The question is:

Can genius be lost?  I think there are a lot of theories about why some people, who seem to be very good at what they do, don't succeed.

The teacher in "Whiplash" felt it had to be beaten down and held to the fire, annealed so to speak.  Others feel it must be nourished and coddled, encouraged at any cost.  I'm sure there are examples of either one of these to prove it true.

But I wonder if the truth is simply that genius is. 

After all, a meadow lark will grow up to be a meadow lark and a kangaroo will grow up to be a kangaroo no matter what. Whether or not it is the best lark or roo is a matter of opinion, so whose opinion counts?

The one who makes the most money off of its talent?  The one whose heart melts when it appears? Or the creature itself when it finds a fulfilling and joyous existence doing what it loves?

Some people may feel that all of these are necessary in order to call it real genius, or "the best!"

I don't.