Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
5 August 2002

CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support

===== In This Issue =====

About the Newsletter
Calendar of Events
Feature Article: Priorities
Please Tell Us

===== About the Newsletter =====

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.
It's a step toward bringing the members closer together.

======== Calendar of Events ==========

============================
Contra Costa - 8/7/2002, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Topical Meeting: To Be Announced -- Ongoing,
confidential support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
San Francisco - 8/7/2002, Wed. 7:30pm
Women's ADD Support Group -- Please Call Lynn to confirm times and
locations before attending.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Lynn: 415-621-1078
============================
Contra Costa - 8/21/2002, Wed. 7-9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting -- Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
Online - 8/28/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST
Patricia Quinn, MD - Girls, Women, Hormones and AD/HD --
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
Sacramento - 9/3/2002, Tues. 6:45 p.m.; 7-9 pm
Social Skills -- More details later...
Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sacramento - Contact: Greater
Sacramento CHADD: 916-552-1557
============================
Santa Clara - 9/4/2002, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Presentation -- TBA
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
============================
San Francisco - 9/4/2002, Wed. 7:30pm
Women's ADD Support Group -- Please Call Lynn to confirm times and
locations before attending.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Lynn: 415-621-1078
============================
Santa Clara - 9/8/2002, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Silicon Valley Adult, Parent and Spouse Support Groups -- Separate
peer-facilitated groups let you share struggles and strategies with
each other. Includes video.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
============================
San Francisco - 9/14/2002, Sat. 9:00a.m.-12:30p.m
Dr. Ruth Serepca - "Executive Processing in Children:
Relationship to Learning and Social Functioning" -- Sponsored by the
International Dyslexia Association. Pre-Registration is Required:
UCSF Conference Center, Laurel Heights, San Francisco - Contact:
International Dyslexia Association: 650-328-7667 or visit
www.interdys.org
============================

===== Feature Article ======

"Priorities"

A Legend, Author Unknown

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of
business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration
those students will never forget.

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he
said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide
mouth Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he
produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them,
one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit
inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said,
"Yes."

Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a
bucket of gravel and dumped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing
pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the
big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them
answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought
out a bucket of sand and started dumping the sand in the jar and it
went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once
more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed
a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled
to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the
point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter
how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit
some more things in it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this
illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first,
you'll never get them in at all."

What are the big rocks in your life? Time with loved ones? Your
faith, your education, your dreams? A worthy cause? Teaching or
mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll
never get them in at all.

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short
story, ask yourself this question: What are the "big rocks" in my
life? Then, put those in your jar first.

===== Please Tell Us! =====

We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please
continue to help us make this newsletter more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published. School starts soon, and a nice essay on
facing the new school year would be terrific, don't you think?

You can e-mail your comments to us at CHADD_Dimples@....
Simply replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the
right place.