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Brenda Valentine NWTF Spokeswoman |
A talent to share
During the past 20-odd years of writing for hunting/outdoor related publications I can’t recall an article that got as much attention and feedback as Hen Tracks in the March/April Turkey Country titled “I Believe.” E-mails and phone calls poured in for weeks from NWTF members across the country with positive comments or requests for permission to reprint.
No. 2 on that list of what “I Believe” is a prime example of the “sharing the outdoors“ theme of this issue: Everyone has a talent and those who use it and share it are happiest.
Most folks have talents they don’t recognize as being special gifts or feel them worthy of sharing with others. At every NWTF outreach event I attend I see shining examples of everyday people like you and me feel pride and fulfillment by sharing whatever it is they know or do with other everyday people. More often than not lives are changed by this simple interaction.
One example is a husband-wife team in Kentucky who agreed that sharing their home and land for an annual JAKES and Women in the Outdoors turkey hunt was the best way they could give back to the hunting way of life that means so much to them. Neither claim to be expert callers or hunters nor do they have a fancy lodge or huge acreage to hold these events. Yet they have impacted hundreds of lives in a positive way while contributing to the future of our hunting tradition by sharing their special gifts of unselfishness and enthusiasm.
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Photo Courtesy Brenda Valentine Sometimes just sharing your time is the greatest gift of all. |
As I watched three burly Texans pumping bellows and breathing life into their forges stationed behind the rural Methodist church, I wondered if they were braced for the attention they were about to receive. The smiles and squeals of delight soon became a predictable reaction as each lady in the class hammered a new creation from a bar of hot steel. The aforementioned blacksmiths never dreamed just how appreciative these Women in the Outdoors participants would be as they shared a basic skill they took for granted.
Adam, the wounded warrior I accompanied on a hunt recently, was experienced in the woods. Although he is an amputee with other serious health issues, his mobility is remarkable and his attitude most excellent.
He really didn’t need me to call his turkey or assist with the firearm. It soon became apparent his greatest need was someone to share the experience with. I don’t consider sitting in a ground blind or telling hunting tales special talents, but I’m willing to bet there was something said or done that day that impacted the soldier in a way I’ll never know. Sometimes just sharing your time can be the greatest gift of all.
Each of us has the ability to change attitudes and enrich lives. The key ingredients are a caring heart and a small bit of time to use the talent we’re born with. At the conclusion of the wounded warrior hunt, I discovered a gift in me that I’d never before recognized — a strong arm for hefting his big gobbler over my shoulder for the walk out while Adam skillfully negotiated the terrain with both crutches.
A talent does not have to be brilliant to be helpful or inspiring; it simply must be used.
— Brenda Valentine
Keep up with Brenda and her adventures at www.brendavalentine.com