I'm NOT too fond of the label "Attention Deficit Disorder". First of all, we (adders) know that it's not a deficit of attention we have, but a SURPLUS of attention. How can one pay attention to a given topic when so many things are going on, and your brain keeps tuning into EVERYTHING?
Then there's that dreadful word "disorder". It's so clinical and repugnant. So I looked it up in the dictionary, because I prefer to say we're "different", and not "disordered".
American Heritage Dictionary: A lack of order or regular arrangement; confusion.
Damn! They got us on that one! Regardless, today I want to talk about why we're absolutely perfect, just the way we are.
It's hard growing up with adhd. For most adults, nobody even thought to assess us for adhd, so we got the extra lectures, detentions, and groundings instead. Oh well. No big deal.
Really! It's NOT a big deal at all. Why? Because the rest of our life starts today. (This is true every single day).
Life is about being the best version of YOU! It's not about being the best version of someone else. This may be easier to say than do, but it's time ... to do it! It's time to let go of all the belief systems that you've been impregnated with that have come from the outside, and not from within. Whether it's your parents belief system you carry around, or a teacher's, friend's, pastor or priest's ... it doesn't matter, because starting today, for the rest of your life, you're going to live by your own set of beliefs. You're an adult! It's time to start calling your own shots!
You have adhd. You may take some meds like I do. So what? You can do just about anything anyone else can do. You're not disabled. I don't care if the clinicians and society have decided whether it's a disability or not. It doesn't matter. This is YOUR LIFE! There is nothing wrong with you. It's time you start telling yourself that.
The first step is to ACKNOWLEDGE your LIMITATIONS. There are things you're not good at. If I could get somewhere on time, or stay organized, it would be a miracle! But it's time I acknowledge that I'm not good at estimating time. I just need to leave earlier than I think, start my projects sooner, and stop promising I'll do things for which I don't have enough hours in the day to get done. Today, I let go of the belief that I can do anything and everything, and I accept my limitations.
Do you have a limitation to accept? To embrace? To cherish?
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also ... Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you ..." - Jesus, Matthew 39-44.
Those limiting belief patterns that roll around in the back of your head ARE your enemies. It is YOUR voice that curses and hates. Instead of fighting these thoughts by suppressing them, and trying in vain to OVERCOME them ... turn the other cheek, accept, and love them. We are human beings just like everyone else. None of us is perfect.
Accepting your limitations doesn't excuse you from proper behavior, such as being on time in my example. If I promise to be somewhere at a given time, it is ME who has to make the adjustments in my schedule. If I schedule too much in a day, the delays are my responsibility. 
I have adhd. It's up to me to accept my limitations. It's not up to others to accept them for me. I will leave earlier and promise less. Just as everyone else has to do, I will manage my shortcomings. I will do this through acknowledgment and acceptance.
I learn so much by reading what others with adhd have to say about themselves. A common theme is the feeling of being trapped and overwhelmed ... I know ... I'm right there with you ... Be kind to yourself. Celebrate your progress instead of your failures. Count each thing you accomplish (no matter how big or small) and celebrate! No need go out and buy cake and party hats. I'm talking about a celebration that comes from within.
Be your own best friend. Pat yourself on the back. Use your inner voice to support, encourage, and nurture yourself. The words (and tone) you use when you talk to yourself has far more impact than the words (and tone) of others. And if you fail ... that's OK too! It's no big deal at all. Failure is a part of progress. You can't accomplish a thing without failing along the way. So CELEBRATE your failures! Count them as PROGRESS! You just discovered another way it (whatever it is you're doing) doesn't work!
STOP ... thinking about the past! Acknowledge that YOU, your parents, teachers, and everyone else ... did their absolute best based on everything they knew ... love them and give them peace. Give yourself the GIFT of forgiving yourself and others. Forgiveness is the greatest gift of all! No one is perfect. And as we stop pretending that we ourselves can be perfect, we must also stop expecting perfection from others as well.
It's ok to be YOU. It's ok to be DIFFERENT. It's ok to live life based on your own beliefs, instead of beliefs from others. Give yourself a few moments ... grab a soundtrack and meditate for 20 minutes ... notice and acknowledge your shortcomings ... then love them ... and give them peace.
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