I always had good grades in school and a higher reading level than most of my peers, I would read anything put into my hands. I could “count cards” while playing rummy with my parents at seven and won most times. I would question everything, how does this work, why does it work, how do I recreate it? I would listen to music, watch tv and work on my homework all at the same time. I could tell you what was going on in the episode I was watching, what song was playing all while working on an essay. Then when I made it to high school, I learned that I have Dyscalculia (Dyslexia with numbers). Although it never slowed me down and I was taking any college prepared courses my school offered. I had somehow learned a work around without any help.
I credit my dad for always encouraging me to think outside of the box and figure things out on my own from a very young age, allowing me to question everything with the patience of a saint. My mother was the same way and wrote a poem about my inquisitively, which I cherish to this day. I often wonder if they somehow knew there was something different in how I learned and helped me to overcome it without calling it a disorder.
I don’t like calling it a disorder, being able to hyperfocus on a project, having energy to keep going, being sensitive to things around me, talking to anyone about anything and seeing things from a different vantage point are my superpowers.
It’s not been all sunshine and roses, there’s been troubled relationships, addictive tendencies (caffeine for me), bursts of anger or not being able to control an emotional response, missing appointments, being time blind at times and talking too much. A late diagnosis for me explained a lot of my younger years.
That’s why I've created strategies to achieve success in all areas of my life, from redefining relationships to gaining control over finances, developing practical approaches to enhance daily tasks to cultivating mindfulness techniques for staying focused, present and in the moment. I hope you join me in my journey.