Changes

One thing about living with bipolar disorder is that we often act on our impulses. Those with ADHD, on the other hand, embrace change fearlessly.

As someone who embodies traits of both, I’ve explored a myriad of paths over the years. The sheer variety of my experiences makes it challenging to craft a linear CV.

My numerous ventures have occasionally led to identity crises or even what feels like a midlife crisis (despite not being middle-aged yet—I’ve always been ahead of my time).

When I share my past with others, whether through visuals or words, people are intrigued. I tend to highlight my failures, experiments, and wild adventures. My vulnerability attracts wonderful people, which is why I have a great network. Regardless of what I do, I always manage to land on my feet. Sometimes the fall is tough, but the comeback is even better.

Here are a few things I’ve tried that didn’t go as planned:

• Buying a house in a nature reserve in South Africa: Living by the beach seemed like a dream, but I sold the house five months later. Unexpected issues like snakes, the threat of violence in South Africa, and extensive paperwork were too much to handle.

  
  

• Photography: I excelled at it, but the financial investment required for my productions was unsustainable.

• Interviewing artists: This dream also faltered due to funding issues.

Now, I write and mentor because I’ve learned valuable lessons from all my ventures. I discovered that I am highly social and bring positive energy to the world. I work well with others, but I’m also an introvert who needs ample time to recharge. I spend a lot of time alone, which can feel lonely, but I trust that things will work out.

To many, my frequent career changes (I still dabble in all of them simultaneously) might seem bewildering. I sense the judgment, even in rooms I’m not present in.

But in the end, when I reflect, I’d rather take risks and narrow down my path to find the perfect fit for my soul and skills than play it safe and miss out on stories worth telling.