In the following essay, I will attempt to tell you all about myself and a lifelong encounter I’ve had with ADHD. Of course when it first came up on my radar it was referred to as Attention-Deficit Disorder or ADD. I was already grown. But looking back over a lifetime I had so many of the symptoms.

All the words in Bold are what AI told me in response to my original question, the title of this piece. My intention is to go through AI’s version and give my personal thoughts and experiences, all of which will be italicized.

ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects focus, impulse control, and sometimes activity levels.

It’s not about being handicapped as is often attached to this condition. It’s more about having a super power that allows me to work harder, get by on less sleep and do many things other may not be able to do.

It’s not just about being hyper-it’s a complex mix of brain wiring that makes tasks like paying attention, staying organized, or regulating emotions trickier than they seem. Think of it like a brain that’s juggling too many tabs at once, struggling to prioritize what matters.

It’s true that my brain is wired in a way that I often don’t pay attention to what someone is saying. But there are times when I can multitask in ways I don’t completely understand. I can be on the phone with someone and carry on a conversation with someone standing before me, completely comprehending what both party’s have said.

There are three main types: Predominantly Inattentive, where you zone out or lose things (like keys, your phone, your train of thought);

I think when I was younger I was more prone to misplacing things, which was maddening. But over time I have become much better at placing items where I can find them. But when I do lose something I almost drive myself to fits until I come up with it. Those around me I’m sure find it comical the way I become unhinged when I’ve lost something.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, where you’re fidgety, restless, or blurt things out;……….

I have always had an impulsive streak about me. Many times not stopping to weigh the consequences of my actions, which have been trying for my family in the early days and especially for my wife for over 54 years.

I find myself being fidgety and restless at times but with age I’m much more likely to sit by myself for long periods of time with no real thought about anything. Often times I will pull up in the driveway and sit in my truck for as much as an hour or more. That usually is after I’ve driven in Austin traffic all day and the mad rush of everyone coming and going home. I don’t always find it necessary to listen to the radio or even fool around with my phone while sitting for long spells. I just want quiet time to unwind.

As for blurting out things, I have always said things without thinking it through. Those actions kept me in trouble much of my life, especially in a structured classroom type setting. But like with many things, I have used experience to temper those times. I don’t find myself letting my mouth overload my tail end nearly as much as in my earlier days.

……and Combined, which is a mix of both. Symptoms vary-some folks are the can’t-sit-still type, others are quieter, missing details or procrastinating because tasks feel overwhelming. It’s not laziness or lack of discipline; the brain’s executive functions are just wired differently.

For most of my adult life I’ve been a note-taker. With a yellow legal pad, starting to make notes early in the day and keeping it by my side as the day progresses, adding to and striking out the completed tasks. Doing this has given me a way of making myself accountable and productive.

On the other hand if I don’t make a list, I’ll get to the end of the day without seeing that I’ve accomplished anything.

It often starts in childhood but can stick around into adulthood-sometimes even go undiagnosed for years. About five to seven percent of kids have it, and while symptoms might ease up for some, plenty of adults deal with it too. Genetics play a big role, with heritability estimated at seventy to eighty percent. Environment-like prenatal stress or early childhood trauma-can amplify things, but it’s not caused by bad parenting or too much sugar (sorry, that’s a myth). Diagnosis involves looking at behavior patterns, usually through interviews with the person, family, or teachers, plus standardized tools. It’s not just checking boxes; context matters-ADHD doesn’t mean you’re bad at everything, just that certain tasks (boring or repetitive ones, usually) are harder. Co-existing conditions like anxiety, depression, or learning disabilities are common, which can muddy the waters. Treatment’s a combo deal: therapy (like CBT for building coping skills), lifestyle tweaks (exercise, sleep, diet), and sometimes meds like stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin) or non-stimulants. Meds don’t cure ADHD but help the brain focus by balancing neurotransmitters like dopamine. They’re not candy-side effects like sleep issues or appetite loss can happen, so it’s about finding what works. Non-med approaches like mindfulness or structured routines help too, but they’re not magic fixes; ADHD brains need consistent scaffolding. Living with ADHD can feel like a constant battle against your own brain, but it’s not all doom. Many with ADHD are creative, hyper-focused when passionate, and great at thinking outside the box. Think of it as a superpower with a glitch-channel it, and you can do wild things. If you’re curious about specific strategies or if you’re wondering whether you or someone else might have it, want me to dig into that?

I often consider myself lucky to have ADHD. Without it, I don’t know that I could have channeled my thoughts and energies into operating a construction company for 50 years, starting at the young age of 19.

I always knew that because I was wired differently, I would need to get up early and work later than most just to stay out in front of it all.

I had a brief time of retirement, which was when I stepped away from the business for a couple of years, during the years from 2012 until 2015. While it was a nice change of pace, I sometimes worked harder than I did being full time at it in the construction business. I didn’t know how to turn it all off. That was when we moved down to Port Aransas, then to Corpus Christi. I would often be walking along the sea-wall in downtown Corpus, a half mile down from our house at 5:00 AM. Why wasn’t that a perfect time to learn how to relax and sleep late? It just wasn’t meant to be. I had a wonderful workshop where I could get lost for endless hours doing woodworking.

When I returned to the Hill Country to get back into the company didn’t seem to be such a big deal. I often thought that when you’ve done something for decades, you don’t know any difference. But I really think that it had more to do with the way I was wired or would that be the way I’m mis-wired?

When I started writing stories, to which has turned into a big deal for me. I believe I have authored more than 2000 such stories (too many to accurately count) that tell about growing up in Jollyville and Smithwick, going the school and going to school in the 60s in Marble Falls and then the many adventures I’ve experienced during five decades of digging ditches across Texas. I don’t think I could have been as candid and willing to lay it all out, had it not been for being ADHD.

One thing that I think about myself, whether an ADHD trait or just my personality, I will go to extreme lengths to be understood. I don’t know how to accept being falsely accused of doing a misdeed to someone. Sometimes when it would be easier to move on and forget something I’ll feel compelled to keep going back again and again to make myself understood. Much to a fault I’m sure.

With this being a complicated subject, I think rather than carry on too much right now, I’ll cut this off knowing I can and will return to do updates as other thoughts on the subject crosses my mind.

Thank you for reading this and if you have any questions, I invite you to ask almost anything.