Hello nice to meet everyone,

Hi, my name is Shannon , I'll be 55 this month and I live about 15 minutes East of Seattle WA. I no longer work in either of my fields, sadly. I'm an aircraft mechanic, by trade, went back to school for Engineering Technician and did each of those for about 10 years a piece. In 2018, I survived two strokes and can't help but think that I'm still here for a reason. ... If only I could figure out what that is! I live on beautiful Lake Sammamish with my 12 year old dalmatian who suffers from diabetes and went blind 2.5 years ago from diabetic cataracts. My world revolves around him...🐾 You can ask me questions about: ANYTHING. I'm an open book and really enjoy in depth conversations as opposed to simple small talk. I want to get these things from ADHD Harmony: Being mechanic minded, I think in terms of having the right tools for every job. Therefore; •I desperately need an entire new set of tools because the set I've used my whole life, is no longer useful for some reason • i really need to know a few fundamental things relating to the changes I've run into these last 8 years or so • And lastly, how to overcome these new obstacles

🎭 The mask I've been wearing most: The perfectionist 😮‍💨 How exhausting it's been: It has controlled my life completely since I was 12-15 years old (and now I'm 56!!!). It has meant that I have never had the energy to do anything other than just exist from one day to the next. Every night I have collapsed in front of the TV, berating myself for wasting my life. 👶 What I loved as a kid (before the masks): playing, moving my body, swimming, hand stands, head stands, climbing trees, bicycling, drawing, forming things with my hands, talking to connect and ping pong opinions and stories, fantasizing. ⚡️ Friction Audit complete, this are the exact steps i have to take: 1. Find a piece of paper and a pen 🗒️🖊️ 2. Put it on my desk 3. Write my questions for the school leader I have to call 📝 4. Find cell phone📱 5. Find email with his phone number 📧 6. Write the phone number on the paper 7. Call him 📲

Consistency & Follow-Through - Showed up to every single session, twice a week, for 6 weeks straight - Completed all 5 worksheets - Maintained daily check-ins even on your worst days (depression, anxiety, cold, pain) - Did all of this while in a depression and anxiety streak, switching medications, and fighting a persistent cold ADHD Acceptance & Identity - Went from hiding your ADHD behind masks for decades to realizing you'd never actually accepted it - Dropped the mask and felt more free, not broken - Shifted from "I always fail everything, I give up too fast" to "I can change, I can improve, I should be proud of myself" - Decided to use your "incredible talents to do good instead of keeping them hidden" Phone & Screen Behavior - Changed your relationship with your phone (one of your Big Rocks) - "No Screentime at Night" became one of your most consistent habits - Started eating breakfast before opening your phone Sleep Hygiene - Bought all the sleep tools Jim recommended - Built consistent habits: early bedtime, no late caffeine, no screens at night - Started tracking sleep with Whoop for real data - Melatonin, magnesium, and bedtime routines in place Daily Mindset Practices - Gratitude practice became a near-daily habit - Affirmations nearly every single day - Meditation added and maintained consistently - Positive mindset tracked and chosen intentionally Physical Movement - Built a daily yoga practice (from no training at all to consistent yoga) - Added regular walks - Added cardio on some days - Did all of this despite fibromyalgia, back pain, and knee arthritis Nutrition - Intermittent fasting adopted - No late caffeine became consistent - Home-cooked meals regularly - Supplements taken daily - More vegetables and healthier eating patterns Emotional Regulation - Named your inner critic ("Mom's Voice") and learned to separate it from yourself - Gained a 3-minute Comeback Protocol for spirals - Can now "put words to my feelings" (you named that as a small win) - Learned that scrolling and candy are numbing, not the real problem - Understand your Circle of Control vs. what you can't control

🎭 The mask I've been wearing most: (Well it's slipping but still getting in the way): It's 'Don't be different.' 😮‍💨 How exhausting it's been: I use that mask/protective strategy to keep myself stuck. I keep the handbrake on. My internal engine tries to get me going but the handbrake lock stays on, and says 'no way, Jose, you're not going anywhere. I can't allow this independent project to happen.' Meanwhile my creative parts get frustrated, and the drafts pile up, and ... it's exhausting. 👶 What I loved as a kid (before the masks): I would spend hours in my own little worl playing with a set of small homemade stuffed animals. Basic designs, but it didn't matter. My imagination had them doing awesome things. I can't remember what, I just remember how it felt. Sigh, I miss that feeling. ... hey... (talking to myself) maybe it's still there somewhere. Buried deep. But still alive. Find it. ⚡️ Friction Audit complete, this are the exact steps i have to take: I need to simply go to the first email host site I have on my list. 2nd step is to look at it! :-)