“I’m Glad I’m A-D-A!”

I have discovered that we live in an era of labels. I mean, a child can be ADD, ADHD, ODD, CD or even Autistic. And, once you are tagged with one of these labels it can hang around your neck like an albatross for your whole life! As a former educator, I discovered that many of the students who came to me with one of these labels was actually normal … for them!

What happened is, many educators and, unfortunately, some parents, too, painted a picture of what they thought the “perfect” student should be like and, if a student didn’t fall into those parameters, they were labeled with one of the above tags. Individuality was never taken into consideration in these cases. Personally, as an educator, I completely ignored them and enjoyed each student for their individual characteristics. And, quite frankly, I think, as an educator, I was pretty darn successful!

Now, you may think I have already said my piece, BUT I am just getting started! About fifteen years ago I was advised that I, too, should be labeled (I pointed out to them that my wife had already given me a few labels, but that’s a story for another day!). What I was told was that I had AADD – Adult Attention Deficiency Disorder. I just smiled politely and told them I’d get back to them later.

Well, I did a little research and a little cogitating and decided that I am not ADD, I’m ADA – Attention Deficiency Advantaged! What ADD means is you can’t focus on any one thing; What ADA means is that you can Mentally Multi-Task! And that, Jack, really IS an advantage!

For example, I can watch a ballgame, read a book (or write a Blog!) and carry on a conversation all at the same time! It doesn’t have to be perfectly quiet for me to read, so I can do it anywhere! I can take notes while a speaker is lecturing, and pay complete attention to what they are saying as they go on. Yep – – I’m Attention Deficiency Advantaged!

The main point I am hoping to make today is this: Don’t let Labels taint your opinion of others that you deal with! And the scriptural connotation is found in Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. ² For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” I never want to know what others think about someone, I just want to know how that person treats me. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Good News for any day!