photo #7589825

TAGGED In a world of ticking clocks, Where time slips like sand through fingers, They say I’m late, Always late, As if my existence is measured in minutes, But my thoughts dance in a different rhythm, A heartbeat of chaos, A symphony of what-ifs. In some places, they say You’re a thinker, a dreamer, A mind alive with vibrant colors, A canvas painted with possibilities, Thoughts flowing like rivers, Each one a potential spark, But here, it’s just a label, ADHD, A diagnosis like a brand, A reminder of what’s missing. They see the label, But they don’t see the weight, The burden of judgment, How each late reply, Each forgotten task, Is a reminder that the world doesn’t pause, For the hearts that beat to a different tempo, The ones who constantly rise with possibility, Before falling beneath the weight of expectations. In the labyrinth of finances, Bills buried under clutter, Late fees piling high, Like rocks in my backpack, They think it’s a flaw, But they don’t know the truth, That I juggle thoughts like a circus act, A thousand balls in the air, Yet, the world measures success in promptness, In neat little boxes, While I’m out here flying, A bird with clipped wings. “Support systems,” they say, A round table of voices, They nod in agreement, Pat us gently on the back, They hand us tissues while we pour out our truth, Twitching and squirming at our Audacity to over-share, Adjusting ties and glasses As if that will stop us - 'There, there' they say, 'have this tablet', But when the lights dim, And the chatter fades, It’s just us, The ones labelled, Accepting each other Through whispered truths, Waiting for a change, Wishing for a guide, Someone to lead us through the fog, Beyond the labels and the confines, To a place where we can thrive. In some cultures, they cheer, They see these thoughts as gifts. They nurture creativity, While here it’s seen as a deficiency, A disability, But in those lands, People climb higher, With encouragement as their fuel, Not shackled by stigma, Not given a pat on the back And a level to accept, But lifted by understanding, An embrace of the whirlwind, A recognition of the potential Beyond worldly limits. Intelligence isn’t linear, It twists and turns, Like the paths in our minds, We’re not broken, Just different, But society’s blindfolded, Eyes shut to the potential, The brilliance waiting to ignite, If only someone would hold the match. We’re creators, thinkers, dreamers, But the walls are high, Built from misunderstandings, From judgments that sting, How can I scale the heights, When the ladder’s missing rungs? I need the tools, the means, To rise above the noise, To break free from the box, That labels me as less. In this race against time, I’m learning to sprint in my own way, To find the rhythm in the chaos, To dance with the storm, Because beneath the surface, There’s a fire that burns bright, An intelligence that refuses to dim, Waiting for the moment, To shine through the cracks. So here I stand, With my voice, my truth, Reminding the world that labels don’t define, That ADHD is just a part of the journey, Not the destination, And in this open space, We can build bridges, Create paths where none existed, Support each other’s flight, Because we’re more than our struggles, We are the visionaries, The dreamers, The ones who can change the world, If only given the chance to soar...