Life lesson

Playing to My Strength Opened up a Gift Box —

Of a bunch of other strengths

Image by Tanaphong Toochinda from Unsplash

“You win games with your strengths, not your weaknesses.” — Bear Bryant

Several years ago, when I moved with my family to Texas, we joined an Indian Association in our city.

A month later, I got a call from the Association’s president asking if I would serve as Entertainment Coordinator for the next two-year term. We had met at a dinner party the previous weekend. She was impressed (she said) with how readily I put forth my opinions.

I didn’t know why being opinionated made me a shoo-in for entertainment coordinator. I told her I had no experience putting together even a family reunion. How could I organize cultural and religious events for fifty families — ?

But she persisted. “Please… it’s tough finding people for the committee.” And then she threw me a bone. “I promise you can quit any time, and I’ll take your place.”

“Umm… okay,” I said.

And the little horned being perched on my shoulder crowed, “Sucker!”

This is not what we paid for…

I soon met the two other people serving with me on the committee. The president (a quiet, sixty-something guy), and…