Living with A.D.D. (just not that A.D.D.)...

Today's Roast: Light

Quite a few years ago, I was having some real issues. I was having to come to terms with the realization that I had A.D.D.  Oh, I'm not talking about Attention Deficit Disorder - which is the common definition of that acronym. No, I'm referring a much more (a-hem) serious affliction. Although this was admittedly self-diagnosed, I was quite convinced that I was suffering from Age Denial Disorder.

I think it probably started more than a decade ago. I had decided I would join one of our church's softball teams. When I was younger, I used to play on a number of competitive teams - and although it had been about 16 years since I had played, I figured I could just jump right in. The problem was (and continues to be) that my psyche is a lot younger than my body. My mind would tell my body to do things the way it used to...diving for fly balls, showing up to the ball park to play a double-header without any stretching, trying to stretch a single into a double...the list went on and on. Needless to say, more often than not during my last 3 seasons playing, I was riding the bench due to a sprained ankle or torn hamstring. In retrospect, I can see that it's all because of Age Denial Disorder.

That was a decade ago and now I'm in my early 50s. At one point along the way, I even seriously considered purchasing anti-wrinkle cream....what was happening to me? I've heard experts claim that the first step in overcoming a disorder such as this is admitting to yourself that you have a problem. At the time, I didn't think I was ready for that step. But then reality woke me up... I figured that once you no longer bother trying to pluck the gray whiskers from your facial hair because you would basically be shaving with a tweezers...you know it's time.

I think I've since embraced this disorder and I am happy to say that it is no longer an issue for me (except maybe when I play competitive sports). Might be the main reason I've become more interested in golf lately....

Coffee and blogging...

It has occurred to me that blogging can be like coffee. Just as there are different types of roasts (light vs. dark), there are also different types of blogs (whimsical, humorous vs. contemplative, thoughtful).  It is for this reason, I am going to now endeavor to categorize all future blog posts for those of you who share in my ramblings.

All future entries will include a "Roast" description at the beginning of each post. A Light Roast will refer to a post that is, as I have stated earlier, on the lighter side - more carefree and perhaps even humorous. A Dark Roast will indicate an entry that is a bit more contemplative or thought provoking. This "roast" description will provide a quick glimpse of the content matter for the reader - allowing them to decide whether they want to take the time to engage with the post or not...

If you have read any of my previous blog entries, you have no doubt realized that I'm partial to more reflective type ramblings (Dark Roasts), but I will do my best to mix things up a bit in the coming months.

I enjoy writing and this outlet has proven to be a fun and interesting means of sharing some of my random thoughts. I also enjoy reading the comments of those who have stumbled upon my blog - so I encourage your feedback.

Grab a mug and settle in...I'll do my best to keep posting.

Getting the right perspective...

Perception is reality. Think about it. Although I believe that truth is absolute, especially as it relates to my faith and core beliefs, it seems to me that one's perception of a truth, or a situation, defines that person's reality.

There's an older movie that I watched a few years back called Vantage Point. I believe the movie's premise illustrates my point. The characters of the movie all witness the same event, but from different "vantage points." Because of their differing perspectives and perceptions of what has taken place, each character's reality of the situation is a bit different.

I know this truism also plays a role in my life. As I perceive different situations at home and in the workplace, I'm sure that I react according to the reality I've created. But what if my reality is not shared by others involved, what then? I submit that this is how many misunderstandings and conflicts get started. How then, can one be better equipped to handle such situations?

Getting the proper perspective is essential, both in life and in specific situations. If our perception is indeed our reality, it would follow that we should take great measures to insure that our perspective is accurate. The old adage of putting yourself in someone else's shoes, or looking at the issue through their eyes holds true. We could all benefit by Dr. Stephen Covey's fifth habit of "Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood."

If our 'vantage point' was different, would we react in the same manner...?

Time: Predator or Companion...

Written in my original blog posts years ago....

Recently, I've taken some time to catch up on some movies - one of the advantages of Netflix. A dialogue towards the end of one of these movies really resonanted with me and some of my recent posts, so I thought I'd share a few of these thoughts.

One of the characters in this particular film made the statement that "time is a predator that stalks us all of our lives." My initial response after hearing this statement was to agree with the character's evaluation. It seemed to make sense to me. Time, the ultimate antagonist, stalking each one of us, moving ever so quickly, while we try our best to slow its pursuit.

However, in a later scene in the movie, another character offers his view point on the forementioned subject. "Time is a companion that goes with us on the journey. It reminds us to cherish every moment, because they will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived." What a sharp contrast this is to the first character's seemingly dark outlook.

It's amazing to me how God can speak to our hearts, even through secular entertainment media. Most of you would probably laugh if you knew the source of these two statements, but I am thankful for the perspective they provided.

Are you living as if time is your predator, or your companion?

A stitch in time...

If you've read my post dated February 18th, you were introduced to something I refer to as Life Reference Points, or LRPs. The basic premise of this thought process is that as we get older, we tend to have fewer reference points in our lives by which we can recall events and/or memories. This blurring of time causes us to feel as though time is passing by faster and faster. The remedy to this phenomenon, as stated in that post, is to create Life Reference Points (LRPs) which can help the mind better segment the events of our life, and thus virtually slow down the passage of time (in theory).

In this previous post, I outlined a suggestion for how one might create LRPs. However, after further thought on the subject, I wanted to elaborate on my suggestion. It seems to me that simply taking more family vacations (or whatever you decide to do) in and of itself is not the answer. I believe there is a missing element to this line of thinking, mainly our senses.

God has given us five senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. Integral to each of these senses is the mind. As stated before, I am in awe of how hearing a specific song can transport me back to a previous point in time, flooding me with memories of that event. Similarly, I believe a specific aroma or taste has the power to do the same thing. Our senses can help create virtual time stamps in our minds - which I believe are a required element in creating effective LRPs.

Obviously, this is just a theory I am exploring, but I am under the impression that for a Life Reference Point to be effective, it must be tied to one or more of our senses. Whether this be a visually awesome event, such as viewing the Grand Canyon, or simply hearing a specific song on the radio while driving through Door County, it is these virtual time stamps that will allow your mind to easily recall the event (LRP).