Michael Phelps' "Hyper Focusing" Helps Win Golds

Per Bryan Hutchinson - "Michael Phelps has ADHD. I am not the least bit confused by what others are describing about his laser like concentration, this mental part of his makeup, believe it or not, is rather normal for most people with ADHD. It is called Hyper Focusing. Hyper Focusing allows us to concentrate on something so intensely that we cannot break away from whatever we are focusing on, it can provide supreme drive and motivation."

Read the whole article here: http://www.adderworld.com/blog1/2008/08/10/michael-phelps-adhd-hyper-focus-concentration-helps-win-gold-medal-in-beijing/

ADHD and Sexism

On ADHD...For kicks I took an Adult ADHD quiz. It told me I was probably moderately ADHD, and I should see my dr. to be sure. Huh. And here I was blaming his daddy. No Dr. trip for me, though, I'm very used to people getting annoyed with my daydreaming and wanton disregard for convention, thank you very much.

On sexism...I need to admit that I must be sexist. When I heard that McCain chose Palin for VP my heart gave a flutter and I was oh so excited that she was a woman. My heart didn't even stop to ask about her views, background or any such nonsense. I just heard the name "Sarah" and my heart went "yea!". This is my confession.

But what it revealed to me is that I didn't really think the world of men took us women seriously, and for a Republican (aka conservative) presidential nominee to choose a woman... I knew deep down that we had crossed a threshold. Hillary Clinton was close, yes, but she didn't quite make it. No matter who wins the election, Sarah Palin has made it.

I didn't even realize that I had been holding my breath for so long. But I had been holding my breath, or treading water, or something, waiting to be embraced as a person, not a gender. Not as a woman who must wait until all family responsibilities have been taken care of before being able to step into the world, but wanting to be embraced as a person, like Palin, who can be a woman, a mother, a wife, and a leader.

Conversation with my 9-year old daughter about the election

The other day my 9-year old daughter and I were riding in the car and she was curious about the difference between Obama and McCain.

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daughter: I just don't know who I would vote for if I were old enough. What are the differences between them?

me: Well, McCain believes we should leave the troops over in Iraq until we are absolutely sure that Iraq can take care of itself, and Obama would like to start gradually bringing troops home now.

daughter: (thinking) I think I agree with McCain on that one - I think it would be better to wait until we have finished. Although I can understand why a lot of people would want the troops to come home now.

me: It's very expensive to get health care right now. McCain believes we should use market strategies to lower health care costs, and Obama believes the government should make sure that everyone has insurance.

daughter: (promptly) I'll have to side with Obama on that one.

me: (some random mumblings about differences that I can't really remember)

daughter: It's really hard to choose between them, isn't it?

(silence for a few minutes)

daughter: But Obama is going to win anyway, isn't he, because he's made a lot more promises.


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Out of the mouths of babes!