Talents: Nature versus Nurture

Lately I've given a lot of thought to the question of Nature versus Nurture when it comes to passing along various talents and skills.

For example: My paternal Grandfather was a writer. He was a professional journalist and book editor as well. He loved languages, the sounds and origins of words, and loved playing with words. He was expert when it came to words. So much so, that most people used him as their word resource! He knew at least six different languages fairly well, so I believe he was definitely in the league of "those who know" languages: how to acquire, commonalities, differences, etc. In addition, he linked his love of languages with his love of history. Granddad had a fantastic sense of humour and loved teaching as well as learning. Granddad was very involved in his community in the area of giving: The Empty Stocking Fund in Winnipeg was his passion, and he was a lay minister to four congregations in the United Church.

My own Father loved word play. He didn't write much, but he read everything he could get his hands on, especially in the area of history of Europe and N. America. He may not have travelled out of Canada a lot after his tour of naval duty during WWII, but he went to many worldwide locations through his reading. Because he was so well read, I could ask him for information when I was writing my own university research papers. We discussed so many interesting subjects. He was every bit as learned as any University Prof I ever had, and I found it wonderful to get home and discuss something with him that I'd been studying in one of my U classes. Dad was a successful salesperson all his adult life.

My Mom was a professional singer, directed many choirs over the years of her life, taught several young people who have gone on to score in the public world of music, and was herself in a number of stage productions. She was an amazingly talented woman with music. She was also very creative with oils, charcoal, and pastels. Both of my parents were involved with public service in the community most of their lives: from volunteering as a choir director to being a Scoutmaster, working on political campaigns and even running for office.

I loved dancing when I was a child. My parents put me into ballet when I was only three years old because I literally danced prior to walking. I love languages and studying them as well as how the words fit together, their origins and uses. I love linguistics classes where I have learned the basics of how language is acquired, basic phonological studying, and even remedial efforts. I used a lot of skills that seemed innate when I was younger: I had an easy time when acquiring languages, and performing music was a favourite pass-time. I write (A LOT), both for fun and profit! Writing is part of my personal growth and therapy too. History? Well I can take it or leave it, mostly because I cannot read nor draw a map for my life, which has something to do with how I see things, as I'm dyslexic. But oral histories and written histories so long as there aren't too many visuals, work for me. I teach and I love people, especially when I can tell they've had a light turned on in their brains when I've taught a particularly complex concept! I love learning, and still read voraciously. I love craft work and art work, with many different types of media. Volunteer public service was one of my strongest suits when I was younger, through working to make the schools better, through politics, and through doing things with my children.
My eldest son sang professionally, as well as danced on-stage, loves languages and how they work, and is an editor/speechwriter among other things where he works. He loves word play also. He reads voraciously for pleasure, despite all the editing he does at work. That son seeks out many different challenges, and uses his words to sell things from abstract concepts to manufactured goods. He is very engaged with his wife and children, but makes time for volunteer community service. He, too, is a lay minister.

My eldest granddaughter is fascinated by languages, sings wonderfully and is a true on-stage character. While she's only eight years old, she has been a lovely singer for a few years already. She is already a most confident and talented entertainer. My grandson loves art and creating things. He's somewhat musically inclined, but being that he's only five years old, we'll truly have to wait for awhile before we actually know where his talents may lead him. Same as with my littlest granddaughter: she's too young to know for sure where her talents are, but she certainly loves making noises!!

My other three sons are salespeople in one form or another, so they have excellent people skills and read people well in addition to having the gift of speech. They are confident and active young people who volunteer in their communities, from helping run a rummage sale, drumming up business for said sale, to working in political campaigns. Each one of my sons is a voracious reader and they can all tell a story, if not always write one.

So, the bottom question is: are these talents and skills inherited? Why are there so many in my family who are writers, successful salespeople, excellent speechmakers and active people in their community?

I didn't know my paternal Grandfather in his physical form, as he died the March before I was born in May. My granddaughters and grandson didn't know my Mom, 'cuz she died long before they were born.

So, do various talents run in our family through genetics? Or is it because we've seen so many in our family enjoy doing those things well that it is natural for us to do the same things??

Perhaps we're born with the inner talent, are then led to whatever projects and activities through our own devices; but because we've seen and heard role models who have worked hard on their skills and used their talents to the best use possible, we have all these common threads in our lives!

Basically, my thought is that it is a question of the nature of the person, and how that person is nurtured in his or her community of loving adults that defines how we become who we are and do what we do so well.