concussionwhen the pitcher slammed the ball into the side of my head. Hewas quite certain, I'm sure, that he had calculated histrajectory correctly, assuming that no adult woman could run asslowly as I did. Well, he was wrong and he wound up launching amissile-worthy throw straight into the left side of my skull. Istill have a dent there. Maybe that should have been a sign tome that softball just isn't my calling. But I didn't payattention. I kept on lurching, hiccupping, and laughing my waythrough many additional--and entertaining--attempts to masterthe game. It actually took me two full seasons to score a run. If Iremember correctly, it was the last game of the second seasonwhen I finally made it home for the first time. My team's solemission for two years was to steward me across home plate in atriumphant, run-scoring parade. Every game held new possibilityand eve...

...ry game left hopes dashed. They coined little mantras tochant me on, stood with baited breath each rare event when Iactually hit the ball, and offered heartfelt "maybe next times"after each valiant attempt. On the day I actually scored the run, my teammates were soelated that every single one of them rushed the field tocelebrate with me in a rowdy display of support. The other teamstood dumbfounded in their positions, wondering what madness hadensued. I mean, it was just a run, right? Not the last game ofthe World Series. But our team was drunk with joy over my boldtriumph against all odds. The most memorable example of my predisposition to softballineptitude happened on one of the uncommon occasions when Iactually hit the ball. Because I wasn't accustomed to hittingit, it took a second or two for me to process that I wassupposed to start running to first base. By some miraculouscoincidence, it seems that the other team didn't think I wouldhit the ball either (why would that be?) so they, too, wereunprepared to act. Shocked and amazed as I was, I startedrunning. When I realized that they were fumbling around missingthe renegade ball, it dawned on me that I might, indeed, make itto first base. Only I would have to run faster to do that. With enthusiasm, I hit my own little personal turbo chargebutton and started sprinting toward first. The only problem wasthat my upper body started running faster than my lower body.Perhaps you know where this is going. Gravity is such that onecannot sustain one's upper body running faster than one's lowerbody for very long. I made this observation at a point when Iwas hovering at about a 45 degree angle from the ground. Ithought to myself, "I wonder how long I can keep this up?" Ithen realized that, evidently, it wouldn't be for much longer. I hit the ground with the force of a speeding freight train(courtesy of my rather ineffective, but powerful, turbo charge)and proceeded to roll four or five times, until I finally cameto rest at the side of the dugout. Yes, it was the fence thatstopped me from careening any further out of control. The crowd was deathly silent, wondering if I had broken anybones, wounded my psyche for all of eternity, or a combinationof both. After a quick self-assessment to determine that none ofthese cases applied, I started laughing until I nearly turnedblue. Well, actually, I guess I did turn kind of blue. Thisshade change was made possible by the following sponsors: therolling wake of a dust storm churned up by my turbo charge andmy uncontrollable laughing fit. The combination of these twoevents effectively yielded an asthma-induced coughing fit forthe better part of 20 minutes. This incident is the talk of our circle of friends. When peoplesay, "It couldn't have been that bad," I reluctantly have toaffirm that, "Yes, it was that bad. And, unfortunately, I havefar too many witnesses to confirm that." But I always follow upthat story with the qualification that we are not all gifted inthe same ways. Some people (obviously not me), are talentedsoftball players or sports stars. Others are good with numbers,cars, gourmet cooking, or kids. I'm pretty skilled with wordsand with people. Fortunately, I'm surrounded by people who use their gifts inways that support me in using mine. For instance, Nola, mydatabase wizard, keeps me organized and connected; Kerri mytechno-guru, publishes my e-zine; and Debe, my bookkeeping diva,is turning my financial systems into, well, honest-to-goodnessfinancial systems. Now, I can do all of these things--managedatabases, e-zines, and accounting records--it's just that, likesoftball, it's not necessarily pretty when I do it. It is farmore productive and less stressful for everyone involved whenthey exercise their gifts in these areas and allow me toexercise my gifts with words and people. When we do that,everyone wins. And you can do the same. All it takes is learning about what youdo best and applying your unique strengths and gifts every day,in every way you can. Your inner genius is second nature toyou--it's what you feel you do best, what yields the bestoutcomes for you, and what others notice about your uniqueabilities. When you're working in your area of expertise, you'llhave nearly unlimited energy, creativity, and growthopportunities associated with it. And, you'll find that both youand others realize tremendous benefit when you're using thosestrengths as often as possible. So, how do you do that? Here area few suggestions to get you started: 1) Take the "Signature Strengths Survey." Log on tohttp://www.authentichappiness.org and click on the link to takethe "VIA Signature Strengths Survey" (located in the topleft-hand corner of the website). This survey takes about 20minutes and will help you identify some of your key strengths.Then, look for ways you can use those strengths each day in thedifferent areas of your life--work, relationships, parenting,self-improvement, or other roles. The more you apply yourstrengths, the more successful and fulfilled you'll feel in allof these areas. 2) Ask people. Select at least five people from different areasof your life (family, friends, work, etc.) and ask them whatthey think are your unique gifts--gifts that show up across ALLareas of your life, not just in professional settings. When theyrespond, simply record their answers and see what themes emergefor you about your signature strengths. Again, look for ways toapply those abilities in all areas of your life on a dailybasis. 3) Use other resources and strategies. Check out chapter five inmy book, Living With Intention (or the corresponding audioprogram), for a wide array of other resources for identifyingand applying your unique gifts in meaningful ways. Do these things to gain reassurance that, even though we are notall born to play softball (thankfully, because if we were I'd bein major trouble), we are all born with a unique, innerbrilliance just begging to be shared. Once you identify yoursand begin using it daily, you will find an unlimited source offulfillment and success. Give it a try and see where yourstrengths lead you! NOTE: You are welcome to use this article online in electronicnewsletters and e-zines as long as it remains complete andunaltered (including the "about the author" info). If use ofthis article is desired in print, you must first contact DeannaDavis at Deanna@appliedinsight.net...