I really recommend keeping a Gratitude Journal. It has helped me through the good and tough times. I forget sometimes, but it always focuses me when I practice gratitude. I just list 3 things off each night before bed. Today I am Grateful for: The fabulous Farmer’s Market near our home, for getting along with my husband today, and for our funny, affectionate cat, Stella. I can’t focus on those negative “If I only had a brain” notions, I’ll leave that to the Scarecrow.

I recently reconnected with a group of women that I love, they are an hour’s drive from my house, but worth the effort and gas money! Instead of licking my wounds (like the lion) because I don’t have any local friends , I am remembering that I do have people who care about me, and I must seek them out.

Oh, and I agree with Bryan, I also believe that our “Add-style” strengths are going to be important in the next wave of society’s growth. For instance, with jobs the way they are, people need to really start to think outside of the box. I am pretty darn good at that (when I can focus those thoughts). I have a really good intuition, too, and I am working on growing that strength right now. (See my latest blog for that story.
My strengths just really need some “oiling up,” they have been pretty rusty for awhile (yes, Tin Man analogy here).

Finally, I look at those Ruby Slippers and I think of what Glinda told Dorothy: that she had the power to go home all along. The power and strength we need is always within ourselves, and will come when we can finally accept this thing called ADD , and I am starting to do just that. No one else can accept us until we can do it for ourselves.
♥♥♥♥♥♥

I think a lot of us tend to wait until the last minute or those ‘bad’ times to actually take a moment to write or give due consideration. I find it is best to set aside time each day, if even only five minutes, to write a few optimistic things about my day or situation.

Yes… it’s important to stop! Crashing is what we usually do though

Bryan

About the journalling, I began to notice that I only write when I’m in bad mood or when there’s something that disturbs me. When things are going fine, I rarely write it on. Maybe I should change this habit, giving more attention to the positives in my life. After all, it’s now their turn to take lead.

About your writing
“Keep walking and every now and then, stop to smell the roses…” it reminded me when I was in Haarderwijk, a small city in the Netherlands for holiday. I passed a rose bush while riding my bicycle. The sweet smell of the roses caught my nose, so delightful until I didn’t pay attention to the road. Next thing I knew there was a bicycle coming on my way. It’s good that I reacted quickly so I could avoid a possible embarrassing accident. Lesson learned: it’s good to smell the roses, but don’t forget to stop, as you suggested

Thanks for stopping by! You are so right. It should never be us against them, or anyone. In the perfect world, we all should get along and help each other. We are different, each of us and like you mentioned, our challenges are unique and rather uncommon, but that doesn’t mean anyone else’s are less so, even if they appear normal. Appearances can be deceiving… don’t you think? It’s interesting that you mention the left brained culture, as that is indeed what we are currently finding ourselves in; however, especially with the economy the way it is, that is changing… I don’t think we are going to go all the way to the right brain side, but, I do think we are going to meet more in the middle-ish area We keep going as things have always been, they won’t get better and sometimes nature just has to take its course. It’s just too bad that so much suffering becomes part of the process… collateral damage, if you will…. Thanks for all you do too!! You are such a benefit to us all Your website: http://www.arianebenefit.com

Hi Charlotte,

I think anyone would feel swamped in your situation. Two teenagers is already a handful and with ADHD? Oh my! You must be an incredible mother! You come on ADDer World whenever you have time, we are ADDers after all, and sometimes we tend to just show up at differing times, with no schedule, random, but always welcome! Yes, please start the journal, even if just a couple minutes for you each day. There is so much you do each and every day to be proud of and is positive not only for your family, but yourself as well. Sometimes the one we tend to neglect and forget about is right there in the mirror.

Anna,

I know what you mean. “Outcast” is such a strong word, with a painful meaning. In each person’s perspective ‘normal’ is different and, of course, anything but normal. However, I can totally relate with the wanting to fit in, get along and collaborate. Even so, I think you have found a place for yourself already. As you can see, by the responses here and on your other post, you are not alone and perhaps, just perhaps, not such an outcast after all. Keep on painting your rainbows with your words and phrases; we will keep on reading and enjoying them. We are not alone, no, never alone and that’s really The Brilliant Reality of ADHD and humanity, if you will. There’s a group for each type and sometimes it takes a while to find the group which we can call ‘ours’, but once we do….

~Bryan

Just a thought to add….I don’t think in terms of “normal” people vs. ADDers. I think of it as being “uncommon” vs. “common” or “extraordinary” vs. “ordinary or average”

When you think of that way, you realize that average people often don’t know how to deal with the “uncommon” amongst them. : )

As you said, we do have uncommon gifts and benefits… and like Sari Solden says in ADD Journeys, we also have unique and uncommon challenges to go with them. We, as the minority, are tasked with learning to protect ourselves by learning to embrace our gifts, let go of trying to please everyone, and manage the expectations of others who “expect” or wish we were more like them. We are tasked with finding the strength and support to choose uncommon paths to make a living in this left-brain dominated culture where we don’t have to conform to being “average.”

Thanks so much for all you do to promote awareness of ADHD and a place for ADDers to connect with people who “get” them and find support to dare to be different and PROUD of it! You are aweseome!

Thank you for the complement Judy! Actually, yes, I have read Daniel’s book and wrote about it. Ah, your comment is invigorating! ‘Fired up, sharp, interested and involved with life’ that’s a great way to look at things on the yellow brick road!

Oh, and, the second picture in the post was to show how we can travel down the yellow brick road together. Nobody needs or must walk it alone!

Bryan