We are all gifted

If you don't know anything about the theory of "multiple intelligences," you might want to google it to find out more. Basically what it says is that there are many different ways to be intelligent (or gifted) and these ways might not necessarily be the ways that are identified in traditional education.

I offer two quotes worth pondering in this respect.

The first is from Albert Einstein (whom people thought was unintelligent because he didn't start speaking at a young age).  "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life by believing that it is stupid."

The second quote is from a student writing her teacher after she became aware of the theory of mulitiple intellences and how it helped her appreciate her boyfriend in a new way:

The gist of the note (I'm quoting from a source I've since forgotten) stated that she was in a relationship with a young man whom her friends and family constantly demeaned because they perceived him as beneath her intellectual level and as "just a dumb jock." The message went on further to say that as a result of learning about Multiple Intelligence Theory she had begun to look into her boyfriend's strengths in new ways.

Due to my exposure to the multiple intelligences, I have found out that he is very smart in many ways that I am not. He's quiet and knows how to really listen to people, is especially good at working with kids, and often sees beyond people's obvious exteriors. He can fix anything! Obviously, he's good at sports, but he also knows who is, what he's good at, and what he wants to do with his life. He also has lots of common sense! My family and friends are wrong! Thanks for helping me see that he is intelligent in many ways.