In his book “Shadow Syndromes” author John Ratey talks about the benefits of having low-grade ADD. One of these is the ability to hyperfocus: “it may also be accurately described as an exceptionally intense capacity to “zone in” on a specific thing, blocking out potential distractions at a greater level than is common for most…
I had an epiphany on my morning walk today. Like all great epiphanies it derives from the ‘compost heap’ of my brain. I forget which of my colleagues used that term, ‘composting’, to refer to the organic combining of ideas, thoughts, stimuli, data, and information that goes on in the brain — but I love…
One of the most frequent “confessions” by new clients is, “I think I have ADD.” “Why”, I ask, “do you think that?” Here’s a few of the laments I’ve heard: I’ve started 7 projects and haven’t finished 1. I can’t sleep because my head is buzzing with ideas. My wife/husband/partner accuses me of being a…
There are many sucky things about chronic pain. One of the biggest is the sheer unpredictability of it. For example, 2 days ago I was able to hop in the car and drive to and from the Town of Canmore, to have lunch with my daughter. Being able to drive 2 1/2 hours round-trip doesn’t…
I often wonder what it would be like to not be moody. I’ve tried to remember what life was like before my Manic Depressive Illness kicked in. I remember times, or at least I think I remember times, when I felt joy. For instance when my daughter was born. I remember the sheer terror of…
CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED #97 The Unsticking™ Newsletter for authors, writers, and other creatives who want to make a great living doing what they love. 3 WAYS TO NOURISH YOUR INNER ARTIST What are you doing to nourish and nurture your Inner Artist? I ask this question because it is one that I am struggling with…
MorningPages March 23, 2010 – Sinister Stirrings Imagine being a ‘piano prodigy’. Now, imagine what would happen to your life if your right hand suddenly seized up and you could no longer play. What then? Yet, that is what happened to Leon Fleisher in 1964. This story in the Calgary Herald, March 18, 2010 recounts…
I’ve long been interested in how to create a successful career and meaning filled life … for me and for my clients. I’ve read hundreds of books, scoured countless blogs, and read lord know how many articles about career development and the lives of artists, writers, and other creatives. Do you fit firmly on the…
It’s only taken me, like 6 years, to figure out how to successfully blog about the several parts of me, and my business. This is my first attempt to share that part of me that is a Journal Writer. I have been keeping a Journal since 1984. And, have amassed thousands of pages of stuff:…
The following is a brief excerpt from my forthcoming memoir, “Beyond the Pain”. I have had this urge to write but I have been avoiding it for some reason. So, I am sitting my ass down in the chair and having a go at it. My little old brain keeps getting distracted, wandering off to…