ADHD has walked beside me since I was 7. I don’t know if neurotypical people feel the same, but the list of things I’d love to do in my free time is endless — miles and miles long — and I never seem to have enough hours to scratch the surface. Dancing, cooking, reading, painting, singing, listening to music, playing guitar, going on a date, having barbecues with friends, cuddling my cats, watching one of the thousand series piling up in my streaming queue, dyeing and cutting my hair, getting another tattoo, traveling, learning at least three more languages (and I already speak more than three!), doing pottery, throwing a party, throwing my cats a party, gardening, or diving into any other hobby that sparks my interest for a moment — these are just a few of the things that light me up.

I’m a person of many fascinations, and they shift constantly depending on what’s happening in my life. But is this scattered energy good for me? When do I know to focus on one thing rather than getting swept up in a hundred new ideas? Well, I don’t. :)

So, what you see here is just a small slice of who I am and what I love (for now). I’m proud of myself for resisting the urge to squeeze myself into a neat little box, a standardized version of what the system expects — where I’m supposed to find joy only in my profession and disdain anything outside of it (or even hate my work, for that matter). While I do love my work, I’m not a typical person, and most certainly don’t want to be seen as “perfect.” It’s my imperfections and my tangled web of passions that keep me creative and authentic, and I am empowered by the freedom this gives me. I don't believe I need to turn every hobby or passion into something I excel at — instead, I can just seize the moment and do things for the pleasure of doing.

I don’t view it as a flaw, though. I am thrilled for having so many interests — so many things that make my heart warm in different ways each day. Right now, for instance, I’m diving into the world of relationships, human behavior, and ethical non-monogamy. It’s helping me see life through a whole new lens, one that touches every aspect of my world. This, along with therapy, has made me realize that I am a product of my experiences. Everything I’ve done, am doing, and will continue to do is shaping me into who I am. So why should I stick to one passion when I can explore and experience them all, little by little, without rushing to master any of them or turn them into another product of capitalism?