Meet My Friends

          A long time ago, when I was a child, my mother told me “Books are your friends.” She was trying to teach me to take care of books and not damage them. Little did she know how prophetic she was.

          Books are my friends.

          All my life has been influenced by books, sometimes subtly, other times dramatically. I have met interesting people between the covers of books . . . and learned to see those interesting traits in those around me. I have visited exotic places, real and imagined in the pages of books. . . . which ignited a desire to experience some of that exotic and differentness in real life. I’ve found solace and escape from pain or just lighthearted enjoyment in the created stories of others. I’ve discovered new facts and information and help from the efforts of others to put their ideas and concepts into words.

          Books are my friends.

          Recently a couple of books were instrumental in reigniting my creativity. Or rather my productivity. Two books in particular have shed light onto why I struggle to produce finished products. I love to write. Writing is fun and therapeutic, but finishing projects is not my strong point. During this time of of emotional turmoil and uncertainty my life, that may be understandable. Creativity has a hard time flourishing in that environment. But that emotional upheaval is not the only thing hindering my finishing projects and following through with my ideas, be they writing or life. And these two books, “A.D.D. And Creativity,” by Lynn Weiss and “4 Weeks to an Organized Life with AD/HD,” by Jeffrey Freed and Joan Shapiro, were enlightening.

          “4 Weeks to an Organized Life with AD/HD” presents some practical help for adults who have struggled with consistency. The beginning of the book discusses the core of the struggle, giving an easily understood summary of how the ADD mind works. The second part of the book is a program of day to day activities designed to help the reader bring structure into daily life. Basically, the AD/HD thought processes are more intuitive, much more visual, and easily distractible. Broad concepts are easy, fine details are not. High energy and mult-tasking is a part of life, but all that activity can sometimes frustrate. This book takes the strengths of AD/HD and uses them to create a system of becoming organized and in control. It has been an immense help to me, even though, in true ADD form, I did not finish “The Program”.

          “A.D.D and Creativity” presents the argument that the creative personality is a direct result of what has been labeled ADD. The author argues that ADD is not a disorder. It has been labeled by those responsible for researching it and quantifying it, but is, in fact, merely a type of brain functioning. The ADD brain, according to author Lynn Weiss, is uniquely suited to creativity. The struggles of living life in a much more organized and linear-thinking world can squelch, misdirect and damage that creativity, but can never completely remove it.

          Both books present solid arguments with lots of research and anecdotes to explain and verify their explanations and suppositions. Both books have helped me reconnect with my own creativity and create order out of chaos. Both books are full of help and information that will take multiple readings to discover.

          Both books are my friends.

          What books have been particularly good friends to you?