The Boat and the Anchor

A hulking ship is anchored in the harbor. Soon the crew will board and they will launch into the sea. It's what the ship was made to do. Right now though, the anchor holds it safely in place where everything is in order and the water is calm.

But what if the anchor, so set in its way, decides that this is how it should always be? What if the anchor becomes so self-important that it refuses to be drawn in so that the ship can do its job? What if the anchor's way becomes the standard, and it criticizes or mocks the ship for such silliness?

If you don't have ADD, you may want to accuse me of over-simplifying what we have come to know as our reality. If you have ADD you would nod your head knowingly, appreciating the illustration. This is what we face every day in our careers, in school and at home.

It becomes apparent to us early on that we aren't like other people. We were created different. I'm not sure at what point the "anchors" became the standard and the "ships" became lazy, disorganized or irresponsible. The truth is, we were never meant to perform in an anchor world. A ship doesn't know what to do in the harbor except sit. Float. Bob around a little. Someone with ADD feels a little...no, a lot...like a rugged ship ready for adventure, but with no room to move, and after a bit we resent the anchors.

It can't be easy being an anchor, coming aboard and hanging on for dear life while the ship crashes against waves bigger than itself. We see you there digging your nails into the dash board as we use all three lanes to exit the highway, or jump from one project to another with reckless abandon. But without our drive, passion, and fearless resolve, who would discover other lands? Who would have believed you could get people to buy a cup of coffee, milk and air for $4? Who would protect you in danger and help you in emergencies?

We need you. Without you we may sail off the edge of the earth (you thinking it's flat and all). But without us, you would sit just quietly in the harbor, happy with order and safety, in fear of new worlds and new adventures.

Maybe we could just work together?