Today was different. It was a mundane spring day filled with chores, and somehow, I managed to mess up my schedule. Imagine not knowing the time or location, even for myself, a comical situation indeed.

I shared the unfolding events of my day with my close family over the phone. (I always mention that my phone and house are bugged, but that’s another story that nobody seems to care about.)

In my Zen-like state, I kept myself at a distance from anything or anyone that could disrupt my inner peace. Yet, fate had other plans, as I encountered HER at the subway station.

“Never talk to strangers, and never care more than necessary,” became my mantra to avoid trouble.

But this time… I don’t know what compelled me to start a conversation with her. Now, analyzing the facts I know.

She was STRANGE, working there. She seemed to work without caring about her tasks or location.

So, I was curious about the kind of work this young woman did that made her seem so indifferent.

I approached her cautiously, but she didn’t care. I couldn’t help but wonder why she bothered with her job if she didn’t care at all.

Exceptionally well-trained, with impeccable American English, she surprised me with her conversational skills.

How could someone be such an impeccable intellectual and beautiful at the same time and not care about their work?

This cognitive dissonance made me want to know more.

Firstly, you can’t be a Portuguese-born construction worker in a “TOXIC” work environment while speaking such beautiful, articulate, accent-free American English.

Secondly, you can’t do social work if you don’t value your work.

Thirdly, you can’t be beautiful and intelligent and work at a subway station. In many cases, intelligence excludes beauty.

Fourthly, you can’t be beautiful, intelligent, and possess communication skills and PRACTICAL STREET SKILLS, all at once.

I let her talk, continuing to inquire and round up her profile.

She seemed too intelligent for organized crime, too beautiful for intelligence work, her English too perfect to be Portuguese, and her street skills too refined to be solely intellectual.

She was an intelligence asset, and only GOD knows how she and I ended up in the same place at the same time.

Unless she was tracking my phone, my card, my car, and everything else in case of “DISASTERS.”

This is what we need to teach the next generation: to STAY UNBIASED, assess and reassess, control their emotions, and do the job they are educated, trained, and experienced in. And more than anything, to do what they WANT TO DO not to be persuaded by others!

Whatever her job was at the subway, she excelled at it. Too intelligent and easily bored, but undeniably skilled.

You must learn what you are truly good at and what you enjoy doing, and pursue it!

This is the difference between a PROFESSIONAL TALENT and a high-working capability!