Finding My Way
A reflection on ADHD, identity, and finally understanding what never made sense.
I didn’t fall down a rabbit hole — I was born in it.
Growing up, I was the quiet, well-behaved girl. I followed the rules, got good grades, never caused trouble. On the outside, I seemed like the ideal student, but inside, I was working twice as hard just to keep up.
There were things I couldn’t explain — like how I could read an entire page and have no idea what it said. Or how I’d space out in class, heart pounding when a teacher called my name because my attention had drifted to admiring my friend’s cute new sneakers.
One minute I was following the rules, the next I was in a world that made no sense to me. Emotions were loud, even when I said nothing. Time was slippery. Focus felt like something that lived outside my control.
I wasn’t trying to be difficult. I just felt off — like I was always one step behind. Like everyone else had a map on the Girl Scout hike, and I was meandering around noticing the pretty mushrooms.
None of it felt like something I could explain. So I masked it. I compensated. I worked harder. And still, I kept wondering why things that felt simple for other people seemed to take everything I had.
Years later, when I finally learned about ADHD, something clicked. It wasn’t an excuse — it was an explanation. And with that understanding came compassion, direction, and even pride.
Because ADHD doesn’t just come with challenges. It also brings deep strengths:
✨ Creativity – the ability to connect ideas in ways others don’t see
✨ Sensitivity – picking up on energy, emotion, and nuance
✨ Focus – when the spark hits, we lock in and create magic
✨ Resilience – we’ve been adapting all along
For a long time, I thought something was wrong with me.
Now I know I was just trying to navigate without a map.
Now that I have one, I still pause to check out the mushrooms — but with each step I take, I see myself more clearly.
Have you had a moment like that — where things finally made sense? I’d love to hear. 💬
