Intense Personalities

Have you ever picked up a non-fiction book, and while reading the introduction, you started to tear up because it hit home hard?

I was at the library yesterday, and while perusing the new books, ran across the title The ADD Myth by Martha Burge.  Now, I have had my opinions that ADD is often misdiagnosed and if my daughter went to public school they would diagnose her right away, so the concept that there were errors in the field of ADD research didn't surprise me.  Something drew me to pick up the book.  I read the back cover that contained the words "normal" in quotation marks and I was compelled to check it out.

Knowing me, I figured I wouldn't get around to actually reading the silly book.  I often have high hopes of finding the allotted time to sit and read something I might find interesting, but this normally doesn't come to pass.  I then slump my shoulders and take the book back when it is due, still wondering what information it contains.  This happened recently with Buddha's Brain and I had waited three months on a waiting list.

Anyway, this morning I sat down to breakfast and picked up the book.  As I am reading the introduction, I am greeted by a series of characteristics and behaviors with which I am personally familiar.  These are traits with which I struggle.  I struggle with them, not because they are bad, but because they are not "normal". 

A few months ago, I posted about a site that talked about multipotentiality.  This concept was interesting to me, the not being able to stick to one passion, but a little too causey for my taste. After reading only the introduction of Martha Burge's book, an introduction that ends with it is okay not to read the book from start to finish and a little note that she provided summaries of each chapter at the end for those of us who are often bogged down by too many words (really I just want the protein), I saw a glimpse of understanding:  understanding myself, my kids, and my family.

The point?  I haven't read the whole book.  I was so intrigued by the first little bit of reading that I had to share right away.  If you find yourself feeling like you are on the outside looking in because you become easily obsessed by a task, you have intense emotions that visibly scare others or you take on the world's sorrows as your own, just the introduction to this book can open up your mind to a new way of thinking.

Thank you for reading,
Sarah McTernen

www.anardentlife.com