5 Things I Want To Help My Audience With
Have you ever found yourself saying, "This is my final attempt at achieving something I truly desire"? Well, I’m saying it now, and this time, it will stick. I just know it. How? Because of the countless attempts that have led me to this point. I haven't given up, and I feel more determined than ever. And you know what? Even if it doesn't work out this time, I'll try again because I'm genuinely committed to making this work, and I accept that trial and error is part of the more significant journey.
Hello! I'm Anna Hertel, and I was diagnosed with ADHD just before my 39th birthday. Until then, I'd been piecing together a story that never quite fit together—until now.
My professor from my MFA Program, Leslie Carol Roberts ( https://www.lesliecarolroberts.org/), once told me you must peel the onion far enough back to reveal the story. Well, I have been peeling, dear Leslie, and the story has shown itself!
In the twenty years since leaving home for college, I've tried my hand at various professions, projects, and endeavors, but nothing seemed to stick. I've been a jack of all trades and have longed to publish my memoir traditionally and develop a profession that becomes an extension of all that I am but doesn’t define me.
Due to my innate struggles to prioritize and fight overwhelm, I developed strategies to counter this, thanks to my German upbringing and actual classes in MIDDLE SCHOOL on time management and personal organization. (Power of Education!).
One of the things I discovered along the way was Gery Keller's The One Thing. And he asked: What's the One Thing I can do / such that by doing it / everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
This does not necessarily mean you only work on one thing because that rarely happens. No, this means that we have to become ultra-selective in our focus. Because if we are honest with ourselves, there is one thing that can move the needle more than anything else.
So, in the spirit of The One Thing and my journey, I am focusing on my book and building its author platform.
Everything begins with a single step, a single brick in the road, or a single post, a single motivation. A match that can make an explosion…So what is all of this about?
It is about supporting others who are navigating through similar challenges. It is about promoting self-awareness and understanding of the self within the scope of the bigger picture. It is about living authentically and aligned.
How will I do this? Here are my 5 Pillar Topics:
1. Sharing ADHD knowledge drawn from my experience, complemented by expertise from reliable sources
So many of us are getting diagnosed these days. And so I am naturally coming up on individuals saying things like, “Oh, they are overdiagnosing people now. Just handing out meds.” This drives me up the wall! As there is nothing more arrogant, naive, or dumb to say. ADHD IS AN ACTUAL THING. Ask those who have been born with it. Therefore, I will do my part and share some real struggles. The key difference here is: Yes, we all struggle with certain things occasionally. But as someone with ADHD, we struggle with this ALL THE TIME. And so we have to fight extra hard internally to develop complex systems to keep ourselves afloat. This requires higher amounts of energy, leaving us drained and lethargic mid-day.
So, yes, a lot of people are getting their diagnosis, and it is because we are hitting a proverbial wall.
My top three-go-to-resources:
2. Life Coaching tips, including strategies on time management and goal setting
As you read above, I believe in figuring out the time management system that works for you. So, I will share with you my tried and tested systems from time to time. Again, welcome to my ADHD brain. I need novelty and excitement; somehow, paper planners are just things that light me up.
3. Exploring the impact of sports on mental health
There's no big secret here. Movement exercise is good for the brain. But let’s take a closer look. I want to learn and share more about this, too. One of my primary arguments, if we can call it that, in my memoir is that Triathlon became the way I self-medicated for my ADHD without being aware of it at the time. Because when I was doing 2-3 sessions a day, my brain was constantly getting a surge of positive neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Plus, I was younger and processed caffeine even better than now, so all of this, together with the absence of a small kid, gave me the focus I needed to progress on my goals.
4. All Things Identity!
At the root of everything I do is to deepen my relationship with myself and broaden my understanding of the Self and how we exist through time. WOA…vague statements on big thoughts. Simply said: I care about what makes you YOU and me ME. More importantly, I want to know how I see YOU and you see ME and how we can coexist. So many experiences shape us and impact our behavior here and now.
5. Experiences of being a third-culture kid
So much of my identity is based on moving from Germany to the United States in 1996 at 11. I have two feet in two countries and feel at home, yet I feel like a foreigner in either place. I get slightly offended to be called an American, but when in Germany, it is the first thing I say to set me apart. SO CONFUSING! This is the experience shared by many with a far more complex childhood upbringing. This comes with its viewpoints, and my entire search for Love and Belonging wouldn’t be complete without talking about being a TCK.
Conclusion
So, if any of this sounds interesting to you! Follow me, and subscribe to my newsletter. I am still figuring out how to send those out, so you are in luck. I won’t spam you.
No, but in all seriousness, I am passionate about this and believe this is my time to make it happen. To get my story out there and to find you, my readers.
Onward and Upward!
With gratitude,
Anna