A few attributes, if not a definition: unconventional, introverted, (tries to be) compassionate and totally incapable of being organized.

I describe myself as a type A person in a type B personality. Driven, but relaxed. Totally chill, until I’m not.

And I like food, wine, foreign travel and dogs.

Hermit gardener at heart.

Hmm, that's a toughie. These days, I'm a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. That's pretty much how I spend my time. I have a good ear and ready arms. But I'd rather be in bed.

Earth protector. Tree hugger. Former groupie wannabe.

Virgo. :)

I'm a connector, an organizer and a seeker of knowledge.

Introvert who loves company (in short, small doses), a bibliophile aspiring to be a pantomath and I often dream that my life is just as it is now only I live in Paris and have well-behaved hair.

I am an introvert, musician, lover of doing needlework, loving and (hopefully) good wife and cat mom.

Donna

The absentminded professor: slightly flighty friend but there in a pinch, love spontaneity and discovering new things, outwardly very nice and almost always kind, absentminded, highly intelligent but not a deep thinker in most areas, "leadership material" (take that as you will haha), pretty lazy and low energy in most areas, short attention span OR hyperfocused, enjoy a project much more than a routine, slightly extroverted. I like most people but am pretty repressed emotionally and relatively happy that way.

I had myself evaluated for adult ADD and the psychologist thought I just had imposter syndrome...but I have really good self esteem and do definitely meet some of the criteria for inattentiveness.

robo, that really sounds like ADD. A psychiatrist evaluated me and you just described me. I also identified with the imposter syndrome when I was younger. Now, I realize pretty much everyone feels that way at times. If you look back at your schooling or career, do you see any periods where you struggled a bit more than you "should" have? Apologies for the possible hijack, localeater.

Here's me: former perfectionist, absent-minded idealist. :)

Tartan honestly I 100% have ADD (female, inattentive) in my opinion. But I’m really smart and compensate well. My grades are perfect, for example and I can mostly perform at work, but it’s with a lot of chaos.

I wish I had a better psychologist than the one I had for my evaluation-she was pretty fresh out of school.

My doctor told me to keep an eye on Emmett for ADHD because he has SO much energy. I guess even for a toddler? We just roll with it and let him run himself ragged.

What a great thread!

Nutsandbolts... I would describe myself just how you did yourself.

I would say, compassionate, music lover, completely disorganized and split personality. (not multipersonality). Doesn't make me sound too appealing. haha

I just had to look up "imposter syndrome." I didn't know it had a name! I have been there myself and it's not a fun place to be.

Yup, that's me as well. The "inattentive" type. But that hyperfocus is a superpower, isn't it? So good when everyone else on a project has run out of steam.

That super high energy in a toddler is often a telltale sign. Toddlers are energetic but some...yeah. It's beyond. And there's an intensity with emotions. Tantrums are just...!! Easy-going is probably not the first word you'd use to describe your child. You can probably have him tested around kindergarten time if you're curious. Depending on the school, homework starts around Grade 3 and that's when difficulties will often present. Lots more resources and awareness these days so it's less of a struggle with schools, etc.

Loving and giving emotionally and time wise to my family and pets.

Overly sensitive; not as easily driven to tears as I used to be but still there when I'm stressed.

Totally disorganized.

Loner. I need great gulping periods of time without anyone else except for my pets to replenish.

Unable to get out of a bad cycle of situational depression and procrastination too often.

Constant internal battle with myself to get things done. I don't listen to me well at times.

Serious to a fault sometimes.

Absolutely no Virgo in me so no organizational ability or neatness ability naturally. I've fought tooth and nail to be neat and tidy!

I have not got a great sense of humour. I consider those two things a failing at least in me.

I was told I have a form of PTSD from childhood trauma. I refuse to live under that label though.

Love sciency stuff and science fiction.

I have a very vivid imagination which overtakes me sometimes. Hence having to write stories books and poems.

I fantasize about helping to save the world of people from ourselves particularly pollution wise. I really want to save the oceans, lands and forests and the animals and us of course. For us Emmett and all the other little ones of the world.

I think this great group could come up with a plan but I might procrastinate too long so other people would have to help me get going on it. I do my part recycling composting not buying plastics Etc but it doesn't seem to be enough. Next car is going to be electric but I still have to save up more money.

When people ask me what I do - I am a stay-at-home-mom and that is always a conversation ender.

This thread is making me feel like I am having an identity crisis. I am not much for labeling, perhaps. I wish I could answer. When I think of what makes me, me, it's a feeling that I relate to more than a set of words. I realize that sentence doesn't make much sense, especially since I am much more a word person than an emotion person. I could list attributes of me, like being curious, needing variety, loving most artistic expressions, being an advocate (not in the professional sense,) but I don't think those attributes define me.

Great food for thought. I love reading what everyone else thinks.

I've noticed the same, blfenton! :)

(yeonnasky, I wouldn't be surprised if you have ADD as well. "Overly sensitive; not as easily driven to tears as I used to be but still there when I'm stressed.

Totally disorganized.

Unable to get out of a bad cycle of situational depression and procrastination too often.

Constant internal battle with myself to get things done."

ADD is a misnomer, really. It's not as much an attention deficit problem as a brain regulation issue. Issues regulating emotions and motivation are hallmarks of the neurological disorder. We have the best intentions but often our get up and go went . That sets us up for shame which brings about depression. Just a thought, in case it hasn't been explored. Don't mean to sound like an armchair psychologist or anything. Procrastination defined me for too many years and it took a toll. Can't help but speak out when I hear others share similar issues.)

Procrastination is a problem for perfectionists in general. It is so very hard to do your best all the time. I learned to accept my easy-breezy best instead of my real best. Life got much better. It was also helpful to see that for me doing something came first, motivation came second. Lots of times I would wait to feel motivated to get something done and I found once even a little bit of it was done, the motivation came. Inertia is powerful. And some people fear failure so much, they procrastinate.

(Sorry for going OT again.)

An outspoken introvert who very much lives in her head but is striving to learn how to be fully present in each moment instead. Cat lady and proud of it. Wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend. Impatient, tenderhearted, dreamer, planner, and viewer of the outside world thru an artistic filter.

I am a good woman. A loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. I am a kind and thoughtful human being who treats all I meet as equals. I try always to walk the walk. I do, of course, fail many times, but I am always trying. I am not perfect in any way, but I do always try to make life for those around me a little bit better in all I do and say. I am very flawed in many ways, so NOT close to perfect! But, I learned early in life to always try to “stop and smell the roses”, to appreciate the beauty of life’s small things. And that I always do.

Interesting. Never would have attributed ADD to myself particularly since I was told earlier that I have post-traumatic stress disorder. You never know I might have a whole bunch of things or none of the above. I try not to get caught up in the labels although I do see their value. Thank you for all the food for thought.

Thank you localeater for starting this thread.

As a recently retired elementary teacher...I despise, really despise, labeling and all of the disorders. In my opinion it never helps...just makes limitations and excuses for not living fully. I love to nurture my family, friends, garden, etc. I spent too much of my life beating myself up for not being ‘perfect’ or better...what a waste! Hopefully I still have a quarter of my life left to live in a fulfilling, to me, capacity.

I am a work in progress and, I'll leave it at that.

I really love reading all of your responses, thank you all for sharing.

With my youngest graduating from high school, my very active volunteerism in his school and sports programs are ending. I will be choosing some next step organizations to invest my time into, it is difficult choice. This got me introspective.

Plus we are moving, downsizing, building a new house. So much going on. I know I am not starting my final chapter, but this sure does feel like a big twist or something.