For those that know me, I am a stickler for rules. This is of course because as a software developer, database administrator, and systems architect, it’s necessary for me to know the boundaries of applicable rules and use wisdom and reason to know when the rules need to be kept to maintain order, or when the rules are to be broken, or better said, surpassed, so new trail blazing can be made in areas of research and innovation.

Are the rules in your favor? Do you get bent out of shape because the game isn’t being called the you want it to and that it’s not benefiting you or your team? Do you feel like you are being shafted by the referee, boss, or just “the rules” in general? Is something out of whack that you consider to be unfair?

These are some questions and ideas that perplex me in reactions of people and situations that have recently surfaced. They have certainly struck a cord with me in the past six months and the reactions have irritated me enough to want me to write about it. These are three of the actual situations that set me off.

1. Serena Williams and her tizzy-fit at her tennis match
2. Juan Martin De Potro wins US Open vs. Roger Federer
3. Local soccer parents and coaches urging improved referee skills

These are the three recent experiences that raised my blood pressure a bit and give me a flood of ideas and receive a plethora of epiphanies. These news-worthy items have made for some interesting questions about whether normal people can hack the rules. Learning how to deal with them. What is on the line that people must go out of their way to be unsportsmanlike. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen with the LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake MLS Finals Cup game this week.

Our society has come to a grinding halt in regards to sportsmanship and rules. Whether there are rules in the games, rules in business, or rules of life, structure is of the utmost importance to maintain a civil society and interaction with others. Chaos comes because of the ignorance, avoidance and outright denial of following rules. Is freedom a declaration of “doing whatever we want”! It’s not, it is a declaration of living in an environment that makes it possible for each of us independently to make decisions that allow us to make the best of our lives. Whether it is to be happy or sad, it is up to us.

What helps yield the best results to this end, is the person that is the most self aware. A poingnent question is “What would my actions or statements do to other people in the thread of life and how I act and interact impacts others?” Do our actions and statements effect other people. What is our destiny?

What trails are we blazing in these occasions?

A phrase that I’ve come up with that may make us think twice about our sportsmanship is this “If you think you are smart, you aren’t smart enough if you can’t be nice”. Let’s live up to a higher standard, raise the bar, enjoy people around you and the things we do. Leave alone the bickering and complaining about not getting your way. Give it up already!

First of all, I am not a physician, nor do I have a degree in psychology or any similar field. I only present my personal understandings, feelings, and experiences. I believe that it’s from people that are in the trenches, actually living the “prescribed analysis” that make the best representation of the details. It’s so often illustrated by others that what “we” are doing wrong is the problem. Maybe because we can’t explain it … it’s almost like everyone else is the expert at what we feel and how we should change in order to interact better with others. Hmm, that just doesn’t quite sit right with me.

There must be a better understanding from outsiders as to what is going on in our heads. There are so many kids that receive medical treatment requiring drugs, psychiatric help, or other and are diagnosed with a debilitation that the parents and doctors, who think they know best because of what they see in front of them, and in reality they lack the patience to understand what the kids are thinking and feeling and integrating new parenting techniques and new routines to help provide organized activities. Oh how important it is for parents, friends, and doctors to understand my normalcy, and other kids and adults like me.

Some may know me all too well and understand that my brain works in overtime on a lot of things. I assert that although to some, this may seem to be a problem, or have the appearance of hyperactivity, or other over-zealous representation … but to me (and many others) it’s all but normal and functional. I get irritated, frustrated, and awnary, who doesn’t? It’s just running at a highher level, and it’s normal!

This page is committed to the understanding and correct representation of these so-called hyperactive or attention deficit disorders that so many people do not understand.

I put this rather directly because … it’s my life, it’s what I experience every day. There are many people out there that are churning away at ideas, creativity, and constant active attention that I want to help others to know that this is normal.

Normality is relative to each individual. It’s based on experiences, challenges, and successes from one’s infancy to present.

Some of the ideas presented by a few resources are the basis for my understanding and what I have found over the years to further understand why I have so much energy, understanding my tendencies, and how I can channel it. What’s interesting is that what is normal to me might be abnormal to someone else.

Active-alert is what I have found to be the proper representation of how my brain works.

Definitions

These are definitions only and not an in-depth description of what they are and their impact on people.

Active-alert (a state of mind that is highly active, where sensitivities get progressively higher as the day goes on, high focus)

A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder)

A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)

Hyperactive (a state of mind that is hightly active at times through the day and at times has inabilities to focus)

Resources

• Pediatric Neurology