The Gift Only You Can Give

“I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum.” — The Little Drummer Boy

Sometimes it’s tempting to wait for someone else to step in. Maybe we’re hoping they’ll take responsibility for a task we dread, or maybe we’re afraid to fail, so we tell ourselves someone else would do it better. But here’s the truth: there are things in this life—relationships, responsibilities, creative expressions, and opportunities for growth—that only we can carry in the way we’re uniquely wired to do. Avoiding them doesn’t just shift the weight onto someone else—it also deprives us of the deep, transformative work that comes when we rise to the occasion.

In my home, my wife has always been the planner. It’s something she does naturally and well. Me? Not so much. But over time, I realized that when I let her carry all the planning, I wasn’t just avoiding something I wasn’t good at—I was contributing to burnout in someone I love. We are partners. And part of being in partnership means stepping up, even in the areas that don’t feel like “mine.”

As I begin to take more ownership—planning, anticipating, managing details—it's not easy, but it has started to change things. Our home is starting to feel more balanced, my wife feels more supported. And unexpectedly, those same muscles I was building—attention to detail, future thinking, emotional labor—are starting to show up in my business, too. I am getting stronger by leaning into what I had been avoiding.

This is how contribution works. Your gift, even if it’s imperfect, is still yours to give. Whether it’s stepping up in your family, your business, your community, or your creativity, your drumbeat is one no one else can replicate. Others may be able to step in, but they can’t do it like you. And if you stay on the sidelines, you’ll miss the beauty of what grows in you when you dare to show up.

Like the little drummer boy, maybe we don’t feel like we have a “gift fit to give.” But what we do have is our willingness to play, to offer our unique rhythm. That’s more than enough. That’s everything.

Practical Tips to Stack Your Wins

✅ Start Small in the Areas You Resist

Choose one task you normally avoid and commit to doing it fully. Watch how it strengthens other parts of your life and work.

✅ Own Your Contribution

Ask yourself: “Where am I holding back what only I can give?” Then take a simple, actionable step forward in that area.

✅ Reframe the Task as Growth

Instead of seeing something as a chore or a weakness, view it as a training ground. Each time you engage with it, you’re becoming more whole.

Mantra for the Day

I show up fully, knowing that my unique contribution matters.

Daily Reflection

What are you currently avoiding that you know is uniquely yours to do? What would shift if you simply chose to “play your drum” today?