i hardly ever wear the colour white
not just because it doesn’t suit my skin
but because white for me (or any light 
colour really) is a magnet for all sorts
of things that ruin pristine with clumsy.

and i am always convinced that it will 
take me less time then it does to prepare
for my day—that i can sit there ten 
minutes longer lost in the thoughts in
my head, even though experience 
has proved otherwise countless times.

i usually have a bruise somewhere on
my skin, not clocking the distance 
required to navigate around a table,
my own bedframe or a car door. 

and while i’m frequently good one-to-one, 
i’m often unsure if i will enjoy large groups
or leave overwhelmed, needing to recharge. 
suddenly fading in ability to make sense 
of words, mouths moving but mind 
not comprehending.

i love people and want to be with them
trading smiles and stories and good will
—but some days, when i have a choice
home is my very best friend, safe.

my mind moves fast, makes connections quick, 
multilayered thinking. making me good 
at concepts in general, even if details might
slip my mind, but i will likely miss 
the turn off on the road ahead forgetting 
where i’m going as thoughts run free.

if i have cut you off in conversation,
i apologize. i promise i didn’t mean to.
i’m excited by the content and contextually 
predicted what you were about to say
so my brain thought you were finished.

i gather information from around,
noticing details and subtle changes 
without trying and i wonder how many 
lyrics to songs i’ve gained simply walking 
through shops because if music is playing,
my ear can’t help but hear them.

(i wish I remembered details of complicated 
concepts instead of wasting so much space 
with lyrical words. that would seem more 
helpful really!)

but this is my mind, this is who i am
and it’s taken me years upon years to realize
that i’m absolutely fine and actually have 
strengths just by being me. 

	—confessions of an adhd brain

heather pound 2026

Photo by Natalia Blauth for Unsplash+