Hobby Lobby on ADD

Hobby Lobby Super Store. That alone is (almost) enough said. It truly is a beautiful thing for anyone with even an inkling of a creative hunger.  In that, I wonder if anyone else has to mentally prepare themselves before the magical doors glide open. I've learned that once the proverbial "golden gates" have allowed me permission to enter into the glorious court of the unending creative brilliancy, my brain could easily short circuit and render me completely stupefied if I'm not physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for what lies ahead. 

Places like this are strictly for brave creative warriors, the strong at heart, the resolute…the ones who know what it takes to complete a project... who know how to make a list and stick to it... those who don't allow the multitude of colors, textures, shapes, sizes...the endless possibilities of all the glittered and shiny things to distract or seduce them off their track. Metaphorically speaking, it's for those not easily tossed and tumbled from aisle to aisle, like a wet towel in the dry cycle. To be more exact, these aren't the type of places for people like "ME," who suffers from creative ADD, to enter into alone or without a solid plan of attack lest we find ourselves dizzy and crazed by trillions of choices, supplies, projects and ideas. I know this as fact because I am a "wet towel."  …so, being the insightful, efficient, and creative ADD crafter that I am, I knew I needed to go in today with plan! Yes! a battle plan. See, I refuse to, once again, get sucked in and spit out like an insipid automaton. 

And so, confidently, I constructed my plan. First, I rehearsed what I needed; Ribbon, Burlap, Pins. I even applied the little game I play when trying to remember something important--I'd remember these 3 simple things by remembering "Rib Burp-pinG." RIB(bon) BUR(la)P PIN(s) G   Smart, right?!

 My second plan of assault was to set my phone alarm for 30 minutes…NO SNOOZE. Thirty minutes should be plenty of time to walk straight to the sewing section and grab RIBbon, BURlaP and PINs, even with all the Christmas crafters milling about, then walk straight to the registers. I also knew I needed to turn RIGHT as soon as I entered the store and stay on course until I reached the ribbon aisle.

Standing tall and feeling confident, I whispered, "You got this, girl!" I took my three deep breaths, popped a piece of spearmint gum (supposed to help with alertness), recited my memory game list, navigated my body toward the east where I knew I needed to get to, and waited like a soldier at attention as the doors slid open.  Slowly the doors opened, a rush of warm air blew back my bangs, I took my first step. Then it was like the devil himself reached out and grabbed me like a rag doll, shook my marbles till my memory went blank, and set my feet down crossed over in front of me so they'd lead me to the first available aisle. To the west.  At first, I thought the feet were doing me a favor, like ducking me into a safe nook so I could pull myself together.  But nooooo…there I was, face to face with the most beautiful and useful floral supplies…stuff I didn't even know I needed was taunting me with endless ideas for Christmas Wreaths, Topiaries, Coned Trees, ornaments, and various other Holiday decor. Oh, I knew immediately I was in trouble.  "Back away from the the florals. Slowly…keep your hands by your side and just back away," I told myself, trying to get back to my plan.

It didn't matter anymore, because before I knew what else hit me, I was so far deep in the crafting section, holding all sorts of crazy odds and ends that I thought I would put together into making something, somehow.  Let's see, I had berries, and snowflakes, sequins, jewels, a paper mache letter "W" (my last name starts with a C), lace ruffled stretchy stuff, and a styrofoam circle all tucked safely in a strip of discounted fleece remnant.  Suddenly, without any indication what was coming next, sirens began ringing. ugh! The alarm I had so wisely set before finally went off.  As mad as I was that my time in this "happiest place in my home town" was up, I was also thankful because it brought me into semi-consciousness again. I remember looking down at the plethora of crafting supplies cradled tightly in my arms and thinking to myself, "I did it again, didn't I!" *groan* Realizing I was too far gone at that point, that I didn't have a clear idea for any single project but rather the "starts" of what could be several (and that my time was up), I did what I normally do when I visit Hobby Lobby. I placed my booty of goods down on a temporarily abandoned conveyor belt, nodded sheepishly to the cashier at the next register, and shamefully tip-toed out.

For those who are wondering, yes, I will pull myself up by my bootstraps and devise an even better plan for my next attempt at Hobby Lobby. I'll bring my husband and hand him the shopping list!
#hobbylobby #add #adhd #craft #christmas