With Gifts Come Responsibility

The thought occurred to me last night that as ADHDrs we have been blessed with a unique approach to the world. That gift means, that despite challenges, we have a responsibility to share that gift with the world responsibly. We have the power to use our gifts to change the world, to bring creativity where there is none, to change systems and processes for everyone's benefit, to help people look at things from a different perspective.

I can't recall what movie it's from, but the line "with great power comes great responsibility" comes to mind. I often tell my ADHD son, 15, "if only you'd use your powers for good, not evil." Not that he's ever truly "evil," but he can use his intelligence, his humor, his energy, his leadership skills to make any group he's part of better for having him as a member. OR...he can hurt people, abuse drugs or alcohol, flunk out of school, get fired from jobs, etc. Yes, it may be tougher for him to consistently make good choices, but it is possible.

When ADHD is viewed as a disorder, then we are in a mindset of trying to prevent the negative consequences that result from the disorder. When ADHD is viewed as a gift, we can then adopt a mindset of how we can use our unique gifts and talents to make the world around us a better place. 

Although I've struggled my whole life and at 40 now feel relieved to be diagnosed and medicated, in some ways I'm glad I was never labeled. There was always a lot expected of me and so I rose to the challenge. While I'm not against some accommodations, I need to see my son (and myself) as capable rather than simply challenged. When I see my son as challenged, I live each day in fear of what he will do next, that he'll never graduate, be independent. If I can view him as capable, then I can focus on helping overcome the challenges to make a positive contribution.

There are a lot of really bad things going on in the world: cancer, people living in squalor, soldiers and civilians dying, kids killing kids, and an island of plastic the size of Texas floating in our ocean--to name a few. Operating according to the 90% of the world without ADHD has gotten us here, and while it would probably be a really bad idea to let us run the world, perhaps we have a responsibility to help the world run a little better.

God's Wheel by Shel Silverstein

God says to me with kind of a smile,

"Hey how would you like to be God awhile

And steer the world?"

"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.

Where do I set?

How much do I get?

What time is lunch?

When can I quit?"

"Gimme back that wheel," says God,

"I don't think you're quite ready yet."