Failing at Life – ADHD Speaker Rick Green

A while ago I debuted my one-man show.

It tells the tale of my journey from comedian with ADHD (undiagnosed) … to comedian who knows what’s going on…

to comedian who blabs to everyone about his ADHD…

to semi-respectable but somewhat surprised, and often insecure ADHD advocate/educator/entertainer.

I wanted a title for the show that captured what I’m like when I talk about ADHD.

So, like me, the title went on and on and on:

“My Award Winning, Coast-To-Coast, Internationally Acclaimed ‘Mental Disorder’.”

The other possible title was Alice’s ADDventures In Wonderland.

But then everyone would want to know who Alice is.

Including me.

A COMEDY SHOW?

The show was far funnier than anything I’d done before.

After all this was debuting at the ‘Cracking Up The Capital’ comedy festival. (The word Capital’ refers to Ottawa, the Washington D.C. of Canada.)

It’s a great event with the proceeds going to Mental Health issues.

AND THE REVIEWS POUR IN

Afterwards I told Ava I thought the show was a 3 out of a possible 10. Because, well, I have that common ADHD trait of perfectionism.

Of, “It’s not good enough.” Every time I’d rehearse the script I’d add and add and go off on tangents…

And even during the performance I was coming up with all kinds of funny new stuff. Wish I’d thought to record it. (Oh, the awesome things I think of when it’s too late.)

THANK YOU FOR THAT!

Ava thought the show was great. So did the organizers. So did the dozens of people who bought videos, books, T-shirts, and so on.

But I tend to dismiss that good stuff… “Well, what are they going to say? They’re just being nice.”

But it wasn’t until we went down to watch the next evening’s gala with six very funny comedians that I realized it was more than a 3 out of 10.

A comedian, another comedian’s spouse, and two of the event staff told me that they had either gone on the TotallyADD site or had a booked an appointment to see their doctor.

YOU JUST DESCRIBED MY WHOLE LIFE!

One knew he was ADHD from a childhood diagnosis, but had figured, like so many adults, “It’s how I am now, what can I do about it?”

Another had never considered the possibility that there might be an explanation for their frustration and thwarted ambitions, and was stunned as I did a very funny skit about my experience going over the symptom checklists and quizzes with a sinking feeling of, “Oh my God!”

Another had long suspect they might be part of the tribe, but suddenly saw it would account for much more of their struggles. Wasted energy. Needless suffering. “I had no idea that was ADHD.”

All of them admitted that while they were laughing… there were points where they were gobsmacked. (Great word! We need to use it more.)

Gobsmacked and experiencing that sudden mix of alarm that so quickly spins into sadness, regret, fear, relief, panic, and a voracious need to find out more.

So I’m retracting my original ‘review’ of Tuesday’s performance. It was a 10 out of 10.

Best,

Rick

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