Unused Skills

“Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.” – Charles M. Schulz

We have gifts and abilities that we bring to the table. Often, we don’t share them because we think other skills are better. We look at someone and think, “If I could only do that, I would be able to do more.” The truth is, we all have skills that we bring to the table, and we should be sharing those skills. I remember during Covid-19 there was a call sent out to educators that we needed to share our gifts more. So, I volunteered to help write math curriculum for that year. Now at school events, I bring my camera whenever possible and take photos of school events. I also cook out for my 5th graders every year. I love to grill; why not share that gift with others?

A skill I learned this summer was using Google Maps to take me to new places in Europe. I visited for the first time this summer. My wife and I took the train to the heart of the city. Then we just started walking towards the waterfront. On the way there, we found the castle that is called the Castle Keep. The Newcastle Keep is a remarkably preserved 12th-century Norman fortress located in the city center of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and is the very origin of the city’s name. Commissioned by King Henry II and built between 1172 and 1177, this Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument stands alongside its 13th-century fortified gatehouse, the Black Gate. Together, they form what is known today as Newcastle Castle.