Photography is a skill I have–and I love it when I have a subject like this Laura Bugharrini pot in Mata Ortiz. So am I willing to work ON my skill–not just IN it?

I am a designed being. Nothing could be more obvious.

I am gifted–and that is a developing reality.

But here is the question: as I use these precious moments I have, how do I invest the time? If I spend all my time working with my gifts that is good. But will I take the time as a higher (be it less demanding) priority to work ON my skills and gifting. Or will I get so busy working IN my gifting that I get stale and loose my passionate and creative edge.

Whooo! This is fun to run (I mean live all out) in alignment with what I am good at. And it is even more rewarding as I get older. But only if I am GROWING older…and that means getting better at what I excel at.

So here is what happened: yesterday my son Luke Hensleigh called me with a WordPress.org question. I knew what he needed, knew how to solve the issues he had, knew the wordpress dashboard in my head–you get the idea. See, I knew all of this because I have taken the time to work ON my skill of writing and photography and creativity–not just IN it.

Here is how to do this:

1. Get it that you are created/designed/ put here with a purpose.
2. Understand your gifting/strengths/ areas of curiosity. (Good essay on passion and curiosity at  NeedLessGiveMore.com)
3. Make a list of the above and ask someone close to you to give some honing and feedback on the list.
4. Plan each day to grow in one of your gift/skill areas–something concrete to be better at that area. This is working ON your gift, not just IN it
5. Repeat this list all you life–remind yourself “I am a designed purposeful being, I have these gifts, I LOVE it, I will grow today in this way…

So when I was running all summer getting ready for this 50 miler, it was all about working ON. The when I showed up there in Steamboat, it was all about IN.

I loved both parts.