When is soon?
As an Adult with ADD I know when “now” is and I know when “not now” is. I understand that later means sometime after “now“. I have fairly decent idea of when 9:30 pm, 2:00 am and 1:45 pm are. What I really don’t seem to get is when “soon” really is. I guess it’s some time after now but before later? When is soon actually not soon anymore but later?
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Let’s pretend that I live with someone who has ADD symptoms and that I’ve actually heard this quote out of his mouth. Actually, he says, “If you want me to do something, I have to do it now, or I might never get to it,” which essentially means the same thing. He can’t do anything soon because “soon” doesn’t exist. But, I think I’ve got this relatively figured out. Ready for theory #1?
I think some people were never taught how to prioritize. They can only think of what they want to do now and what they may do at some point in the future. There is no, “This needs to be done before that, so I’ll do it first.”
So, mine will… let’s say… have to rehearse for something he’s playing tomorrow, but he’ll also decide that now is the time to research market prices. This research could be done months from now, but it doesn’t matter, because he’s thought of it now. It also doesn’t matter that he has something due tomorrow because everything was in his “later” category before he reached in his hat and randomly drew “research market prices” to put in his “now” category.
Maybe learning to really prioritize can help with this. That way, when we have a moment to do something, we aren’t reaching in a hat for whatever pops into our heads. We already know what the next thing is.
ooh! i’ve got it!
Dark Helmet: What the hell am I looking at? When does this happen in the movie?
Colonel Sandurz: Now. You’re looking at now sir. Everything that happens now, is happening now.
Dark Helmet: What happened to then?
Colonel Sandurz: We passed then.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now. We’re at now, now.
Dark Helmet: Go back to then!
Colonel Sandurz: When?
Dark Helmet: Now.
Colonel Sandurz: Now?
Dark Helmet: Now!
Colonel Sandurz: I can’t.
Dark Helmet: Why?
Colonel Sandurz: We missed it.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now.
Dark Helmet: When will then be now?
Colonel Sandurz: Soon.
Dark Helmet: How soon?
Video Operator: Sir!
[Dark Helmet has becomed far too confused and everyone now ignores him even though he’s center screen]
Dark Helmet: What?
Video Operator: We’ve identified their location.
Dark Helmet: Where?