A Personal Confession

Daily writing prompt

What details of your life could you pay more attention to?

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I have to admit, sometimes my life looks like a series of colorful sticky notes floating in a whirlwind. Not literally, of course—though I wouldn’t be surprised if I accidentally left some stuck to the cat. But I do notice that there are details I could absolutely pay more attention to. For one, my ability to leave things half-done is an art form. Lids off containers, doors open, cabinets half-shut—if there were a world championship for “almost-putting-things-away,” I’d have a gold medal by now.

You see, I like to think of myself as extremely productive and creative, which I am—my brain is always racing with ideas, plans, and schemes. But here’s the kicker: being a little on the spectrum of ADHD means I often trip over my own brilliance in the most mundane ways. I’ll be mid-project, hyper-focused, producing something amazing, when—BAM—a thought about something totally unrelated hits me, and suddenly I’m halfway to the garage trying to figure out if my boat battery needs recharging. Or I’ll be cooking, whipping up a perfect dish, when I realize I forgot to close the cupboard and the measuring spoons have launched themselves into a slow-motion kitchen ballet.

Let’s face it—some days, paying attention to details like where I put the toothpaste cap feels like navigating a maze blindfolded. Yet, ironically, those same quirks are also why I can see creative connections that others miss. I can brainstorm a store layout, write an entire blog post, or find a rare antique item in a flea market cluttered beyond comprehension, all while juggling a hundred little thoughts at once. The brain’s scattered energy, while maddening at times, also keeps life interesting.

Of course, there are other classic ADHD symptoms:

• The “hyperfocus paradox” – I can spend four hours on something I love and forget to eat, drink, or acknowledge the existence of my spouse. (Sorry, Marmee.)
• The “visual chaos tolerance” – I can sit in a room that looks like a tornado hit, and everything somehow makes sense to me, even though anyone else would call it a disaster zone.
• The “enthusiastic tangent syndrome” – one conversation can suddenly turn into a 20-minute lecture on the mating habits of sea bass or the intricacies of vintage Fenton glass, because my brain refuses to stay on the assigned topic.
• The “time warp” – what feels like five minutes could easily be an hour, and what should take an hour might feel like five minutes. Efficiency and perception are tricky bedfellows.

But it’s not all chaos. ADHD brings its own brand of superpower: creativity, energy, curiosity, and the uncanny ability to juggle multiple passions and projects simultaneously. I can see patterns, find opportunities, and connect ideas in ways that more linear minds sometimes can’t. I just have to keep reminding myself that paying attention to details like closing a cabinet, putting a lid on a jar, or not leaving socks on the floor might actually improve life for everyone around me—including me.

So, my goal? To find that delicate balance: harnessing my productivity, my creativity, my relentless curiosity, and, yes, my scatterbrained quirks, while paying just a little more attention to the small things. Closing doors. Putting lids on jars. Remembering where I put my keys. Maybe even making my bed (or at least part of it). Because even though ADHD makes life colorful, interesting, and sometimes chaotic, a little organization can make that chaos sing instead of scream.

And hey, if I fail, at least I’ll have a story about how the measuring spoons staged a dramatic kitchen revolt while I was brainstorming my next big idea.

“Have you ever experienced something like this, or what’s your take on it? As I continue exploring these ideas and sharing family stories, I’d love for you to join me—subscribe to stay connected and catch the next story.”