| 23-year-old Michael Phelps is the record-breaking | | | | and hands that act like paddles - they are the size |
| Olympic Swimming Champion. He is the first | | | | of dinner plates! |
| person to win eight gold medals in a single | | | | Usually, the things we are naturally good at are |
| Olympics; the Beijing 2008 Olympics to be precise. | | | | the very things that we enjoy the most. There is |
| Overall, he currently holds 16 Olympic medals; the | | | | no point in fighting and struggling to do what you |
| other eight remaining are six gold and two bronze | | | | aren't good at. It's no fun. It's hard work and |
| medals at Athens in 2004. What an inspiring and | | | | really wears you down emotionally. When you |
| incredible achievement! | | | | work with your strengths, your life becomes |
| What many people don't realize is that Michael has | | | | more joyful and easier. |
| ADHD. The success of this American hero seems | | | | What are you naturally good at? Think about this |
| so effortless to the outsider, but in fact follows a | | | | question in relation to both your work and home |
| challenging childhood; one that many people with | | | | life. |
| ADHD can relate to. His peers bullied Michael as a | | | | Lesson # 4: |
| child and he struggled in the classroom. | | | | Michael turned what he didn't like to do into |
| So what can we learn from Michael? You might | | | | something that was fun. |
| not be an aspiring Olympic Champion, but | | | | Like many people with ADHD, Michael found |
| whatever you are striving towards, Michael Phelps | | | | school very challenging. He struggled to |
| has some key elements in his life that provide him | | | | concentrate and focus in the classroom and didn't |
| with a strong foundation to excel in his chosen | | | | enjoy reading or math. Michael's mom was |
| field. | | | | resourceful and gave Michael the sports section of |
| Lesson # 1: | | | | the newspaper to make reading more enjoyable |
| Michael has great people in his life. | | | | for him, and ensured his math tutor customized |
| He has an actively supportive mom and two elder | | | | math problems to make them more interesting, |
| sisters, all of who were on the stands cheering | | | | e.g. 'If you swim one meter per second, how long |
| for him in Beijing. He also has a great swimming | | | | would it take to swim 800 meters?' |
| coach whom Michael respects and admires. | | | | No matter how much or how often you use your |
| While the Western culture places great emphasis | | | | strengths, there are some things that you have |
| on being independent, humans are social beings | | | | to do, even though they aren't fun for you. You |
| and need human connection to thrive and be as | | | | may not have Michael's resourceful mom at your |
| healthy and successful as we can possibly be. | | | | side, but you can be creative and think of ways |
| Living with ADHD isn't easy, yet life can be much | | | | to turn your painful tasks, that only you can do, |
| more joyful and the knocks easier to recover | | | | into something fun. |
| from when you have people who care about you, | | | | First of all, think about what you really dislike |
| who share in your successes, as well as in the | | | | doing. Do you think it can be delegated? If not, |
| harder times. | | | | ask yourself how you can turn it into something |
| Who are the most important people in your life? | | | | that is fun. |
| Do you connect with a loved one, either a family | | | | Lesson # 5: |
| member or a friend every day? If not, take a | | | | Michael has a dog that he named Herman! |
| moment to think about how you can incorporate | | | | Michael's English bulldog Herman provides |
| this into your daily life. | | | | unconditional love, and doesn't care how many |
| Lesson # 2: | | | | medals Michael has. |
| Exercise. | | | | Consider getting a dog for a pet. |
| Michael exercises every day. As a schoolboy, his | | | | Now, while you may think this a funny suggestion, |
| mom took him to the swimming pool every day, | | | | having a pet dog can be incredibly helpful to adults |
| including Christmas day. | | | | with ADHD. No matter how wonderful the people |
| Michael's passion and work IS exercise. However, | | | | are in your life, a loyal pet dog loves you |
| it is still important that you incorporate exercise | | | | regardless of whether you took the trash out or |
| into your life on a daily basis. Exercise aids adults | | | | not, or did a good presentation at work. Because |
| with ADHD because it improves attention, burns | | | | of this, they boost your self-esteem; they force |
| off pent up energy, reduces anxiety, and | | | | you to go for walks, ergo, you don't forget your |
| improves your mood. | | | | exercise. Also, dog owners talk to more people |
| Is exercise part of your daily life? If not, think of | | | | more often than non-dog owners do. Dog owners |
| what exercise you like to do most and then, think | | | | are less inclined to suffer from depression than |
| about how to make it a part of your daily life. If | | | | non-dog owners are. Having a pet dog can also |
| at all possible, exercise at the beginning of the | | | | help you to have more structure in your day than |
| day. However, the main thing is to get moving | | | | if you didn't have a dog. |
| and any time of day would be great. | | | | So, consider getting a dog. Of course getting a |
| Lesson # 3: | | | | dog is a big commitment, and not one to be |
| Michael does what he is good at. | | | | taken lightly. If it really is not a viable option for |
| Michael has a body built for swimming: he is 6 feet | | | | you, consider 'borrowing' a friend's dog or a |
| and 4 inches tall, a slim 195lbs, has size 14 feet, | | | | neighbor's dog and offer to help out with walks. |