Inspire Someone Today

You never know another person's words or actions can affect you.

When I was in the 9th grade, my PE teacher, Mr. Black, used to periodically challenge his students to hang from the pull-up bar for one minute. He promised to buy an ice cream bar for anyone who could successfully hang from the bar for 60 seconds.

On one particular day, after several boys had tried and failed, I decided to try. I hung on for 58 seconds, and then my fingers became too numb, and I released the bar.

I asked him if I could still get the ice cream, and he told me no, because I hadn't completed the challenge. I tried to negotiate, reminding him that I had hung on the bar longer than anyone else, who had tried--- even all the boys. He apologized and said "no" again.

A little later that day, as I was walking down the hallway, I passed Mr. Black in the hallway, as he was talking to another teacher. I overheard him tell the other teacher, "You see that girl right there? That girl can do ANYTHING!".

I didn't turn around or anything. I just smiled and kept walking to class. I always remembered that Mr. Black not only believed that I could do anything, but he also believed it enough to tell another teacher.

I NEVER forgot about that, and I tell myself, daily, that I can do ANYTHING...

And that's exactly what I do.

Inspire someone today. It may have a dramatic effect on his or her life.

#GYPSY! (Get Your Priorities Straight, Ya'll!)

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Willy Nilly

Sometimes, I just get so frustrated with myself. I have all these talents, ideas and knowledge, but I have a severe difficulty trying to figure what to do with all of this shit.

I read something the other day about another blogger who said that he had always enjoyed writing, and he wanted to start a blog, and so he did. No one really read his blog until he began to write every day.

The more you do something, the better you become at it. Now, I'm not going to make a promise that I will write EVERY DAY, but I will try to write something every week, at least, until I feel like being more frequent.

I'm not setting my goal low. I just know that between my love for writing, creating clothing, jewelry and art, that I have other things, to which I would like to dedicate my time.

It's difficult, trying to find your way, when your mind is running a mile a minute (even when you do take your Adderall). For now, I will blog as if I am writing a journal. I want to look back at my posts a year or two from now and see my growth, reflect on my journey, and express gratitude for the everything I will have experienced.

I hope that, by writing this, it helps someone else and, if one of you who reads this can offer advice, encouragement and/or direction, I'm open to it!

ADHD: The Struggle Pt. 2

Almost 3 years ago, my son was diagnosed with ADHD. As he was going through the process of being diagnosed, we worked with doctors, school counselors and administrators to and answer a series of questions, related to his behaviors. 

As we went through the process, I realized that many of the behaviors he exhibited were my behaviors as well. From this realization, I decided that I, too, needed to be evaluated, and so I also went through the process and discovered that I was also ADHD.

Many people do not believe that ADHD is real, but I am here to tell you that it certainly is. As a young child, I was a "good student" academically, but my citizenship and conduct was never in-line.

I specifically recall wanting to be a safety patrol when I was in the 5th grade. In order to become a patrol, you had to have all A's and at least an "S" (for Satisfactory) in citizenship and conduct. I worked hard, the first grading period, in order to attain all A's, but I got an "N" (Needs Improvement), instead. My heart was broken. I felt discouraged, and gave up. I never again earned all A's and decided that I just couldn't do it.

It's very frustrating because, as an adult, many of the "issues" I had as a child carried on into my adult life. Every job I have had, it seemed as though I had an iconoclastic personality. It wasn't that. I don't have a problem with authority. 

ADHD causes one to question things that seem to not be "right". It's sort of like having OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Any time that I notice a "mistake", it has to be "fixed" or pointed out, and if it isn't, it drives me nuts. I hate feeling like that. I truly wish that I can see or hear things that are not "right" and keep going about my business but I find it difficult to do so. 

Whatever comes up in our minds, it seems that it HAS to come out. This often leads to offending and/or hurting others' feelings. We don't mean to. We just "call it how we see it". Some people love us for it and others despise us because we seems to always be "running our mouths", recklessly.

I was prescribed Adderall almost 3 years ago, and it has helped me immensely, however, there was a lapse in my medical coverage earlier this year, and I have not been taking my meds regularly. I definitely feel a difference. My thoughts are erratic. I'm impulsive with my actions and words and I find it more easy to become depressed. It sucks.

Many do not consider ADHD as a mental disorder, but it is. I hate not being able to focus and when the plights of depression arise, I find it difficult to become and stay motivated. 

I'm sharing all of this information because we often see people with physical disabilities and can sympathize with them, almost instantly, but when a person has a mental disability, it's less apparent.

We're called "crazy", we're not. We need support and encouragement, just like anyone else. I love the positive and productive person that I am when I am taking my medication. I feel "safe" and my thoughts are more clear. I would love to find an alternative treatment, but I haven't yet.

Practicing yoga and meditating have helped, but without my meds, I find it difficult to even do that. I hope and pray that what I need is given to me, so that I can get back on track and be the person that I was becoming. 

I like her.