a studio album that sold more than 158,000 copies in the U.S. alone. When it was announced she would embark on a world tour, some of the performances sold out the first day pre-sales were offered.
She is not only amazingly talented but she is a terrific example of using her gifts to bring happiness and joy into the world. Oh, and along the way she found out she was anorexic so she had that battle to fight as well.
Lindsey has just released a book about these experiences, “The Only Pirate at the Party.” The story of how she arrived at the title is by itself worth the price of the book.
She continues to release videos on her Youtube channel LindseyStomp, here is her “Christmas Card” to her fans.
But this is one of my favorites:
Lindsey is an inspiration. All of us have a unique set of gifts and talents that no else has. What are you doing with yours?