Lesson #1 – It’s About The Experience

I learned not too long ago that I was nothing more than a passenger in my own life.  I was watching other people have fun…just waiting for the day when I would have fun.  Kinda laughable if you ask me?  It happened on a weekend in March – when I realized that I need to take control of my own life and live in the driver’s seat.

Life is about the experience – about the journey – NOT the destination.

Lesson #2 – Some Things Only Make Sense After You Mess Up

I once heard a story about two sisters.  One was a straight-A student, and the other struggled through school.  Later in life, the straight-A student got easily frustrated when she faced a challenge, whereas the sister who struggled knew how to fight for what she wanted.

I made a mistake building my kids swing seet, and as I looked at that mistake, I realized there was no way around making it – unless I had put one together before.

Lesson #3 – You’ve Got To Have Fun

The day the swing set arrived, I was excited.  Some people might say it was like Christmas morning.  But not everyone was excited.  My neighbors kept telling me I was nuts.  I should hire someone to put it together – they told me.

Why on Earth they were frustrated by my own decision, I’ll never understand.  But I knew differently.  I saw the look in my kids eyes, and I wanted to have fun with them – and build memories we could cherish together.

Lesson #4 – Sometimes You’ve Got To Build Memories

I don’t know what else to say here.  Sometimes life and the lessons we have are about building memories – moments you can cherish and look back on, knowing you made a difference, had an impact, or just had fun.  It’s not always about getting it right, or doing it right like so many people (teachers, bosses, co-workers, parents) want from us.

Lesson #5 – It’s Not About Me

As I put this swing set together, I kept reminding myself – "It’s not about me."  This one is for my kids.  I chose to sacrifice the days and hours it has and will continue to take me to put this together.  And that’s okay.  I have consciously made that decision – knowing ahead of time – that this is NOT about me.  This is about my kids (and in some ways, it then becomes about me).

Not everything we do or choose to do in life is about "us."  Sometimes we need to get past that, and think about the joy it will bring others.

Lesson #6 – Even Plans Fall Apart (Bumps In The Road)

I’ve had so many setbacks on this project – I don’t know when I’ll finish it.  I’ve had pieces break…  Pieces missing…  Unexpected rain ruining the manual…  Kids who want to play, and neighborhood kids who want to watch and ask me 5,000 questions about why the wood is brown instead of "wood color."  It happens!

Lesson #7 – It’s More Fun With Help

I am a kinda do-it-yourself guy.  Whether it’s in my business or working on a project for my kids – I am perfectly fine (and usually successful) working on my own.  But even though the nieghborhood kids were distracting me and frustrating me (to a degree), it was more fun having life happen around me.  But what was even more – was being able to ask my wife to come outside and help.  She brought our kids outside who kept getting in the way…  Grabbing the tools – measuring the wood…  And just having fun!

Could we say 90% ?  Is that too high?  I mean, I think it’s pretty fair to say that it’s more than 50%.

I don’t know the answer, but it makes ya think…  What else don’t we understand?  What else are we really confused about because of popular belief?

Well, I’m not here to be philosophical this morning.  I actually am just here to share that I continue to be amazed at what people are willing to share with others about ADHD (when they clearly just don’t get it).

This morning I came across the following question: Is It Bad To Have ADHD?

The question came from what appears to be a young adult — maybe even teen or younger — whose friends all think he has ADHD.  He described being hyper, having a difficult time paying attention, and not being able to sit still for very long.

Sounds like ADHD – but is it based JUST on this information?

Question:  Is it so hard to say, “I don’t know” instead of offering an opinion that is fueled by totally inaccurate information?

Here’s what some people offered up:

• A girl in my class has it, and she’s really and she has no friends.
• Yes, probably…
• Just have your Dr. prescribe you Ritalin and you’ll be fine.
• If you want to control it, just ask for more pills.
• It’s just ADD now – and not every kid has it.
• Just get some meds for it.
• It’s a mental disorder, it’s not a good thing

Well – I suppose there is some accurate information in there, but what happens when most of it is bad information (especially when children are asking the questions)?

What Do You Think?

We’d love to hear from you. Go ahead and give us your thoughts in the comments below.

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It was only a few hours early that our flight was canceled, and we were looking at an extra day or two (or more) in Tampa.  At first glance, that might not be a bad thing.  After all, we were spending time with family and getting some long overdue time away from home.

But with the storm approaching, we just couldn’t risk being delayed all week long.

Looking back, the storm was NOT as bad as they predicted…  But honestly, it changes nothing!

Hurricane Parties…

Just two days earlier, as some families were rushing out to the store in absolute panic, I heard my brother being invited to a “hurricane party.”  Now I don’t really know what that is, and I didn’t feel the need to ask.  But the story here is that it is amazing to see the different reactions people have to the same situation.

The last time my wife and I traveled to Florida (in August no less), my wife and I experienced our first hurricane ever.  Aside from never wanting to travel to Florida again in August, I am amazed by how people react to impending disaster (or the thought of disaster)…

Just three years ago, I watched my brother carefully and calmly board up his windows.  He quickly cleaned his yard, and removed any object that could quickly become a projectile.

Only a few blocks away, another family member (to remain nameless) was frozen in fear.  Despite knowing that Tampa Bay had not seen a hurricane in 86 years, this individual thought the world was coming to an end.  And while I’ll give him some credit because it was his first hurricane ever – these two different responses stand out for me.

You see, despite being this person’s first hurricane – this was a normal approach to life.

Disaster was always looming.  The end of the world was always approaching.

And yet, even while some people are frozen in fear, others are out partying and having a good time in life (or at least trying or pretending).

What Are You Waiting For?

Will you be frozen in fear when life comes at you?  Or will you enjoy the moments that you have – even if a storm is approaching?

As people with ADHD, sometimes we struggle with our emotions.  Sometimes it is NOT easy to always see the glass as half-full, but we can try and approach things differently.  And we can certainly do our best to laugh when we have no control over the weather (or other parts of life)…

Are you constantly preparing for the worst?

Or are you  ready to deal with what might be coming at you?

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