#78
A few years ago, I got into doing Stand-up comedy & it was quite the learning experience. I wanted to do it & then I also didn’t. It was a scary, & unpredictable; sometimes no one laughed & it was very humbling. Worth it though because my speaking got a lot better & I learned a lot about being on stage.
A good friend of mine and a funny comedian, Kenn Kington gave me my first shot at doing a real Stand-up comedy show back in 2004. I opened up at one of his Ultimate Comedy Theatre and had a blast! This is a short clip from the show. Thanks Kenn for giving me a chance to try something totally scary!
What do you want to try that totally scares you? Find time this summer to dip your toes into “the scary” in your life. Life is too short to let fear dictate what you do & where you go in life!
#76
This week, I am all about laughter & finding joy & hope in tough times. How else do we put one foot in front of the other, when the going gets tough if not to have an occasional light-hearted moment? If life is bumpy right now, find a way to relieve the pressure by participating in something that you know will put a smile on your face.
And I have to share this. Every time I watch I can’t help but start cracking up. Laughter is contagious, so if your life is good, go infect someone!!
#75
At one of my events, someone asked me if my story of being ADHD was true. They said I was having fun & laughing too much for someone w/a “disorder.” 😀 Believe me, it took me a long time, but I did finally find the humor in living with ADHD & it as been a great blessing to be able to joke & laugh about it.
I like how Bill Cosby puts it: “Through humor you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”
To get you smiling this morning here is a bit from one of my favorite comics, Jim Gaffigan:
#74
One of the best things we can do is to make some time to laugh! People with ADHD have a gift for finding the funny in life and we should never forget to celebrate that. Sure we sometimes get a little inappropriate but a little correction from a friend doesn’t have to put out the flame of being funny.
To get the funny ball rolling, here is one of my wife’s favorite Brian Regan’s comedy bits:
#70
Great news for all you ADHD students and maybe not so great news for all you parents of ADHD students – SUMMER IS HERE! With school letting out for summer vacation, what big summer plans do u have? Are you taking a break from your meds? Either way, plan to use the power of your ADHD brain & get creative! Make a movie, write a book, paint a masterpiece, invent something! Let’s hear all the wild and creative ideas u want to put into action this summer!
#69
If you or someone you know suffers from any kind of “uncontrolled” brain dysfunction (including ADHD), there are simple steps that can be taken to help improve the situation. 1. Diagnosis 2. Self-education/education of family & friends, 3. Exploration of treatment options, 4. Counseling/Support group, 5. Ongoing evaluation.
Of the five, i believe education to be the most important. Knowledge is power. Understanding what’s happening to you gives you back some measure of control & allows you to make the right choices when there’s a fork in the road. Whether, you’re depressed, bi-polar or ADHD, learn to move past the stigma of “mental disease” and be open with others about your condition, educating them in the process and hopefully helping them, help you. (what movie??) Sorry got distracted. 😀
#68
ADHD is a bit of a mystery. There are no tests to prove one has it & some people even think that it’s a fake disease created by drug companies to make more money. Baloney!! ADHD is as real as diabetes or depression. If your spouse is questioning your symptoms & thinking that you’re just lazy or crazy, they need to be educated!
And! If you haven’t been officially diagnosed you need to go and be tested by a licensed psychologist who ideally specializes in ADHD. Bring your spouse with you! If you have been diagnosed, then offer to go to the doctor together so that your spouse can talk to a professional and have their questions answered. I’m thinking about doing a tele-seminar w/my wife on the subject of marriage & adhd – would that be useful to anyone?
#65
I’m told that being married to an ADHDer can be a bit of a challenge. 😀 My wife says that one of her biggest frustrations is that I can never finish a “home projects” in one go. I’m embarrassed to admit that there have been “honey-dos” around the home that should have taken me 5 hrs to complete, but instead took 2 yrs!
What are some struggles in your relationships with ADHDers? And how do you deal with the situations? My wife has fine-tuned the art of catching the right moment to get me back on track with lack-luster, but necessary tasks. She says, she tries to catch me while I’m rested, up-beat and on the cusp of some fun, adventure-filled activity. Of course, sometimes she just threatens to beat me up…Joking! 🙂
#64
I love the word “perseverance”! I saw a cool quote on someone’s Facebook profile and thought it was perfect, it went something like: When you’re about to give up & throw in the towel, try to remember why you’ve hung in there for so long in the first place & let it inspire to go one more step further.
#63
I know everyone has pressures to perform & expectations to live up to – day in and day out this can wear anyone down. So as you’re making your lists, trying meet deadlines, working on life & relationships, remember to take a break. Even a quick timeout to do something FOR YOU, can help you have a better attitude & a sense of renewal.
#62
When you say “yes” to something, you’re saying “no” to something else. Are you saying “yes” to the right things? Make a list of things that are important to you & don’t take on anything new until after you consult this list. If the new project or responsibility doesn’t keep you close to the things you have determined are important in your life, turn the opportunity down – it’s probably just a distraction.
#61
ADHDers tend to take on more than we can handle. Our quick minds tell us that we can get it done, but the laws of physics end up proving us otherwise. Plus there are only 24 hours in a day. I think I’ve talked about this before, but learn to say “no”. Think about the stress of everything you already have going on and make a decision to not add to it. Just say “no”!!
#60
This week I’m challenging all of you to finish that project you started weeks ago that is still not done. It’s not an urgent project, but it’s an important one. It’s the one you start sighing guiltily about when it pops in your head. ADHDers have a really hard time wrapping things up unless the deadline is staring us right in the eyeball, but the non-urgent, IMPORTANT projects should get priority too!
I’d like to know how you’re going to reward yourself for completing one of your important, non-urgent projects this week. What fun thing will you be enjoying this weekend because you’ll get your project wrapped up once and for all? I think I’m going to go see Iron Man 2 and buy some new fishing tackle…:-D
#59
I don’t know if it’s the special mix of ADHD traits like impulsivity, creativity & the inability to accurately judge time & resources, but ADHDers like going for the gusto. We’re passionate about our interests & if we’re not careful, our passion can consume us & isolate us from those around us. But in general, being passionate is a great thing & if properly channeled can lead to amazing things.
Being passionate about what you do often leads to success without that being your main priority. “Winners forget they’re in a race, they just love to run.” Which movie?