Hi! My name is Lily and I am 19 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD. With ADHD comes numerous different challenges. I struggle a lot with Attention and Focus, Time Management, Impulsivity, and Self Regulation. It is extremely hard to manage these pieces, especially in an academic setting. The sound a pencil makes when people are writing or the whirring sound the projector makes throws me off focus. As I continue to progress in life, it is important for me to find good coping strategies in an attempt to regulate myself.

In college and the years to come, I have found a great coping strategy that works well. I hope this text can aid other students and especially those who struggle with neurodivergence. In this text, I am going to be talking about my personal experiences and reflections I had through Yoko Ono's, Grapefruit. 

Overall Reflection

There are numerous different instructions from Grapefruit. I think that it is a great way for students, regardless of any age, to participate and get to know themselves and their peers better. When completing these tasks I felt numerous different emotions. Some emotions I have not felt in a while. Being 19 years old I wouldn't typically do some of these things. I felt like a kid again.

Collecting Piece 

Collect sounds in your mind that you have overheard through the week.

Repeat them in your mind in different orders one afternoon (Ono 1964).

Reflections & Experiences

Throughout the week, I heard numerous different sounds. Although these sounds could be aggravating at times, I chose to pay attention to them and write them down. The birds chirping outside my window, the clicking sound of my keyboard, the humming sound the pottery wheel makes, the clicking of pens, honking of car horns, purring of my kitten, the background noises of the TV, and the popping sound of popcorn. Although I struggle with outside noise and distractions, it

Reflections & Experiences

brought attention to all of the smaller, intricate details of life. The noises I wrote down: Chirping, Clicking, Humming, Clicking, Honking, Purring, TV sounds, and Popping.

I repeated the noises in different orders and sipped on tea. With ADHD I find it hard to take a break and find some peace. My mind is constantly racing. This practice of Ono's allowed me to free myself of the irritation I faced when hearing some of these noises. I believe it had made me more open minded to my surroundings.

Touch Poem V

Feel the wall. 

Examine its temperature and moisture.

Take notes about many different walls (Ono 1964).

Reflections & Experiences

With ADHD I have always struggled with certain textures of different items. I was hesitant to do this practice because of that. Before I started this exercise, I was completing some of my homework. I grew flustered with the assignment because I didn't fully understand the material. Instead of these overwhelming experiences engulf me, I decided to use this grounding strategy.

Reflections & Experiences

There are numerous different wall textures throughout my house. The walls in the basement are all the same bumpy texture and are pretty cold. Moving upstairs, I felt the smooth texture of the wallpaper in the bathroom. I noticed it was much warmer than the basement. Next I moved onto the kitchen where the walls are composed of wood. I paid attention to the grain and warm texture of the wood. After I completed this, I felt much calmer and in a better mindset than I did before.

Beat Piece

Listen to a heart beat (Ono 1964).

Reflections & Experiences

I thought that this peace was interesting. I wasn't really sure where to start. Knowing I have POTS I thought it would be interesting to listen to my resting heart rate and then compare it to my heart rate after going up a few flights of stairs. First, I grabbed my Dad's stethoscope and listened to the uniform beating sounds. I checked my watch and my heart rate was 75 BPM. I felt calm and collected while doing this.

Reflections & Experiences

I then decided to run up a few flights of stairs from that resting position and my heart rate was way higher than before. I pressed the stethoscope against my chest and listened to how fast my heart was beating. I checked my watch once more and saw it was 165 BPM. I thought it was fascinating to see how much my heart rate fluctuates due to POTS. After putting my body through that, I felt slightly exhausted but at the same time I was amazed at how my body works.

Lighting Piece

Light a match and watch till it goes out (Ono 1964).

Reflections & Experiences

I found this experiment super fun and interesting. I could watch a candle burn for hours. I think that it is captivating how the flames never follow the same pattern. For this practice I waited to utilize it until I needed a coping strategy. I had an anxiety attack and usually don't like sharing my experiences with it. But I am hoping this will allow some peers to connect with me and know that their feelings are valid and that they are not alone.