Comments on: “I’m not gifted . . . I’m a woman!”

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:01:18 +0000

When people learn that you’re gifted they expect you to be like a machine in your replies and answers. I find lower class women to be kind of like monkeys and squirrels. They begin chimping around and I end up angry.

Gosh, Wally, where’s Margaret Mead when you need her.

Is it okay to be gifted and mean? Or do I have to be nice all of my life and take all of this abuse?

I drink occasionally to deal with this.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:48:14 +0000

Excellent post, and excellent comments! I love how you are honest about your inner little boy. I wish more people could be.

There I go with my usual complaining about “most people”, hence the reason I found the comment about “whining” especially helpful! I am going to try to take that one to heart.

Thank you for helping me feel less alone! I often feel like I am too concerned with justice, too sensitive, think too much. Mainly because other people have told me so. It feels good to think I am perfectly okay the way I am!

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:52:56 +0000

You’re right! Absolutely right! Too much for people – and here I thought it was me! It is very difficult to accept that I’m gifted because I’ve been told all my life that I was too sensitive, too intense, too driven, too idealistic, too moral, too honest – and, truly, too much period. And yet I couldn’t be any other way – when I went to the daVinci exhibit, I felt right at home – diversity, intensity, scope – it was amazing! When I read your article, I felt the same way – finally, I found a “home” of sorts – someone who understands the way I am and it’s not a bad thing – thank you for this article!

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:11:22 +0000

I am happy that you are asking gifted women to claim their label, after all “The hand the rocks the cradle rules the world.” We can be Moms and gifted and model for our children what excellence, fulfillment, and acceptance looks like. It may be that we are happy being Moms and that our greatest work (above all the eminent things we’ve done) is to raise our children to love and accept themselves and their gifts. They will go out into the world as whole and healthy people who might also be a force for change. The choice to be a full time Mom was not second-best or what I had to do because I had a baby, it was my first choice and done with great joy. I had my children at 41, had done many things before that, and will have time to do many more after they are raised. After all, I will only be in my 60′s when they are gone to college. I can be a wise crone, a force for change, still a Mom, role model, and gifted woman.

By: Douglas Eby

Douglas Eby — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:30:01 +0000

Thanks for a very stimulating post. Here are a couple of related quotes:

“There are too many stupid girls in the media. Hermione’s not scared to be clever.” Emma Watson about her character in the “Harry Potter” films.
From my post
http://womenandtalent.com/62/

M. Scott Peck has noted, “Many who are truly superior.. are reluctant to consider themselves ‘better than’ or ‘above’ others, in large part because a sense of humility accompanies their personal and spiritual power.”

In his book “The Road Less Traveled and Beyond” he describes his interview with a young woman: “‘I don’t want to be a whiner’ [she said]. ‘Then you’ll need to learn how to accept your superiority’ I retorted. ‘My what? What do you mean?’

“Jane was dumbfounded. ‘I’m not superior.’ ‘All your complaints [I said] – your whining, if you will – center around your probably accurate assessment that your dates aren’t as smart as you, your professors aren’t as humble as you, and your fellow students aren’t as interesting as you.’”

From my post Celebrating giftedness: You may be gifted – get over it
http://highability.org/67/

By: Phyllis Horne

Phyllis Horne — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:18:52 +0000

Christopher, as usual, very insightful, meaningful and thought provoking. I have big news for you on Friday specifically relevant to “Power is confronting “the demons that prevent us as human beings from living up to our full potential.” – Cheryl Dorsey, MD, President, Echoing Green”. I’m looking forward to it. Also will pass this on to several of my gifted female friends! ph