Hello and Merry Christmas and Happy Hanuka. Just a few comments about the season and AD/HD/LD as well as an update on the first Ortando's Tribal Counsel. This year our family is segmented and our son and her wife are in Indonesia, of course too many miles to fly home and my wife and i miss then terribly. Nick continues to report the ease with which he teaches English in Jakarta, irrespective of his Dyslexia. Heather his wife continues to teach as well, as foreign languages come easily to her. My practice here in Oregon as a Therapist for those with AD/HD/LD issues continues to thrive and I have been quite busy. I am constantly reinforced for concepts and principles of Ortando's Way while counseling my AD/HD/LD clients. That is when I speak with them about a sense of Tribal membership, and shared talents, empathy, intuition and tools and strategies for our deficits, virtually all "get it" and improve their life functioning. I also am grateful to learn from my clients especially their individual subtleties and what they have devised to help themselves.
The Ortando Tribal Counsel in Stayton Oregon will be at meeting #3 this Friday and it is going well with feedback that tribal members are learning new ways of understanding their brains and how to be more successful. I am grateful for OVRD's support providing the venue and the referrals.
Let me remind the readers that your ideas as AD/HD/LD tribal members are valued and appreciated. Please comment on Ortando.com and here on the Ortando's Thoughts Blog are you find yourself inspired to do so. Ortando

Ortando Tribal Counsel

Hello, Ortando again. This entry is to announce the first of the Ortando Tribal Counsels to begin in Oregon. The group actually will begin with an informational session about ADHD/LD and how to access services. The actual Tribal Counsel will follow for 3 weekly sessions after that. The goals are to help individuals with AD/HD/LD to "learn how to be". Discussions are planned about Tribal protocols, then about cognitions, emotions and behaviors associated with successful living, with embracing one's AD/HD/LD. Probably as inportant as the information exchanged in the Counsel is the "emotional intelligence" training that will be part of the objectives of the group. The "Tribal Elders", those older experienced members with AD/HD/LD will offer their ideas and wisdom about how to be emotionally regulated in the light of having brains with AD/HD/LD toward reasonable and rational goals developed in one's enlightened self-interet. Projects for enhancing the lives of others will be part of the planning effort.
If there are any of you who would like to contribute thoughts, emotional content or behaviroal strategies to assist this effort please feel free to do so in reply to this blog. Ortando's Thoughts will keep you informed of progress and the learning curve associated with the Counsel. Remember, YOU can learn "How to Be" and you are alright. Ortando

Spud's comments

THIS Is a contribution from "SPUD" a follower of Ortando's Thoughts:

hello this is Spud. first time on this blog. I have been friends with Ortando and sokerbrain for some time now. I was reading about the tony robins thing and it reminded me about a time when I was in junior high and how I was a rather shy kid and how it really bummed me out that I had few friends (if any) and was VERY rarely included in any activities in school. I was "diagnosed" with ADD when i was in grade school because a teacher that didn't get along with me wanted me to be on drugs to get me to calm down and focus like the "other" kids. I was put on drugs a while later when my mom was heavily pressured to do so by the school (lets face it I was a huge pain in the ass in school back then). BUT! what I have learned since then is that I never needed to be medicated into a mind numbing coma all i needed was a challenge and something to strive for! I find that when i know what the reason i am doing something i find that i excel and often work very hard to accomplish the task at hand. My mom took me off shortly after when she say that i had lost all of my personality and was no longer showing my imagination!

Any way getting back to the Tony thing and me being a shy guy. Those that know me now would NEVER say that about me. I am very out going and rarely afraid of any social event or activity. Along with Ortando's techniques and strategies that help teach you how to actually create change in your life. I simply decided in my life that i was sick and tired of being the shy guy and created some internal self talk and forced my self to be more outgoing and social. i forced my self to raise my hand and volunteer for those tear-ably scary "Come up to the front of the class and help me with this demonstration" situations. Bottom line i changed my way of thinking. Believing in myself for my self and not for anybody else. This was completely true because i truly had nobody to believe in me but myself. Now I actually thrive on my own fear! it is a strange thing to think about but if you do it makes sense. What scares you when you are trying to change something in your life is often what you would like to change. i was afraid to talk to the kids in my school so i just started talking to random people that i believed i would never see again and then that helped me to talk to people that i would see again. Then i could start talking to people that i liked. then I could start talking to people i respected. and then i could start talking to people i was afraid of. It has been totally rewarding and now It puts me head and shoulders above many others in making important business deals and getting jobs and networking.

All of this because most of the time I am afraid and thrive from it Funny huh? Believe me i am scared most of the time it is how you use it to your advantage rather than let you be consumed by it.

Well i am sick of typing and you are probably sick of reading. have fun out there! believe in yourself!

Invitation to all to comment on the blog

Ortando here. This post is to announce that all readers are now eligible to contribute to Ortando's Thoughts blog and Nicholas and I look forward to hearing from you about AD/HD/LD stratigies, concepts and insights.
Since our last post, I have been preparing to initiate "Ortando Tribal Counsel" model starting here in Oregon. The Counsel will be local to the area in which it is started and will include AD/HD/LD adults meeting to discuss AD/HD/LD ideas with a goal of having the members then go and teach others "how to be" in the Ortando & Son way (Ortando's Way).
Just a side comment that I would like for the readers to consider visiting Ortando.com, as well as Tony Robbins.com. Tony Robbins new NBC television series Breakthrough will air in January 2010 I believe and is well worth the time to view. In a previous note, I mentioned that as a Tony Robbins "family member" I had the privalege of attending the filming of the finales of the first 4 episodes of the show. It was awesome! So look for it on your NBC channel in January.
Ortando thought of the day: If you are a tribe member, (someone who experiences AD/HD/LD), and you find that there is a part of you that "doesn't like yourself", firstly acknowledge and thank that part of you for doing that as a part that (however painfully) is trying to help you. Ask that part "what are you doing in not liking me that is trying to help me?", and listen to what comes up. Perhaps it is to keep you safe, stop you from growth because you might get hurt of dissapointed. Whatever it is, acknowledge and thank that part of you and then ask it if it knows that in its efforts to help you that it is actually not making your life better globally, and see what comes up. Often that part will say: "Yea I know I'm holding (__you) back, and I'm not gonna stop because (__you) (fill in the blank...might get hurt, be dissapointed...etc.) Tell that part that it is "too strong" and to trust you and that all of you is ready to go forward and ask it if it would be willing to modify its behavior, partially allow you to grow, move forward... if... you promise to honor its intentions to keep you safe and ok. Then see what it says. Often your part will say "yes". Repeat this proceedure if you find yourself with "parts" that are not aligned will you goals in life.
Next time we'll talk about GOALS for AD/HD/LD people, your hopes and dreams and how to increase the likelihood that you will attain them. By the way, I don't know you personally, but as far as your AD/HD/LD aspects of your brain... you are alright just the way you are, right here and right now. This is an emotional key to be open to learning how to be from fellow Tribe members. Take care Ortando.

Hello, Ortando here. It's been about one month since we have added to the blog here at Ortando & Son. Today I wanted to comment about my recent experience in Los Angeles as a member of the studio audiance for a new NBC show "Breakthrough" with Tony Robbins. For those who have been to the Ortando.com website, you may have noticed a link to the Tony Robbins Company website. What is important about that is that Mr. Robbins utilizes what I consider very powerful psychological tools to help people change. His background and training as his site attests, is in Neuro-linguistic Programing and Ericksonian hypnosis and therapy (as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other theraputic styles and traditions).
At the Wadsworth therater in LA, 1500 people from all around the world came to support the new show that Tony was producing. It was a "community" of Tony Robbins "graduates". Why you may ask, am I discussing this on the Ortando & Son blog? It is because much of the ideas, concepts, techniques and strategies on our site are congruent with some of Tony's ideas. Notions that if you change your thinking, you'll change your life; that it is through emotion, then action that the change becomes real; that beliefs are paramount in how your life plays itself out; that "believing in yourself" can manifest the life you want, are all ideas we share.
In LA for "Breakthrough", (Note: We signed an agreement not to discuss the details of the show), I can tell you that it is a reality show where individuals who have experienced tragedy in their lives, through Tony's intervention and their hard work, indeed experience a "Breakthrough" and regain their life purpose and hope. Allow me to suggest that you visit Tony Robbins.com and take a look for yourself. Richard

Hello, Ortando once again. So far some views of the blog are happening and we can hope for dialogue at some point in the future. I have recently been discussing the nature of thought and consciousness with a colleague and am intrigued by the idea that "thoughts are something", therefor they possess properties, and it is arguable that thought appears to have properties similar to light. In other words it can be conceptualized that thought is light. Just as light can interact with matter, so too thoughts.
For AD/HD/LD individuals, perhaps it is a hopeful idea in that often such individuals desire to "change" to be more functional, and ultimately to self actualize. I find it delightful and interesting to consider that it may be possible to think one's way toward manifestation of one's hopes and dreams. This is really not a new idea of course. Faith for the religious is said to "be the substance of things hoped for". And what is faith but a belief, a grouping of thoughts. So can Faith manifest change? Perhaps easier said than manifested?
Yet, it is arguable that one has little to lose, but choosing to believe in possible change and little to gain to presume this is not possible. "The tree is known by its fruit." I am curious of the reader's experience and examples of say, individuals who live happy and fulfilling lives and whether or not they appear to practice this orientation to life and reality.
As always, my son and I look forward to your ideas. Rick

Hello, This is Rick adding to the Blog. I am actually waiting for others to respond to the blog and as yet only Nicholas and myself have contributed. He assures me that blogs take time to catch on. Currently Nick "son" of Ortando & Son, Ortando.com, has taken a job teaching English in Indonesia with his wife Heather. They left 2 days ago and just arrived in Jakarta last night. As an individual with dyslexia, Nick will have certain challenges teaching English. He is well traveled, culturally astute and rational (and of course, has a lesson plan to follow) and likely will do well in the "Cram School" where he will be teaching. It is important to note that, given my bias toward recognizing my son's talents, it is reasonable to say however, his efforts... to teach... represent achievement in which some individuals with AD/HD/LD (dyslexia in particular) may not believe themselves capable.

On the Ortando.com website this is discussed. Partly the Ortando's Way approach begins with acceptance of one's self, with the brain as it is, recognizing strengths and talents, accepting deficits, and seeking support from other "tribe members" elders if you will, who reinforce and believe in the individual. Part also for success, includes mining, searching for hidden talents, or if you will, abilities and strengths usually discounted by non-AD/HD/LD people (Normals). These include, and certainly as they are part of Nicholas' repertiore of abilities, intuition, pattern recognition, reading people, anticipating the behaviors of others, and thinking out of the box. There can be one more observation about that. Having such abilities as in Ortando's Way is our claim, implies responsibility to "do right", to act in ways that are in one's enlightened self interest (John Stewart Mill) which includes benefit for those with whom the AD/HD/LD person interacts.
Indeed it is in the positive interest of the Indonesian students Nick will teach to learn from him, and in his own self interest to learn from them. This fits the definition of what is rational for human behavior (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, see Albert Ellis, REBT), and is a fundamental component of Ortando's Way.
So for the purposes of the Blog, my hope is that others may comment on whether all this makes sense... or not, and if not why not? I look forward to hearing from you, "Ortando's or Normals (even Deciderers are encoraged to comment)". Ortando

The Hunt for Champions

Hello, Ortando here. For those that have visited the website Ortando.com, there is a clarion call for individuals who experience AD/HD/LD and that are successful in their lives (whatever that means to you), to consider providing a brief accounting for the website and this blog. The "Hunt for Champions" is something that started for me when I first discovered that Nicholas was dyslexic and subsequently that I have AD/HD/LD. Books citing AD/HD/LD luminaries inclusive of Thomas Edison, Albert Einstien, Leonardo Davinci, JFK, Majic Johnson, Cher and Winston Churhill to name a few, helped us to realize that brains like ours can be exceptional, extraordinary even. That it can be a wonderful asset to have AD/HD/LD. Once understood, and knowing how to be, can result in successful living and self actualization. This blog entry is again a call for Champions out there. Those of you with AD/HD/LD (some combination thereof) to write with your (short) story. A telling if you will of your success as an "Ortando". Please include your AD/HD/LD pedigree (how you know you have a brain like us) and what you've accomplished that might inspire others who may be struggling to "know how to be". (For my "champion" story and my son Nicholas' story go to Ortando.com). I can hardly wait to hear the accounting and feel free to add "tribal advice" for others to learn how to be. Thanks, Ortando. PS remember to believe in yourself and gather those around you who do as well.

Hello, Rick Swope again, (Ortando). The subject of todays blog is belief, especailly as it pertains to AD/HD/LD individuals and their efforts to have good lives. It is my experience that one of the first orders of business in my therapy practice with AD/HD/LD clients is to find out then restructure as needed, beliefs about themselves and about their AD/HD/LD. If a person finds themselves in a therapists office, it is likely that life in some sense is not working well. Often AD/HD/LD individuals harbor beliefs about either their brains or about themselves that are counter productive toward successful living. It becomes our task to restructure that belief about themselves. For example "lazy crazy and stupid" are the three classic negative evaluations which can become beliefs for the person. If their lives for example, inclusive of parental, peer and academic influence reinforces these negativive assessments without understanding, They may be trapped with negative self assessment. Beliefs about who they are, how smart they are, how worthwhile they consider themselves is then vulnerable to lifelong unnessessary limitations. Part of the "Ortando's Way" approach is a "joining of the tribe", that they have strengths and (barriers) and that it is alright to share in common talents and abilities and to celebrate those talents. In other words to see not only the negative (beliefs) about themselves but their positive attributes which can result in a generalized positive belief about who they are. This is then reinforced as "tribe members", sharing these attributes with other AD/HD/LD individuals for reinforcement, one to another. A recounting of AD/HD/LD luminaries can help with this choice of belief shift. Reminding them that Leonardo DaVinci, Thomas Edison, JFK, Winston Churchhill, Cher and Magic Johnson experienced AD/HD/LD or some form there-of can assist their choice to change their minds in their own enlightened self interest. I am interested in the reaction of AD/HD/LD people in the blog-o-sphere about these ideas and look forward to rational and intuitive diaglogue about them.

Ortando's greeting to the new blog "Ortando's Thoughts

Hello. This is Rick Swope, Ortando of Ortando's thoughts. I hope others find this Blog interesting and wish to create a useful exchange about "Ortando.com", AD/HD/LD, and emotional intelligence and assist my (and your own) efforts to self actualize. I'm looking forward to rational intuitive discussion(s). Ortando

The First Blog

This is the first blog on Ortando's Thoughts. This blog is designed to accompany ortando.com by providing dialog about ADD, AD/HD and other learning disabilities. I will post weekly points of discussion. If you notice any adult or inniproprate content please e-mail me as soon as possible, dyslexdad@ortando.com , so i can take it off. The next entry will highlight dyslexia from my sons point of view.