To the average adult with ADHD exercise takes a back seat to almost all other activities. Work, family and friends, errands, sleep and even housework! These activities are important, however so is exercise. Exercise not only helps the longevity of your body, but it helps reduce some of the negative effects of ADHD too. For example, exercise improves your attention, mental focus, memory, mental stamina and allows you to expend pent up energy.

So what can you do to make sure exercise is part of your daily life? As well as choosing a form of exercise that is fun for you and one that is convenient, a powerful way is to look to those people who you admire and are inspired by. Perhaps your favourite sports personality or someone who you know personally. There is one particular example of someone we all know who I find very inspiring and that is Barack Obama.

On the 4th of November 2008, the eyes of the world were on America and its election day. Barack Obama made history by becoming the first African American president. His political views, beliefs and sincerity resonated with millions worldwide. It was a huge day for him and his young family. Over two years of hard work on the campaign trail culminated on this day. We can only imagine the intense emotions he must have felt. That evening when the results were official, he stood in front of 125,000 people in Chicago and gave a speech that brought people to tears and gave people goose bumps all around the world. I am guessing he didn’t get much sleep that night.

Do you know what Barack did around 6 am the morning of the 5th of November? After this momentous day? He went to the gym. Then he put on a suit and started his day.

Now if anyone could excuse themselves from a visit to the gym that day, it would have been Barack Obama. Some thoughts that might have popped into his mind: I am too tired, too busy, I have just been voted the next president of the United States! Even if those excuses did come to his mind, he went to the gym anyway.

What can you do to make sure you exercise regularly?

1. Make exercise part of your daily routine so that it would be just as hard not to exercise as not brush your teeth at night.
2. Think of who inspires you to exercise and use them as a motivation to get you moving.
3. Give yourself a healthy reward after you exercise.
4. Next time an excuse pops into your head about not exercising, think of Barack.
5. Notice and enjoy the benefits that exercise has on your ADHD.

Kitty is really enjoying her new home. The thing she likes best is going outside and having the freedom to roam. Being the smart cat that she is, she has me believe she doesn’t actually roam very far (as an overprotective cat mom this pleases me greatly). She stays on the deck, goes under a big fir tree and hangs out in the flower bed.

However… the cat is out of the bag (pardon the pun) as, whenever I run into my new neighbours they inform me of all the places they have seen her. For example, the lady six houses down with the beautiful golden lab tells me Kitty likes relaxing on her deck, and the lady with the huge lawn watches Kitty chase birds in her garden. Today though, I found out about the most surprising and cheeky behavior. Next door to me lives the “black belt” in the cat community… Blue. He is a similar size to Kitty, same grey colour, but he is short-haired. He is REALLY tough. I know this because he goes out even in the most freezing cold weather, the sort that has Kitty running from after merely sniffing the air. He bears war wounds on his face from previous battles, and no living being is too large for him to take on, including me. He regularly hisses at me when I walk out on my deck.

But today, Blue’s owner told me that Kitty likes to go into her house and eat Blue’s food. Kitty has no shame, or fear! It seems the highly expensive prescribed food that the vet wants her to eat for her health just isn’t cutting it with Kitty’s taste buds. She is willing to risk… who knows what… in order to get some tasty “normal” cat food. I am off to the vets in a second.

As an adult with ADHD, it is very easy to focus on your weaknesses and areas “to be worked on.” So much thought can be given to these areas that it’s easy to forget about your talents. Many adults with ADHD are humble to a fault and dismiss their talents because they come so easily. Naturally, they don’t feel they can be proud of these traits, or that they aren’t valuable. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you notice what you are good at, you can spend more time utilizing your strengths and less time worrying about your weaknesses.

Just like adults without ADHD, there are many strengths you might have. Here are just five examples of things that might resonate with you.

1. High EnergyIf you have the hyperactivity component of ADHD, it might have diminished a little compared to when you were a child, but it’s way more than most people! When channeled on one project, you can work for hours and in a way that leaves people without ADHD both exhausted and in awe of you.
2. HyperfocusWhen something captures your attention, you can focus on it for hours. The ability to mentally tune out distractions and become so focused means you can get a lot done, as well as have a huge sense of satisfaction afterwards. This is similar to what Czech psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls “Flow.” Time disappears and your actions flow from you.
3. CreativityYou think outside the box and aren’t constricted by the “norm” and what has traditionally been done. This can be great in any situation, from an office brainstorming session to decorating your house to creating a new invention that can positively change the world.
4. Sense of HumorAs an adult with ADHD, there is a high chance that you have a good sense of humor. Humor comes in many packages: loud, boisterous Jim Carey types or quieter, witty types. Finding humor in everyday situations makes the world a happier place. People with ADHD often have a ready smile and can be funny as well as appreciative of other people’s humor.
5. SensitivityAdults with ADHD tend to be a sensitive bunch. Sensitivity is not a trait that is glorified in our culture, but it is a wonderful quality. It means you can easily relate to other people, have a natural empathy to how they are feeling and are able to act accordingly. It also means that you are a good judge of character, which in turn has many benefits too.

This Weeks Actions

1. What talents come easily to you? Remember, they might be so effortless to you that you don’t value them. If you aren’t sure, ask close friends and family to help you identify them.
2. For each of the five points above, ask yourself:
   • Is this a trait I have?
   • When have I noticed/experienced it recently?
   • How could I maximize this trait and use it more to my advantage?
3. Notice how your life becomes more enjoyable and effortless when you work with your strengths.

The other day a friend made an off-hand comment that made me laugh at first and then ponder. We had had a brief chat early in the day and then he said, “OK, you right the world and I will speak to you later.” There was something paradoxical and empowering about that comment. I would do something totally earth shattering during the day and then we would have another routine chat that evening. Rather like the line “Only got 4 minutes to save the world” from Madonna’s song “4 Minutes.” When I listen to that song, I think, “Well, if Madonna can save the world in four minutes, I can definitely accomplish everything on my to do list,” no matter how daunting it looks.

As an adult with ADHD, it’s very easy to get bogged down in things you find challenging, such as organizing, keeping things tidy and clean and arriving on time to appointments. “Ordinary” things that most people seem to do effortlessly are a struggle. However, if you spend too much of your time in “struggle mode” you forget how many wonderful gifts you have and that people without ADHD can only dream about.

As an adult with ADHD, you can accomplish something extra original today – or save the world in four minutes. If the thought of saving the world in four minutes sounds far-fetched, it’s not! David Neeleman is founder of JetBlue Airways and inventor of the e-ticket. Chances are, the idea of the e-ticket came to him in a flash (in less than four minutes) and with this flash of inspiration, he single-handedly changed the world. (Thousands of trees are being saved thanks to him! Mr. Neeleman has ADHD and credits his success “entirely” to ADHD. There are many famous ADHD people out there, who are not known for being organized or for their ability to sit still for three hours and stay out of mischief. But they ARE known for their out of the box thinking and changing the world. Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin were all thought to have ADHD and all had a positive influence on our world.

This week focus on doing the extra ordinary.

1. Stretch yourself to do something you thought was beyond your personal best or something that seemed impossible. Don’t see having ADHD as a weakness that gets in your way, but as a strength that gives you an advantage.
2. If you feel anxious or overwhelmed, listen to Madonna’s “4 Minutes.” You can find it on YouTube. It will lift your spirits and help you feel empowered.
3. Remind yourself that you have the ability to think big and be creative.
4. Allow time to think. It might be in the shower, on the drive to work, or during another activity where you get your inspiration. Pay attention to your thoughts and ideas.
5. Ask yourself, “What would make today an extra original day?”

The weeks seem to be flying by – I can barely believe we are over half way through June, can you? This week I booked my flight to England to visit my family and friends. I will be leaving in August and am very excited. My new website is up and running. Check it out – www.untappedbrilliance.com. My favorite bit is the sparkles that appear when you place your mouse over one of the tabs!

This week I visited the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts where they have an exhibition called “Image.” The exhibit is dedicated to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s art. There were photos, drawings, films and artwork, all of which created a wonderful experience. John and Yoko were very creative individuals and were passionate about there being peace in the world.

If you live in Montreal and want to visit the exhibition, there is still time. It’s open until June 21^st.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

When we turn the page on our calendars to June, I feel summer has definitely arrived! I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t enjoy summer. The long sunny days and the opportunity to do things that are only possible in the warmer weather means it’s a happy and fun session.

Yesterday, I played my first tennis game and even in Montreal’s unpredictable weather, it’s now safe to plant summer flowers without Mr. Frost coming for a visit. When I am at home, I can leave the door open for Kitty to run in and out of the house so she can participate in her favorite summer activity… watching birds.