Poems, Pathways and Peace: A Baby Boomer's Journey With ADHD

by Ron Weckerly

Save 51%

$13.95

$6.85

Account Type

Format

Quantity

Author: Ron Weckerly

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Paperback:
ISBN 10: 1598005448
ISBN 13: 978-1598005448

The ADHD mind is a rainbow full of colors with gold at the end... ...but first you have to find the rainbow.

There are millions of adults in America who are unaware they have ADHD. They may be restless, distractible or impulsive. Such characteristics as financial and time mismanagement, chronic underachievement and frustration, and a lack of organizational skills may be exhibited. The typical ADHDer may have gone through several failed relationships or have drug abuse problems. Ron Weckerly was fifty years old before he had his "Aha!"experience, learning he had ADHD. He failed first grade, was labeled "retarded," and abused alcohol. He went through two failed marriages. All of that changed when he discovered he had ADHD. He now realized there was a reason for his unexplained behaviors, and his life started to change for the better. Ron transformed his life by recognizing that he possessed several positive traits including out-of-box thinking, a sense of humor, and being strongly intuitive. To overcome his weaknesses, he utilized his strengths. He discovered there is a flip side to adults who have ADHD: they may be gifted, intuitive, generous to a fault and full of energy. Poems, Pathways and Peace: A Baby Boomer's Journey with ADHD is for anyone who believes they or a friend or loved one may have ADHD. Ron's message is simple: get help as soon as you can...before the negative traits become major disorders that can ruin your life.

From the Author

As Socrates stated, " An unexamined life is not worth living." I give thanks to Socrates for those words of wisdom. I would be remiss if I did not praise Elbert Einstein for one of his many great quotes, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
By writing my story, I examined and scrutinized my lifef related to AD/HD. The story is not, to a large extent, an autobiograpy. It is a narrative showing how AD/HD greatly influenced the path I traveled. It is amazing what a man discovers about himself when he yearns to share his failures and successes with other people whom he desires to help in life. Warnting to write a book was easier talked about then done! The process has been painful, yet enlightening experience; by sharing my life's journey, I have grown stronger and healthier as an individual.

Life is a process of becoming and growing; becoming more self-actualized involves pain, honesty, lonesomeness, frustration, anger, and acceptance. Only when an indivdual scrutinizes thier own life, and is honest in doing so, will they become healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. In a nutshell, self-examination and moving forward entail having the guts to see the true self, which I often did not like viewing!

As an AD/HD individual, I know what Einstein meant about doing the same thing over and over getting the same results. "I" just did not get it-I cannot tell you how many times I repeated the same negative traits and disorders over and over, getting the same undesireable outcomes!

I believe longing to help others with AD/HD by telling my story required mt to get out of my "self-pity," and grow as a human. "I am who I am, who people do not think I am."

Glancing back to my early life in the 1950's and 1960's, there was no help for an individual as there is today as far as testing, counseling, and medical treatment. I and others my age paid a big price by unknowingly allowing the residual behaviors to grow and become more dominant in our lives. Poor self-esteem, increased depression, anger, and guilt were all elements that attacked my mind, body, and soul,

In my forites I started therapy, which was way too late for dealing with the traits that became major disorders during my life, such as drinking, compulsive behaviors and broken promises. My seemingly harmess traits became major disorders and influenced my life greatly in negative ways which not only hurt me, but also the people I loved.

Once I began psychotherapy, the therapists helped to strike down my tunnel vision of a negative self-image. New avenues of hope were born in becoming a person with self-respect. Talking my problems out was painful, fearful, and exciting at the same time. Old wounds were opened up, yet they were to be healed; the process however, was difficult and challenging.

At the age of fifty, after testing, I became aware that I had AD/HD; this was much too long in my life to watit to find out that I had the syndrome. The songs of anxiety, rambling thoughts, mood swings, and broken promises spun around in my mind like a record for five long decades. I learn to adapt to some situations; to others, I did not do as well.

I became aware bit by bit that drinking and drugs were not the answer to provide temporary calmness to the away from the AD/HD symptoms. Acting like a class clown and trying to prove constantly to others that I was good enough for them were painful and ugly experiences.

I thank God for His guidance and love. He certainly got my attention in the 1980's when He brought me to my knees and I fell before the cross and cried out for His help. I ended up in the psych ward for two weeks and took off teaching for three months. I knew I was self-destructing and would kill myself if I continued to treat myself badly.

Presently, at age 63, I continue to work on my AD/HD issues. I would like to encourage anyone who has AD/HD to seek treatment and do not put it off. You will discover that you can control AD/HD and not AD/HD controlling you. Celebrate the unique person that God meant you to be...there is hope beyond AD/HD...your new life!

About the Author

Ron Weckerly grew up in Freeport, Illinois with an uncertain future because of his undiagnosed AD/HD. His teachers, coaches, and peers did not expect Ron to graduate from high school because of his severe disorders. Labeled lazy, unmotivated, hyper, retarded, and as a "water head," he faced many social and psychological challenges at an early age. Ron graduated fifty students from the bottom of his high school class.

Ron's determination and grit surprised others who had negative expectations where he would journey in the future. He went into the military and, then, attended college at Illinois State University. Wanting to help others and make a difference in their lives, Ron launched into a teaching career.

While at ISU, Ron earned an undergraduate degree in Sociology-Anthropology, with minors in Social Work and psychology. Later, he received a MS in Education. He is certified in Learning Behavior Speialist I, Learning Disabilities, Social and Emotional Disorders, and Self-Contained General Education (K-9). He has many hours of training in gifted education, and in addition, has his Type 75 Administrators Endorsement.

During Ron's thirty-one years of teaching, he taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades in elementary school as well as behavorial disordered and learning disabled students. He spent his last ten years at middle school teaching eighth grade U.S. History.

Former students nominated "Mr. W," as he is fondly known, six times to "Who is Who Among American Teachers." In addition, Ron is included in the Golden Apple Academy of Rockford, Illinois. He was among the fifteen finalists the year he compted. He did not get the coveted award, but all finalists are integrated into the academy as Teachers of Distinction. There are presently about four hundred people in the select group of educators, including his wife Lisa.