When you are slightly better or faster or just find doing it (whatever "it" is) more rewarding compared to your peers, then it takes lower effort to get the same reward. This means you are more likely to spend more time doing it. This means that after a while you have more practice than your peers, so the difference in ability is amplified. Now various grownups around you notice and complement you on it, get you lessons to do it better, provide you with supplies, &c. and the difference grows.

By the time you are looking at teenagers, it's hard to tell how much of the difference stems from natural ability, and how much of it is this snowball effect.

Ex teacher here:

Some people really really seems to have a harder time with certain subjects than others.

I took pride in being a good teacher but I have experienced one person who - despite being normal and being able to keep a normal job - just couldn't grasp the basics of computers.

And by basics I mean:

Connect power cable, press power button, wait for Windows to load, type password and open Internet explorer.

It would stop somewhere in between there each time.

There is nothing wrong with that just like there is nothing wrong with me never being able to become a long haul truck driver (falls asleep), pilot (partially colour blind), or soccer star (hopeless).

> but it's the enjoyment I derive from these things that I believe is the difference between some people and I.

Thus is huge as well. Possibly also underappreciated.

Programming is a form of expression for me, and I derive great satisfaction from solving and creating software which truly helps the users I work for. On the the other hand my lack of detachment from 'myself' and 'my work' also can cause some unnecessary pain at times, but it's a work in progress.

If anyone has achieved the balance I seek, I'd be glad to hear their story!

Right. Can (or should) appreciation and enjoyment of a particular kind of work be taught? Or is it an innate quality... a talent, even?