If neurodivergence (specifically autism and ADHD) were a wood-decay fungus, both sides of my family tree would be riddled with mushroom caps sprouting from every branch.

Did you know time blindness is a common symptom of ADHD? According to ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorder Association): “The ADHD brain is simply wired in a way that changes a person’s ability to estimate and judge time.” though you don’t need any association, study, or doctor to tell you this, just ask my whole ADHD diagnosed family. If you can ever get ahold of them.

There are various guesses as to why this symptom is common in people with ADHD, but I care less about why it’s there and more about how we can manage it or actually use it as an asset.

Which brings me to my mom’s eleventh year on chemo, when she was told she probably would be dead after four at the most.

A startling study from the UK on life expectancy for people with ADHD revealed that on average we live 9 years less than the average person. The study shows lifestyle factors including things like “shorter sleep duration, less exercise, poorer nutrition and risky driving” all contribute to an earlier death in folks with ADHD.

Though it’s absolutely possible her getting cancer may have been related to her having ADHD, I actually think my mom’s ADHD has kept her alive long past her expiration date.

Hyperfocus is an ADHD superpower in my family, and my mom has (involuntarily) applied it to her understanding of her treatment. No stone left unturned, no thread left un-tugged when it comes to side effect mitigation, learning about her specific type of breast cancer, her genes, treatment options, you name it. She moves fast and trusts the instincts she develops through deep learning and hours spent excavating understandings from medical reports and studies. NIH.gov is probably her most visited webpage eleven years running.

For our family, this means we get a whole lot of information shared with us in texts and phone calls. This also activates our hyperfocus making us dig into something that piqued our interest and could very likely save one of our lives at some point. My family sharing our learnings like this is a sacred and fulfilling bonding experience. I highly recommend.

Also, for me personally, hyperfocus and time blindness means I seldom look up to recognize we’re well past her deadline.

I’m immensely proud of her that she hasn’t met this one yet.

P.S. when I shared this story with my mom she pointed out she’s been on this round of chemo for ELEVEN years, not the eight I had mistakenly originally written. Ah time… I rest my case!

P.P.S. She also said “93% of those diagnosed with my cancer at the same time are not alive today” She loves beating the odds. I bet that’s also a symptom of ADHD.

A little about Writing Hour:

No distractions: Microphones are muted for a peaceful and distraction-free environment.

Focus on your own writing: There are no feedback sessions or discussions.

Complete freedom: No prompts or assigned topics are given. Write whatever you want or need to!

Vibes provided: We do like to play chill music to help with spark some inspiration.

To join Writing Hour, go to writinghour.space, register with your email, then join when the time comes!

Today’s times:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

Noon EDT (4pm GMT, 9am PDT)

(To convert either of those to your local time, just go here.)

Want to learn even more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

Writing Hour Reminder was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today’s time:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

(To convert to your local time, just go here.)

A little about Writing Hour:

No distractions: Microphones are muted for a peaceful and distraction-free environment.

Focus on your own writing: There are no feedback sessions or discussions.

Complete freedom: No prompts or assigned topics are given. Write whatever you want or need to!

Vibes provided: We do like to play chill music to help with spark some inspiration.

To join Writing Hour, go to writinghour.space, register with your email, then join when the time comes!

Want to learn even more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

Only 1 Writing Hour Today! was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today’s times:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

Noon EDT (4pm GMT, 9am PDT)

(To convert either of those to your local time, just go here.)

A little about Writing Hour:

No distractions: Microphones are muted for a peaceful and distraction-free environment.

Focus on your own writing: There are no feedback sessions or discussions.

Complete freedom: No prompts or assigned topics are given. Write whatever you want or need to!

Vibes provided: We do like to play chill music to help with spark some inspiration.

To join Writing Hour, go to writinghour.space, register with your email, then join when the time comes!

Want to learn even more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

Writing Hour Update was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A little about Writing Hour:

No distractions: Microphones are muted for a peaceful and distraction-free environment.

Focus on your own writing: There are no feedback sessions or discussions.

Complete freedom: No prompts or assigned topics are given. Write whatever you want or need to!

Vibes provided: We do like to play chill music to help with spark some inspiration.

To join Writing Hour, go to writinghour.space, register with your email, then join when the time comes!

Today’s times:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

Noon EDT (4pm GMT, 9am PDT)

(To convert either of those to your local time, just go here.)

Want to learn even more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

Writing Hour Today! was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A little about Writing Hour:

No distractions: Microphones are muted for a peaceful and distraction-free environment.

Focus on your own writing: There are no feedback sessions or discussions.

Complete freedom: No prompts or assigned topics are given. Write whatever you want or need to!

Vibes provided: We do like to play chill music to help with spark some inspiration.

To join Writing Hour, go to writinghour.space, register with your email, then join when the time comes!

Today’s times:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

Noon EDT (4pm GMT, 9am PDT)

(To convert either of those to your local time, just go here.)

Want to learn even more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

Reminder for Writing Hour was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Writing Hour is now in Zoom webinar form instead of the private meeting room we previously met in.

Your experience as attendee will essentially be the same with the live chat, ambient visuals and chill music. The only difference is we now have a registration page for each session. This means you can add it to your preferred calendar in advance.

The writinghour.space link, will take you to our new Writing Hour registration page.

Tomorrow’s and every Thursday’s times:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

Noon EDT (4pm GMT, 9am PDT)

(To convert either of those to your local time, just go here.)

Want to learn more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

New Registration for Writing Hour was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

While we take the day off, check out this powerful and enlightening Medium story by Kwasi Hudson: “Juneteenth Is a Celebration — And a Warning."

If you have any questions about Writing Hour, here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

No Writing Hour Tomorrow was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Every Thursday we gather in a Zoom room to write. No microphones, no talking, no writing prompt, no meeting agenda. It doesn’t even have to be a Medium post. It only has to be yours. We’ll provide some chill tunes and a chat open so you can share what you’re working on.

Writing Hour Zoom room (this link opens directly to the zoom room, so be make sure your camera is off, or be ready to be on camera if you’d like.)

Today and every Thursday’s times:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

Noon EDT (4pm GMT, 9am PDT)

(To convert either of those to your local time, just go here.)

Want to learn more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

Writing Hour Soon was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

You have two chances to catch Writing Hour with us today!

A little about Writing Hour:

No distractions: Microphones are muted for a peaceful and distraction-free environment.

Focus on your own writing: There are no feedback sessions or discussions.

Complete freedom: No prompts or assigned topics are given. Write whatever you want or need to!

Vibes provided: We do like to play chill music to help with spark some inspiration.

To join Writing Hour, go here: Writing Hour Zoom room (the link opens directly to the zoom room, so be sure your camera is off, or be camera ready!)

Today’s times:

9am EDT (1pm GMT, 6am PDT)

Noon EDT (4pm GMT, 9am PDT)

(To convert either of those to your local time, just go here.)

Want to learn even more? Here’s the Writing Hour FAQ.

See you soon!

Writing Hour was originally published in Writing Hour on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.