Pete Wright

Like I think about you all the time because my task list is constantly telling me to edit a show that we do together.

But when we're not doing the show, when we're on break, it's really challenging unless we have some regular thing on the calendar that says it's Tommy time.

Right.

Got it.

I so value that because of the other friendships with with people that I don't have that same regular thing.

Because the difference, the gap between not mattering and not occurring to me is where friendships go to quietly suffocate.

Got it.

The cycle, and I bet a lot of listeners know this one, a text comes in.

from a friend and you see it and you mean to respond.

And before you can, something else grabs your attention, like a task or a notification or something, a raccoon, whatever.

And that text goes unanswered.

And then a day passes and then a week and then shame kicks in.

And shame for the ADHD brain is not motivating.

It is paralyzing.

And so you avoid the text harder.

And

Maybe then another message arrives and it's that same person saying, hey, stranger, and that feels crappy.

And even if it's meant lightly, it is an indictment of your behavior, which you are aware of and you know sucks, but you avoid it further.

And eventually a friendship that ostensibly both people valued just starts to fray and evaporate.

And research backs this up.