Sharing Our Talents

I am more than my smile, my legs, and my career. I am a writer. Now, when on a date, I can talk about why I want to write and how I’ve learned to do so. It’s more entertaining to both of us than batting around flirty comments about high heeled boots. Finally!

My point?

What would your friends say about you if they were asked to write about one of your best talents? Take that thought and run with it. Hold on! I bet you’d look cute in an apron and heels, but that’s not the direction I want you to go. Give me something with a little more substance.

Your assignment (should you choose to accept it) is to pitch one of your shining talents to me. Go ahead; tell me what’s so wonderful about you. In the process, maybe you’ll start to believe it and then you’ll be able to talk to someone about something tangible.


Not long ago I was asked to do a friend a favor. She wanted me to write about her baking abilities. She’d grown weary of updating her online dating profile with new photographs and deep quotes from even deeper authors. She knew that where she did some of her best work was in the kitchen. She also knew that cooking for a partner would make her very happy, indeed. In the process, I learned a little more about myself. Here's what I wrote about my friend:


“An Introduction to ‘L’, Baker of Pies”

The woman is an accomplished cook. She is accomplished at many things. It seems that she puts her mind to something and she achieves that goal. She is bright, pretty, and I count her among my small circle of friends. She has a saucy sense of humor that is a pleasure to witness in action. This isn't about the overall package that is Laurel, though. This is about her pie-baking abilities.

I'd ask you to close your eyes and use your imagination, but you wouldn't be able to read my words. Why should you close your eyes? If your eyes were closed you'd be able to dedicate your senses - your imagination - to the textures, the tastes, the aromas of one of her creations. If your eyes were closed, I think you might get a better experience out of this little essay.

She starts with her great-grandmother's crust recipe. She tried to share it with me once, but I admit that my pie-making abilities are limited by my patience and my tendency to eyeball measurements. She is a stickler for ingredients and exact quantities. She is a self-described Kitchen Whore (yes, we need capitals) and she even has measuring spoons for dashes and pinches. I know her recipe is similar to that of my own great-grandmother, I would simply rather let her do the baking.

She chooses the right filling for the right occasion. I've had her pear tart in the fall and her pumpkin pie at Christmas. She makes a beautiful peach pie in summertime. You want a lattice top? Leaves or fluted edges? She can handle it with ease.

Now that I've given you the basics, let's get down to the real reason her pies are so good. She has the timing down to a science. She knows - she senses - when they should come out of the oven. Because of this innate knowledge, her guests can count on...

...a perfect slice with filling that yields with just the right amount of tenderness to the fork as the tines make their way to the golden crust that is at the same time, tender and flaky. This is a marriage of science and art in a Pyrex plate. Layers of crust melt in your mouth, with just a hint of saltiness, their crispness playing off of the sweetness of the filling. (This would be a great place to close your eyes.)

She comes complete with her own marble rolling pin, mixing bowls and I've seen her fill out an apron in the most fetching manner. She also insists on whipping her own cream for the pumpkin and if this doesn't convince you, imagine one more thing. Imagine sitting at the kitchen table and seeing her smiling face as she opens the freezer door and asks, "Would you like vanilla ice cream with that peach pie?"

Yummy! Aren’t you hungry now? Get busy, would you? Start working on your self-descriptors. I’m anxious to hear from you. I have a feeling you’ll find that once you start thinking about how terrific you are you’ll have the start of something to talk about over dinner. Just make sure to order coffee and take time to enjoy the dessert.

We’ll talk a little about listening later.



Contact me at:

askthedatecoach@live.com








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