[agnoscet]

Ed2020, toofat is rock solid right on the money here, and I believe he has given you the answer.

You don’t need theory, you need string time. There’s music in that box, just waiting for you to let it out. It won’t happen tomorrow, it will happen only (ever) right now. Pick up the axe and make some sound. Pick it up. If you like what you hear, do that some more. If you don’t, then change it up. Your fingers will learn by themselves what needs to happen.

We’re ADD… don’t overthink it. Let the music out of the box zen style. Don’t think, do. Try YouTube. Find the music that works for you and then clear your head and let your fingers find the way. Music isn’t an engineering feat, it’s in your heart and you just need to let it out.

You’ve got to make up your mind whether you want to be a technical musician, or learn to play the guitar. The first will require years of lessons. The latter can start tonight.

Grab that axe… Make music! Do!

Here’s a guy, that likely spent a good many years of now-time with his guitar. I’ll bet he isn’t using sheet music. He’s learned to connect his heart to his fingers to his ears. I think he’s got some potential:

Best of luck, and many callouses! I dragged an acoustic classical all over the east coast on my back. By the time I got back to the mountain west, I had some music to play. Still do, 40 years later.

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[agnoscet]

ambidextrous.

mouse, 10 key, throw and eat left, shoot and write right. It’s so confusing :o)

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[agnoscet]

What a great thread. GG, you have company here!

toofat mentioned ‘dismay’ a couple posts above. When my doc and I increased my Concerta (same drug as Ritalin, but time released) I got irritable and felt generally dismayed. I’ve heard it said on this board that the feelings are akin to grieving… for the time lost, opportunities missed, and when it gets right down to it, feeling sorry for oneself. It doesn’t have to be that way. I learned to forgive myself first, then to grab the bootlaces and start into rearranging my life. toofat’s recommendation of following your heart is pure gold.

As for “buckling down,” I suggest you click on the ‘blog’ tab on the left and take Rick’s Challenge #2.

A few days ago, I read a post by a motorcycle mechanic who just picked up one tool, then another, and by the time a few minutes were up, his shop was clean. Don’t over think, just get zen and do. Do.

Perhaps the three drawer concept will work for you. Drawer A contains all the things that ‘if I don’t do this today, life as we know it will end.’ Drawer B contains all the things that will become Drawer A items some time in the future. Drawer C contains everything else.

Ignore Drawer B and C.

Now, take ONE item out of Drawer A, take care of it, pat yourself on the back for accomplishment. Enjoy the endorphin rush. Just reach in that drawer and grab one. Grab the first motorcycle shop tool that needs to be put away. Just do.

How do I know my meds are working? When the stand-up comedian in my head either (1) shuts up, or (2) makes sense. Yes, it’s a circus in here, but I’ve learned to actually enjoy it. As Dudley Moore said in Arthur, “sometimes I just have funny thoughts.”

Just as planting good seeds grow good tomatoes, planting good thoughts grow good days. I spend a few minutes at the start of each day gazing out my window. I impassionately face the ideas which disturb me, which at one time I would have become focused upon, fretted about, and probably let them drive my day. No longer. If they can be dealt with, I put them in their proper drawer, and go on to brighter thoughts. I watch the sunrise, listen to the birds, say good morning to my dog and generally guide myself into a calm and hopeful state. Every morning. It’s just another ADD habit maybe, but it works for me.

Just throwing this out there, hope you can find what works for you. It took me a couple years to learn to “have a good day.”

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[agnoscet]

INTP for the record.

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[agnoscet]

INTP for the record.

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[agnoscet]

ENTP here. I have no question that we occupy the NT/NF corner of the universe. There seem to be more Ps than Js in my experience.

It’s also an interesting percentage of the Myers Briggs results. So which begets which? I wonder if there’s been a peer reviewed study of the ADD/NP correlation. Rick? Dr J? Anyone?

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[agnoscet]

Yah, you’re scored on how many parts you have left over when you’re done. For your next challenge, reassemble a street bike transmission on the kitchen table (why yes, while in college, and yes, it was my only vehicle) and use every piece. This is a timed test…

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[agnoscet]

@jen … tly…

I didn’t read the thread other than the first post. I took 10 years of kali training, and my oldest son took 5 years of tae kwan do. I say ‘took’ because it was serious. No, serious. ‘Took’ a beating for the most part :o)

I taught escrima and kali for 20 years. My sons do not cry, but they can be provoked. I’ve got the bruises to prove it.

We’re all ADD, and all mastered the art we chose. Mastered.

My youngest is fearless. He scares me in his ability to pick up and deliver. He reminds me of my younger self. Hopefully, he will pick up algebra as readily.

Um….

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[agnoscet]

Lisa,

I use the iPod clock app (the one that comes with it). I set the ‘Alarm’ to wake me up (twice, ten minutes apart) and then again to hit the shower. I only use the ‘Timer’ feature to keep me from burning dinner.

For repeating daily tasks, the Calendar app (which also comes with the iPod) is very helpful. You can set up appointments to chime at a certain time, with a heading you enter (i.e. fix breakfast) and, the best part, you can make them repeat every day (or just weekdays, or whatever). I use this feature to daily chime when I need to leave for work, five minutes before my shift is up, to get my kids to tutoring after work, as well as to remind myself to bring things to work tomorrow, appointments, pay bills, etc. I wouldn’t survive without it. Maybe this would be helpful for you… something to step you through your daily routine.

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[agnoscet]

On my profile edit page, after country, there’s province, then city, then change password, then the update button…

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[agnoscet]

Carrie, Kazuo, here we go…. definitely a full screen and volume experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

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[agnoscet]

Hmmm. So click on the blue “member” link below my name and see if it shows my locale… whoa, my blue healer just levitated. Stand by, gotta get the camcorder…

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[agnoscet]

I’m experimenting with the “public” option on my profile. The “private” selection says it shows your name and avatar, and the public option says it show those plus your country. This is a test. Should it fail, the local gravity may be reduced. Please prepare accordingly.

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[agnoscet]

“Do you ever put a song on in the car to listen to and then get thinking and miss the whole song??”

Yes. I also get thinking and a song comes on that I listen to, and miss my exit. A little too often.

My conversations with my children in the car are usually as follows:

CHILD: mmmrmr hmmm mmm mmerf?

ME: Wait, what?

CHILD: Nevermind.

I’m probably fortunate that they inherited my short attention span, or we’d end up out of fuel on some unmarked highway in Wyoming.

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[agnoscet]

I couldn’t remember which of those groups did it. Al Cooper (not Alice) was the original lead for Blood Sweat & Tears, later replaced by David Clayton Thomas. I knew Satie’s works were somewhere in that list. Thanks.

My mom buys me collections of classical music now and then. I’ve always got music going on (whether the iPod’s on or not :o). You are right about soothing the ADHD beast. On that note, as you can tell, I can seldom remember who performed what. Opera makes me uneasy, but a good polka is good for the spirits now and then… or Souza!

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