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I've been wandering through "Wonderland"  one step closer to the Red Queen every day. On my way, I stopped by your notebook to say hi. Hope you're having a great day! |
| Just popping in to say thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. I wanted to share something I wrote yesterday: I love that my birthday falls in Neurodiversity Celebration Week. I was diagnosed with ADHD last year at age 43. So many people think that these days diagnoses like ADHD are more about having a 'label' or belonging to an exclusive group than anything else. They're wrong. When you're undiagnosed and most (if not all) of the items in the school lost property are yours, the teacher thinks you're either a forgetful twit or too lazy to pick up after yourself. When you're undiagnosed, you spend countless lunchtimes writing lines for not doing your homework and you're labelled naughty, irresponsible and defiant. When you're undiagnosed and you're caught daydreaming in class AGAIN, you're told that you obviously don't care about your future. When you're undiagnosed and you start your assignment an hour before it's due, you're told you'll never live up to your potential. When you're undiagnosed and you fail to finish the fourth university degree you've started, you're told you're obviously just not smart enough for higher education. When you're undiagnosed and you can't keep your room/house tidy, you're told you're not fit to be a wife or mother. When you're undiagnosed and you can't maintain consistent routines or rules, you're told you obviously don't care enough about your children. When you're undiagnosed and you are continuously, repeatedly late to everything, you're told that you obviously have no respect for others. Sometimes those messages come from teachers, family members, friends, and other people whose opinion we value and take to heart. Sometimes those messages come from ourselves as we ask ourselves 'Why can't I do it when everyone else makes it look so easy?' A diagnosis, and the knowledge and understanding that comes with it, is so powerful. It is the first step to overcoming a lifetime of being told that we're not good enough. It is the first step to believing that maybe we're a fish being judged for our ability to climb a tree, and that instead of berating ourselves for not being able to climb that tree, and spending our whole life trying, we should celebrate that we're damn good swimmers. This week, let's remember all the people who said wonderful things about us. This week, let's celebrate all the things that make us so amazing. Because I am, and so are you. (Continued in comments because of the character limit) |
| While I do not have ADHD, I do have a disorder that affected me throughout my school and adult life until I was diagnosed in my early forties. It did set me free to know why I behaved the way I did and thought the way I do. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay true to yourself. Stay strong. John |
| Good for you, Elle! We miss you but you need to do what is best for you. |
| "I'm late I'm late!" Happy Birthday, darling niece Elle  I'm sure you spent it 'present', which is likely the best gift anyone can give themselves. But also I'm pleased to hear your talk of a return! |
Thanks! We're doing a family lunch on Saturday since it's also Jim, Aaron and Steve's birthdays this month. And Aaron's 40th, so that's kind of a big deal.  |
Elle - on hiatus  - Wow! That is a mighty-multi-celebration, I suspect things are going to get loud :D I look forward to the photos |
Happy Birthday, Elle! |
Elle - on hiatus - I miss you, too, girl, but it looks like you're enjoying your life and that's important. You know where to find me when you need me.   |
Hey, I'm going to go on hiatus for a while. I don't know when I'll be back. I'm going to try and stay away for at least a year.  That'll be the longest I've been away from this site since I rejoined in 2010! I just need to focus on some other things right now, but don't worry, everything is fine! If you miss me, follow me on Instagram: 40tofabulous. It'll mostly be photos of me exhausted as I do my training for my big hike coming up next month, but that's where I'll be if you want to say hi. And for those in "The Snail Mail Group" , I promise I will send letters and cards while I'm gone. I will miss you guys! Elle |
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Happy Birthday! Wishing you a beautiful day and a wonderful year ahead. 
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