I am fascinated by Leonardo Da Vinci. Wikipedia describes him as a polymath – one whose knowledge is not restricted to one area. He was a scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer. “He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived.^“

Wow. That’s a statement, isn’t it? Out of the billions and billions of people to have existed since him, there is none that we know of, who has matched his talent and ability. Da Vinci represents the great possibilities of the human mind – what we are capable of learning, creating and understanding if we allow ourselves to; if we have the desire to.

But this one out of a billion ratio makes me wonder. How many other people may have had the ability and talent to become as prolific as Da Vinci, perhaps even moreso (shock!), but never realized it. Maybe this was due to circumstance like war or poverty. Maybe he/she became the parent of 12 children. Maybe this person needed better tutelage or more funds.

In this case, Da Vinci’s talent as an artist was recognized as a child and then fostered early in his life. From then, the environment he was surrounded by, the people/teachers who took him under their wing all allowed for this healthy growth in the arts and other interests. So, not only was Da Vinci inherently capable of doing great things, but he also lived in a time and place that allowed them to be realized.

In this time and place, being 21st Century in a ‘Western world’, I wonder if there is a Leonardo Da Vinci the second currently in the making. Someone who will indulge in ALL of his or her interests and talents, somehow sharing it with the world. Someone who will stretch the known capacity of the human mind, perhaps even inspiring others to do the same.