What is easy for you?

I don’t enjoy being lost. I dislike the feeling of being out of control, and I am not really good with a map. Just ask my children. Years ago when we were all together at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, I recall being so frustrated when I tried to navigate and get us to the Egyptian exhibit. It seemed impossible to figure out, so I was letting out a big sigh when my son, Chris, asked what was wrong. When I explained, he simply said, “Give me the map. It’s easy for me.”

This September my husband Mark and I spent our anniversary in Venice. Being in Venice was very romantic and sensual. Venice is a city unlike any other, completely surrounded by water. People from all over the world were there, and we heard many different languages as we strolled down the alleyways and over small bridges. Mark is an amazing tracker and navigator. I would follow him anywhere, and I have. He has this uncanny sense of direction, a built-in internal type of GPS. Plus, the man is a genius with a map. Believe me, it is almost impossible not to get lost in Venice! I told him that if I had been by myself, I probably would have never left the hotel or at least maybe wandered exclusively around St. Mark’s Square. By nature, I am a risk-taker and an adventurous person. Normally, I am not afraid of things, but I feel so frustrated when I try to interpret tiny maps and Venice presented a huge challenge. I felt bad about myself because accurate reading and interpretation of maps is not high in my skill set, but then I remembered that we all contribute in our own ways.

I speak pretty decent Italian and that has helped us in certain ways when we have traveled in Italy. Mark is grateful for that, so I figured that I could just be grateful for his ability to help us get around smoothly. We all have our gifts and talents, and they don’t have to be the same. In fact, we all benefit when we shine and allow the people we love to do the same. Next time you’re discouraged about something you do not do well, look inside and appreciate yourself for other ways that you contribute to the people around you. It’s also great to affirm those around you when they’re shining their own unique light.