My wife is a total rule follower. She is very uncomfortable “coloring outside the lines.” I firmly believe that the rules are, at best, suggestions. I have always felt like a square peg in round hole. Or more accurately, a square peg standing angrily next to a round hole that looks so easy and enticing that I know I will never fit into. Well, I guess I should say that I was at one time angry. Then I decided that I was going to have to buy some tools and make some square holes. (How’s that for taking an analogy too far?)
My point is that as ADHDers we don’t fit the mold. But THAT’S OKAY. Give yourself the freedom to experiment, try new things, question assumptions, challenge the conventional wisdom, and break the mold. Not only is that how many of the great innovations of our time have been achieved, but it’s the only way for us to tap into our true potential.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not encouraging anarchy. But when your environment doesn’t fit you, think about changing your environment. As a small, crazy, and totally irrelevant example… I have been much happier since I decided to own the fact that I don’t like breakfast foods (at least not for breakfast.) I ate this delicious salad for breakfast. Works for me.
My biggest challenge is that my son got my ADHD and his mother’s rule following anxiety. I’m trying to teach him how to not follow all the rules… without saying that exact phrase out loud. Parenting is hard.
Standard Disclaimer: In an effort to foil my own perfectionist tendencies, I do not edit my posts much… if at all. Please and typos, mistakes, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing. I focus on getting my content down. An imperfect post completed is better than a perfect post that goes unposted.
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