Time cannot be broken; that is our greatest burden. And our greatest challenge is to live in spite of that burden.

- Nietzsche, as a fictional character, in Irvin Yalom’s “When Nietzsche Wept”

In today’s New York Times, commentary on the emergence of Michael Phelps as icon for kids with attention deficit disorder, and how people perceive ADHD and other disorders:

On the one hand:

The notion that a disability can be harnessed in a positive way is not a new concept. Last year, a study found that 35 percent of the small-business entrepreneurs surveyed identified themselves as dyslexic. The researchers concluded that dyslexia made them better communicators and problem solvers, more likely to delegate authority.

…

“We want to tell children, ‘You’ve got a difference, but not a disease,’ ” he said. “Michael Phelps is one of any thousands of examples of mega-successful people, C.E.O.s and brain surgeons and famous writers, inventors and entrepreneurs, who have A.D.H.D.”

On the other:

Other experts, however, say that while such success stories can be inspiring, parents need to know that their children face real risks. Research shows that children with attention deficit have different brain patterns from other children, and that they are more likely to drop out of school, be involved in car accidents and use illicit drugs.

…

Ms. Knochenhauer, who has four children with the disorder, says they too were inspired by the astonishing performance of Mr. Phelps in Beijing. But she added, “I would argue that Michael Phelps is a great swimmer with A.D.H.D., but he’s not a great swimmer because he has A.D.H.D.”

Dr. Koplewicz, of N.Y.U., agreed. “There are lots of children in the world who have chronic illnesses or disorders like diabetes, allergies or dyslexia who accomplish great things in spite of the fact that they have these disorders,” he said. “I worry when we say A.D.H.D. is a gift, that this minimizes how real it is.”

Tara Parker-Pope, A New Face for ADHD.  And a Debate, New York Times, 24 November 2008.

I like Hallowell’s comment that ADHD ought be considered a “trait”, with all the pluses, minuses, and non-relevants that a trait can be.  As for the research into small business, the 35% dyslexic number is shockingly high to me.  I’ve wanted to do a similar survey for small business owners and ADHD.  If anyone would like to fund it, please email me!

Just for today: squelch half of what you want to say.  See if you survive.

Two days ago we quoted Plato.  Yesterday we suggested paying extra attention to whether what you need to say needs to be said.  In case neither of those was simple enough, today just squelch half of what you say.  Don’t worry about evaluating whether you should be saying it.  Just talk less.  And see if you survive.  I’ll bet you will.

Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

– The Four-Way Test of Rotary International

Yesterday we quoted Plato. Today we mention a more detailed filter that might be useful for any of the hyperverbal or impulsive among us. The Four-Way Test was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor, who was in the midst of turning around a bankrupt company. See the whole story here.

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.

- Plato

When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago.

- Nietzsche

Last year I asked my friend Barry about what lessons he learned from his highly-respected father, who lived several decades in a wheelchair after a motorcycle accident:

Bob wasn’t big on lectures or life lessons, but he taught me a couple of hugely important things by example:

(1) Persistence and focus will beat the living shit out of undisciplined genius 99 times out of 100 (not that Bob wasn’t plenty smart, understand, but he was one of the most determined people I ever met.) Even after a grievous injury, he bounced back and went about all the things that were important to him, hammer and tongs, like some kind of demented blacksmith - and God help you if you got between him and his anvil.

(2) A sense of humor, especially about yourself, is one of the most important survival skills in life. Humor will get you through bad times when nothing else will.

Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still.

– T.S. Eliot quoted in The Little Zen Companion

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.

- Ovid (43 BCE - 17 CE)

We folk with ADHD sometimes plow quickly into action before taking the time to ask advice. With simple things this is often fine.  But with complicated things?

From the Accordion FAQ

Q: How likely am I to pick up bad habits by teaching myself?

A:  A friend of mine’s son taught himself to play concertina. One day he noticed that everyone else was playing theirs upside down relative to the way he was doing it. Needless to say, the rest of the world was not wrong. Please make sure that you at least know which side is for the right hand vs. the left hand.

– Accordion FAQ compiled by Alan Polivka (1993)