Hope Others Can Add To The Positives Of Being ADD (not having ADD)…………….yes I can!!!!
Yikes……this has to be.”deja” something or other. Yes Sedona…..if you hang around here long enough you will get the “Toofat Two-bits” on the Marvels of ADD or being an ADD type! FACT……. every time some unsuspecting soul posts a “positive” thread…..you will get “YES” and a “Gifty” rant… from me!!!
I agree Sadona… with a few slight mods/builds/add-ons to your statement but, here is my take once again………ADD folks (hmm….maybe not typically but, can be) startlingly creative and not just artistically, but in every aspect imaginable, amazingly intuitive, and have an uncanny ability to see the whole picture “Immediately”….. and all of the thread connections within… and, bring it right back down on point….IMMEDIATELY!!! Yes, I agree we can be original, independent thinkers, to the point where, were we scare, amaze, anger, and frustrate the poor “Linear World”…..we can in fact make the Linear’s very uncomfortable, because they don’t get it, it is their limitation, just as we have ours!!! We can be focused and be determined blocking all else except for that which is the point of our focus. We can also be quite sensitive, and easily crushed, but, often we also come ( yes) with larger than life bravado, that for some reason attracts people to us….or we can cut to the chase, be very blunt in our responses……not intentionally hurtful but….sometimes it happens. We can also be big-hearted and generous….and charismatic too, or have a special something, (what did you say)… a twinkle in the eye, a zany sense of humor, and an ability to inspire and attract others…..people magnets, social attractions, fiercely loyal…..and here is the kicker…….it’s all effortless…….it natural……it’s how our world is…..it is just who some of us are….not all but… yessss…….some!!!
Yes (I believe strongly) intelligence does play a role, I believe it has to…..same as it does in the ‘Linear World’, or any other walk of life….no different!!! I was diagnosed late late in my life……but from childhood I was always aware of my difference from the majority. I had some turbulence in my life…it mostly stemmed from being around people who were LINEAR and set in their thinking and processing….so doggedly set in toeing the existing line that what I saw, and how I processed, was a frightening entity…..they saw me and my processing as a problem (for them)….someone that didn’t fit (for them)…. and in some cases….needed to be gotten rid of!!! Yet……there were others who saw…were open….who got it…and let me fly and for them……they were amazed!!!
So….. ADD sure…..there are so many positives…..but the Linear World (because it’s Linear)….struggles, judges…. alienates… persecutes… labels……and generally does not get us….will not……THEY CAN’T…..it is not who they are…..it’s not wrong, it’s just the way they process and view life. For some of us, life circumstances…..have provided a path that allows us to exploit what traits we have in life, and when we are enabled or experience positive results, we label our traits as “Gifts”……for others hmmmm…..the path has been different, and perhaps more difficult……but isn’t that true in both the Random/Visionary World AND the Linear/Compartmentalized world???
In the end, if my life has experience scale is tipped way into the positive (and it is) my perception of my life and my ADD traits will likely also be positive……and the converse is also likely to be true. It is my take on things that the much of the negative of our traits comes from listening to and accepting the Linear take on life…..they see what they see, they process how they process…..and they DON’T, WON’T and CAN’T fathom many of us people with ADD traits…..it is just the way they are wired!!! So where then does that leave our critcal parts of our selves….our self image, self esteem…our positive perception of ourselves and our traits…..and why would we leave the most important part of our selves to another group to judge and deliver to us, and for us???
These are just my thoughts…..what I believe to be true (for me)…….I am happy content and have no regrets…….it has bee a good life so far…….for me…….and I have many things to be thankful for, including my ADD processing brain. I love the difference and what it has delivered……. 
Hey Wg as for Barkely and Dr. Hallowell………..seemingly living on different planets….I believe there is no “seemingly” about it!!! Interesting I wonder how Barkely rationalizes Dr Hallowells…..SERIOUS….. potentially life threatening existence……and I wonder if the good Doctor Hallowell is aware that his life has no Up-Side ???
….try remember it is not the Linear World’s fault they are trapped and held captive by their frontal lobe.
Toofat
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