Simply Ben Glenn | The Simple ADHD Expert

Wow – it’s been a hectic few weeks! As you can tell, I am way behind on keeping you guys and gals updated. I’m actually preparing right now to leave for a whirlwind tour where Larry and I will be doing events in Vincennes, IN, Chicago, IL, Katy, TX and Washington, DC…all in the next 4 days! Phew! All that means is I don’t have a lot of time to say everything I’d like to say.

I would, however, like to take just a minute to reflect back on the past few weeks and thank the many people that coordinate the events where I speak. I know the amount of effort it takes to pull an event off – and everything has gone so smoothly. I wish I had the time to sit down and write a blog for each event I’ve had since August 20th.  Instead, I would just like to say a sincere “thank you” to all of the participants and coordinators for each of these events:

The Kentucky Migrant Education Program in Louisville, KY

Emerson Technologies in Sydney, OH

Sussex Technical High School, Georgetown, DE

Heritage School in Provo, UT

Brady Middle School, Cleveland, OH

SpringHill Camps, Evart, MI

Alabama Department of Education in Montgomery, AL

The Ft. Wayne Association for the Education of Young Children in Ft. Wayne, IN

Shawnee College in Ullin, IL

Grace Community Church in Raleigh, NC

Thank you to each and every one of you for your hard work.  You each make a difference in someone’s life every day!

My special education teacher had me write out my spelling words so many times that my hand would cramp up. I loathed the process of repetition, but results showed true.

Now, repetition has proven itself, and I can’t say that I hate it. If I put in my reps, I can rely on them to help me recall and effortlessly do what I need to do, even when I’m tired or distracted.

Not too long ago, I took up boxing (I told you that I’m special – some people take naps to relax, me, I like to punch things (and people) ), and my coach has me doing the same drills over and over.

He growls, “Ben, I am teaching you this so that when you are in the ring and you are tired, your body will respond without you even having to think about it.”

This came to light during a recent sparring match. Coach had been getting me to “slip a right jab.” This is when someone throws a right jab at you, and you turn to duck it and counter-punch with a left hook. I was absolutely exhausted during the fight, and then it happened.

In the post-fight debrief, Coach asked me if I saw what I did. I didn’t because I was too tired. He said that I slipped a right jab and threw a left hook; he called it “perfect.” (I was just glad that I could stand upright.) And it was all due to repetition.

People wonder how I, an ADDer, can draw a picture in 12 minutes and 33 seconds or keep my thoughts in order while speaking. It’s because I have done the drawing and the speech so many times that I can probably do it in my sleep. Because I struggle with reading, I work hard to memorize Bible verses so I don’t have read in front of church groups. I turn to the page, but I don’t read it; it just cues me to recall the passage.

ADDers know what it’s like to have a scattered brain; repetition is definitely one of the things that can combat that scatter. Whether it’s music, athletics, performing, or anything else, we can use repetition so that when we’re tired and ADHD flares up, we can work off of instinct.

Practice does make perfect. And that’s something worth repeating.