To achieve greatness or simply to be

I often ponder the beauty and agility of animals. Picture a bird swooping through a clear sky, landing deftly on a thin branch, and beginning to sing, it's syrinx spilling out incredibly beautiful sounds.

When we consider human abilities, there is always some metric of achievement and manifestation of worldly success associated with talents. Singing alone in a forest would be useless; we have to try out for that new reality tv singing competition. Being born with a muscular and stunning physique is only worthwhile if we prove our worth in sports or perhaps sexual leverage. Similarly, a brilliant mind is said to be wasted if we do not pursue a lofty education and apply it to technological advancement, or some other intellectual pursuit.

The greatness of animals is inherent and anonymous. Fame does not exist. (Social hierarchy is distinct from notoriety beyond one's direct interactions.) There is no award for the frog who can jump the highest. No degree for the octopus.

I find myself questioning the immense pressure I and many other talented people feel to prove and apply our intelligence. Especially considering the millions of scholars who, in previous epochs as well as in the present day, work on challenging technical topics just to live and die as anonymously as a butterfly at the end of its season. There are cases of Mensans who others consider less-than because they are brilliant but not "functionally" so. Still others are incredibly industrious but suffer from a "look-at-me" attitude, pushed to compile mountains of publications, always wanting their knowledge and abilities to impress other people and make them recognize their greatness. Is it not enough just to be? Like a bird with incredible abilities, expressing its nature without an audience.