ADHD Superpower
Careers
Given that I wasn’t diagnosed formally until my 40’s, it took me little time to acclimate to this new addition to my identity. I was, of course, aware my brain did things a bit differently than my peers from the time I began to be self-aware. However, once I was able to integrate and embody this additional identity, I was able to re-evaluate my previous experiences and mistakes with this additional nuance.
While a diagnosis may have been beneficial earlier in life for me, I also didn’t have excuses or self-defeating rationalizing that friends and colleagues who were diagnosed in childhood have sometimes mentioned.
For me, one of the ways I’ve seen my neuro-diversity manifest is though a multitude of interests and skills. I in many ways was trained as a generalist, Jack of all trades if you will. I have always been a lifelong learner, and am constantly excited to learn about a new skill or a new industry.
This has meant that I am constantly inventing an re-inventing my career path.
To date, I have worked in the following jobs/careers (These are all the ones that I have done for more than a year - otherwise it would be a much longer list.)
Pre-school Zoo camp assistant instructor - We taught kiddos 3.5-6 about the rainforest, and sometimes oceans
Doggy Daycare caretaker - Best job. Love on puppies all day, get paid.
Real Estate Broker (Licensed) - I really love many aspects of this work, but not the hours.
Executive Assistant / Assistant to the President - yup. I did that.
Fashion Designer - delightful and creative
Dog Groomer - not my jam.
Social Media Manager - good times.
Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainer - It was really more about understanding dog behavior and training the people.
Fundraiser - Nature vs Nurture - Am I great at this because I was going to my fathers lectures on fundraising since I was an infant, or was I born with a gene that makes me need to ask folks for money? I guess we’ll never know.
Recruiter / Head Hunter - love this work.
Artist / Photographer - Still do this, but not as much as I wish
Sugar Glider Breeder (Yes, this was a real job - google sugar gliders - you won’t be sorry.)
Consultant to Nonprofit Organizations - By far my favorite job - never felt like work.
Career Mentor / Teacher - I also really love teaching, I’ve taught all age groups, but recently really enjoyed mentoring and teaching adults.
Database Manager - CRM anyone?
Election Judge - this was fun, until I moved to a state with mail in ballots, which while much more efficient - not quite the same camaraderie.
Food Blogger - I love food, it just made sense, also it was the late 2000’s so everyone was doing it.
Commissioner on City Planning Commission
I’ve also worked in a variety of work environments, including working with Raptors, managing mail merge and bulk mailings. ( I started back in the day when we needed to sort by zip code order.) Working with children aged 3 to 18. I’ve run membership programs and created couture clothing for runways.
Sometimes, I do wonder how it took so long to see the ADHD. I find it very obvious now that I know more about the ways it can manifest. It’s also given me a vocabulary. I understood that sometimes I would hone in on a test and lose track of time, but I didn’t realize that ‘hyper-focus’ was a thing for folks with ADHD. I have been a chronic procrastinator - which I always knew- and have it down to a science, giving myself exactly the amount of time I need to get a project/assignment etc done before the due date. Which incidentally also gives me the motivation to get it done, since I’m suddenly pushed by a deadline of time, not my own internal regulation of time, which as we’ve already established is not always reliable for me.
I’ve taken some time this year, as I’m in a career, and a bit in a life transition, to work on developing more skills, learning more about how my ADHD specifically shows up in my life, and how to continue to improve my outcomes. (I am trained in Agile/Lean six sigma after all.)
One huge piece for me is discipline. I have many great ideas, and I’m self aware enough to know that follow through, or sticking with something for a prolonged period of time is often a challenge, unless I’m SUPER engaged by it.
I’ve been spending time actively trying to hone these skills and grow, meanwhile the side effects of Long COVID are also creating challenges with the follow through. I’m reminded frequently that I need to be very intentional with my energy. The Spoon Theory has helped me to visualize and create better boundaries around my time and energy - but I also find that I often leave the stuff I enjoy the very most until after all the “hard” stuff, so recently I’ve been too tired to write, paint, or otherwise engage the creative side of my brain. That part sucks.
I would also tell you I still have many things I want to do, try, learn etc.
Additionally, as many of you have also expressed, the fall time change, the darkness is hard. I suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and it’s critical for me to remember my happy lights, and to time block so that I spend at least part of every day outside when it’s light out. A morning routine would be (and has been) advised, but I haven’t quite been able to commit. I REALLY like sleeping, once I actually fall asleep.
Even still, every day is a chance to start again, keep building skills, discipline and learning. Onward.
Favorite link of today: As mentioned above Rhea Pappas is an exceptionally talented photographer, and a dear friend. If you are in need of beautiful photos, (and really, who isn’t) I cannot recommend her enough.
The Substack that’s been keeping me entertained lately is
by . If you read a few, likely you will immediately understand why he appeals to my sense of humor, and policy wonkiness.
A common thread I've found in my women friends receiving ADD diagnoses as adults is altruistic entry level work, sometimes growing with training, often growing just through practice, but always with an ability to take on the really ugly unpleasant aspects of whatever it is. With animals frequently, or nursing homes, community childcare we seem to be more willing than others to encounter literal shit and not lose the thread that this is valuable work that must be done and we are not too good to do it.