life

Blue Skies on Both Sides of (or Above) the Clouds

As I’ve mentioned before (and you’re probably starting to realize), I’m kind of obsessed with taking nature photos…and especially sky photos. Nature presents so many metaphors and can help you see things in a different perspective. Or maybe I’m just easily distracted because of the ADHD and nature is always there trying to grab my attention, so I fall victim to it. But, honestly…of all the things that distract me, I gotta say nature’s my favorite.

When I saw this sky scene the other afternoon, I had to capture it. The metaphor is so very in-your-face (or at least it was in mine).

Clouds come, but blue skies will come again.

As much as it doesn’t feel like it sometimes, pain is only temporary. If you can hang in there for just a little longer, things will get better and you’ll start to see the beauty in life again. Learn from your storms and you will be stronger for them. You’ll also appreciate the blue skies more for you know what it is like to live without them. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and such. 🙂

Also, aesthetically speaking, I’m just really drawn to the contrast between the central cloud formation and the blue sky on both sides of it…and the way the sun seems to be peeking through the clouds, like it’s about to bust through and completely transform the scene. Sure, there’s more metaphor there, but it all boils down to the same thing…there’s always a reason to hope. Have faith and patience and the sun will eventually break through even your darkest cloud.

Inspirational Coffee

While you can all (likely) expect a future post about the effects of caffeine on the ADHD person (especially one who’s on a fairly high dosage of Adderall), this is not that post.

I’ve cut back significantly on my caffeine intake, but some days I give in to the temptation. Sometimes I just gotta get out of the office, even if I’ve brought my lunch…and some days I just want to partake in the delusional ritual of consuming it to avoid becoming narcoleptic in my cube.

This week, between being sick, having lots of projects and general burnout, I’ve already had two of those days (and it’s only Tuesday).

Albeit potentially panic-attack-inducing and/or blood-pressure-raising, my daily cup of coffee (decorated with words of wisdom from Oprah) has been rather inspirational and, quite frankly, spot on.

Today’s cup carried with it the following inspirational quote:

“No experience is ever wasted. Everything has meaning.” – Oprah Winfrey

And yesterday’s (though I didn’t snap a photo) said:

“Know what sparks the light in you. Then use that light to illuminate the world.” – Oprah Winfrey

Without excessively spilling my guts (as I still have tons to do tonight), I’ll just say this…both of these quotes really spoke to me. So much so, that I thought I’d share them with you guys. You never know what words might change your life…or somebody else’s.

Deficiencies in Concentration and Hyperactive Behavior

I’ve fallen short on my blogging duties the past few days. I haven’t been feeling well, so I’ve barely even had the energy to keep up with the daily grind. I’m also in the middle of some serious soul searching…that I’m not quite ready to discuss on here, at least not at length.

Anyway, we were watching Saving Mr. Banks last night and there were some pretty touching (inspiring) parts. In the spirit of full disclosure, I slept through the first of it, even though I’ve been wanting to see it for a while.

There was a scene that really hit home and I could almost see it unfolding before it even happened. A little history for those that haven’t seen the film, P.L. Travers is the author of the Mary Poppins books and Walt Disney spends most of the film trying to convince her to give him the rights, so he can make a Mary Poppins film. Ralph is Mrs. Travers’ driver while she’s in the U.S. (and Disney is trying to convince her to give him the rights). In one of the very sentimental moments in the film, Ralph opens up to Mrs. Travers about his daughter Jane who is bound to a wheelchair.

Toward the end of the film, Mrs. Travers gives Ralph a piece of paper with a list of names and the dialogue that followed kinda hit me like a ton of bricks:

As Ralph began to rattle off the list, “Albert Einstein, Van Gogh, Roosevelt, Frida Kahlo…” I knew exactly where it was going. Sure, all of these people were amazingly successful, but they did all also have potentially debilitating challenges to overcome…and they did…with flying colors.

I knew, too, that they were going to put Walt Disney out there…they kinda had to. It’s a pretty well known fact that Walt Disney exhibited symptoms of ADHD. Also, in Ralph’s eyes (and many other people’s eyes), Disney was a god. To see all that Disney accomplished and to know that he had his own set of challenges to overcome? Well, that’s pretty powerful.

It was even more powerful to me because of the timing of things in my life and the way that the scene seemed to speak to me directly.

Face your own obstacles head on. Live your dreams in spite of those obstacles…and sometimes because of them. Never stop believing in the life you know you were meant to live. You were given certain passions for a reason. Those obstacles…and those passions…were all give to you because you are meant to do something with them. Figure out what that thing is and do whatever it takes to make it happen.

If my, “Deficiencies in concentration and hyperactive behavior,” make me similar to Walt Disney (and let’s be honest, Einstein), then I feel pretty good about my chances in this life.

When My ADHD Messes With My OCD Hand Sanitizer

Germaphobia is real and it’s no surprise us OCDers are prone to it.

This is what happens when my ADHD steps on my OCD’s toes and I lose…or run out of…all of my hand sanitizer at one time. I’m a serious germaphobe, guys.

You can never have enough hand sanitizer.

Now, I’ve started out this batch by strategically placing a few bottles in all the places I frequent (car, bookbag, desk drawer, etc.), but I will likely end up empty handed all at the same time. Not sure how it happens like that. Just does. Maybe it means I’m using them in a balanced way, but I don’t think so. Cause, the thing is, eventually I clean out some cluttered spot in my life and recover several partially-used bottles. That always kinda feels like I’ve found my pot of gold, though, so I’m not really complaining.

Side note: It really pisses me off when all the little hand sanitizer dispensers are out at the mall. They never work and it’s like, why even tease us? Ah well, that’s why it’s important I bring my own (52 million bottles) with me.

…gotta be responsible for my own crazy. 🙂

The World Through Smudged and Cracked Rose-Colored (ADHD) Glasses

It may seem odd that I’m posting a sunrise photo at night. Although, if I hadn’t called myself out, you probably would have figured it for a sunset photo instead. The fact that it’s a sunrise in the photo is kind of the point (even if it weren’t, I’m ridiculously honest, so I probably still would have told you).

See, guys, we all have bad days. Some are worse than others and sometimes we can’t even pinpoint why.

I’m a little lost at the moment and I’m trying to hold myself accountable by proclaiming my optimism through this photo. While ADHDers are known for missing some of the in-your-face details, we often get to see things that others simply gloss over…especially in nature.

Nature is synonymous with salvation (or at least serenity) for a lot of people with ADHD. It’s that way for me at least. Nature can bring you joy, even on your worst day. It can also open your eyes to a wisdom you had forgotten…or had never been privy to before. I think that’s part of why recreational therapy is so successful for ADHDers.

Every day is a new day, my friends. That’s a lesson nature has taught me countless times. It is my hope that this simple sunrise photo will help you see both the wisdom and beauty in that truth.

No bad day can last forever, even if it sometimes seems that way. We are given a fresh start with each rising sun and thus, a chance to embrace a new perspective.

The answers don’t always come when we want them to. Maybe that’s nature’s way of letting us know we’re not really in control. Regardless, answers come when they’re supposed to and only if they’re supposed to. There are certain questions we’ll never know the answers to, but hopefully we can learn to let go and let life lead the way.

You’re never as lost as you feel. And every morning you’re given the chance to find your way.

We must all be open to trying again. We must all be open to seeing beauty where others may not even look. We must all be open to hope….