I like the lessons learned from these two fairytales as explained by authors Rotz and Wright in their book,
Fidget to Focus.
The Tortoise and the Hare
We all know the parable of 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' of how an energetic hare challenges a sedate tortoise to a footrace and how the hare, after sprinting off and getting well down the road, decides to take a nap. And we all know how he wakes up later on only to find the tortoise has won the race while he slept. The tortoise is the hero of this story. Slow and steady, we are taught, wins the race. The problem is, there are more ways to be in this world than simply slow and steady. (page 49)
*Many folks with ADHD are challenged by sensing and estimating time. Many work in spurts and lags. Last minute deadlines fuel energy and procrastination creates last minute deadlines.
Goldilocks
We all know the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears.' Goldilocks didn't like her bed too hard or too soft, but just right. She didn't like her porridge too hot or too cold, but just right. What we may not know though, is that we are just like Goldilocks. We don't like things in our lives to be too hard or too soft, too hot or too cold. We like to have them just right--just right for us. We each have a comfort zone where we feel at our best, neither too loud nor too quiet, neither too frantic nor too bored. This comfort zone is our optimal level of arousal, also called our optimal level of alertness. (pages 18-19)
*We strive to create this comfort zone, neither too overwelming nor too underwhelming, by increasing or decreasing sensory input. Some of us need to fidget to focus.
