Losing opportunities to ADHD

The opportunity was gone, and I was left with the consequences of my disorder

Have you ever missed out on a fantastic opportunity because of your ADHD and its pesky symptoms? I have, and I'll share a story that’s frustrating. This was an authentic benchmark of procrastination and a hard-learned lesson. Luckily in this story, it was all about what could have happened instead of actual consequences.

Some time ago, luck was on my side and I was awarded a free one-year subscription to a famous tech skill-building portal. The masters of online learning, notable for their quality and their reputation among great people in the market. These weren’t just any courses—they were top-notch, worth thousands of dollars, and they could really boost my possible career in Data Analysis. All I had to do was dive in and start learning.

My subscription was valid to all the resources of the portal. All of them, not a single exception. Everything was included with no restrictions.

But here’s where ADHD decided to crash my plans. Instead of diving in, I went through the old and familiar procrastination dance. Every single day. "I’ll start tomorrow." "Tomorrow" turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Before I knew it, I was 365 days deep into postponing what could have been a game-changer for my life.

Each day, the nagging feeling that I was wasting a golden opportunity grew stronger, but it wasn't enough to overcome my inertia. It felt like I was waiting for some magical motivation fairy to show up and sprinkle productivity dust on me.

The inevitable day arrived when I lost access to the portal. The free subscription had expired, and with it, my chance to explore those valuable resources. Panic set in, and I frantically fired off an email, pleading for a second chance, but to no avail. It didn't help to carefully explain that I was diagnosed with ADHD two months before the date I was locked out of the portal. Nothing could be done. And I totally understand because it's fully my fault and not anyone else's.

It was curious that I procrastinated for 365 days to start the courses, but I took the initiative to send the pleading email immediately. It was a crude demonstration that my procrastination patterns work very differently depending on the circumstances.

Anyway, the opportunity was gone, and I was left with the consequences of my actions and inactions.

Losing this opportunity was a hard pill to swallow. It made me confront the reality of how ADHD affects my life, particularly in terms of seizing opportunities and managing time effectively. It was a stark reminder that while ADHD can be a significant hurdle, acknowledging its impact is the first step toward finding strategies to mitigate its effects.

I've since taken, as much as I could, steps to better manage my behavior regarding ADHD, such as setting more realistic goals, breaking tasks into smaller and manageable pieces, and asking more for help when I need it. It's important to have the living experience of losing opportunities in order to present clear parameters of our behavior to our unconscious so we can generate a conscious response in the form of action. So while the loss of the subscription was a significant setback that really could change my life for the better, it also served as a potential catalyst for change.

Actually, I'm really full of catalyst examples in my life. It really makes me sad to see so many similar stories that could have boosted my talents and my life, but it seems that we ADHDers need to experience dozens and dozens of them until we finally internalize something. Well, if that's true, I accept that, and let's find the strength to face the next ones, and most important: the strength to come out a little better from each of those frustrating events until we don't need to live them anymore.

If you’re struggling with ADHD and its symptoms, know that you're not alone. It's important to recognize the challenges it brings and seek out strategies and support to help you manage them. Opportunities can slip away, but with the right approach, you can prepare yourself better for the ones that will come along.

Losing access to that skill-building portal was a tough lesson, but it also marked the beginning of a journey toward better self-management and resilience.

I hope my story resonates with others facing similar struggles and somehow serves as an inspiration so you never have to experience the same feelings as I did, taking somehow proactive steps in your own projects and lives.