ADHD: Oh, the Places You Can Go! Part Two

Disney World

 Yes, Mr. Walt Disney was said to have ADHD. It practically goes without say the guy was a creative genius who also had the smarts to put his brother, Roy in charge of the business end of the growing Disney empire. Walt was competitive and driven to take risks with technology to make his dreams of animation a reality. 

photo from swimswam.com

Also competitive and driven are some of the greatest athletes of our time. However, despite an ADHD diagnosis, they figured out how to reach the pinnacles of their sports. Michael Phelps transformed a lack of focus and sitting still into an amazing career as a competitive swimmer, becoming the most decorated Olympic athlete ever.  

Michael Jordan's sports empire, built on his sublime talent for playing basketball continues to expand. Michael has taken "doing a million things at once" a common symptom of ADHD, and turned it into an art form, and a lot of cash.

Olympic Ice Hockey champion, and the first woman player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Cammi Granato channeled the restlessness and energy that comes with ADHD into her game making her one of the greatest women to ever play the game.

Albert Einstein

A young Thomas Edison

It has been often speculated that legendary minds, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison had ADHD based on what was known of their behavior. Thom Hartmann authored a book titled the Edison Gene, which is like a nickname for ADHD. Sounds so much better to refer to ADHD as the “Edison Gene” doesn’t it? 

The introduction to Hartmann’s book contains an enlightening story about a trip he took to a very small place in India in 1993. On the train he sat with Indian businessmen and one Indian physician. Hartman decided to ask the physician about what we call ADHD in the western world, and if he was familiar with the brain disorder. 

Hartmann described the typical symptoms and behavior to the doctor. The doctor said. “Ah, yes, we know this type well.” The Indian businessmen nodded their heads in agreement. Hartmann asked the men, “What do you call these people?” The doctor said, “Very Holy. These are old souls on the end of their karmic cycle.” All the men nodded their heads in complete agreement with the doctor. The very holy ones! Isn’t that something? 

Now, ADHD people shouldn’t let this go to their heads, but this is yet another perspective on the disorder that most definitely could bring a little peace to anyone who is having a tough time coming to terms with an ADHD diagnosis. 

Perhaps that's why there are plenty of webpage articles in cyberspace listing famous and successful people with ADHD. These ADHD celebrities are a light that shines brightly on a still misunderstood brain condition. They may be attracting more acceptance in the name of ADHD, but, whether they realize it or not, they are also saying... 

if they can do it, so can you!

Successful People with ADHD: Link