Enjoyment Goals, the ADHD Problem of "Object Permanence," and Slowing Down in Autumn

Fall greetings lovely people!

I finished out the summer finally meeting and beating my 20 swims goal. I made it to 22! And 9 kayak outings. ❤️

What I learned…

you can’t have it all, so pick wisely.

To meet those goals I couldn’t work on my website, my house got messier than preferred, I couldn’t announce cohort-based groups for fall (hoping to announce for Jan 2027), and I postponed all doctors appts until mid Sept.

But it was very worth it. It has made me rethink how I schedule my life. I very much know that this has a lot to do with my current career flexibility and income capacity. But still...

I invite you to be thoughtful about actually taking downtime when you can and enjoying the finer things in life: sunsets, waves, breezes, blossoming plants, mouthfuls of berries, outside benches, laughing with friends, lingering hugs, neighborhood cats. You are worthy to slow down and just be in this life moment.

ADHD pro note: because I lack "object permanence" which affects my memory, I often don’t remember what I accomplished or how I spent my quality time. So, I have started to take time to review my calendar, lists, and photos and really take in what I’ve done. This has reduced the pressure on my part that wants to get the best out of life. This part actually stresses me out because it can’t use my brain to know if it’s doing a good job. So I accommodate by offering thoughtful reminders. It’s made a substantial positive impact on me.

Consider, how are you accommodating yourself in order to get the best out of life?

Fall is here!

It has been a hard transition for me to let go of summer and lean into fall. I’ve been stubborn, wanting more sunshine and heat to laze around in.

I had a moment when I even said “I’m not doing fall this year.”

But…while I’m still grumpy, I look to seasonal traditions to cushion my grumpiness. I’ll be headed to U-pick Dahlias, and doing my yearly visit to The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island where I answer trivia through the corn maze, and sip on fresh hot cider. Also I really like the animals there. I still haven’t pet enough animals this year.

What are some of your favorite fall traditions?

I like fall for its smells, the light in the evening air, the varied breezes, and the fog. Recently I saw a bunch of fog, and that made me giddy.

What lifts your spirits a bit in the fall?

Also, fall is naturally a time for slowing down and reflecting. It can be a time where grief comes to the surface. Some cultures believe autumn is the time when the veil between the living and the dead is thin. Fall and winter come with lots of family holidays, rememberings, both good and difficult.

As we start to nestle back indoors and the days get shorter, consider what creature comforts you can bring in. What are some fond memories you have of loved ones? What can you do to honor your connection with those here and gone.