Some of the most amazing elements of life don't make sense.

Think Pyramids, professional wrestling, pineapple on pizza, why some people enjoy meetings. 

Yet, we've come to accept them and in some cases, pay to participate in them.

Life itself is full of contradictions.

Are some of these divine interventions, the universe's invisible forces pulling pranks or just a bumper sticker on a pickup truck going the wrong way on a one-way road? You know the one sayin - 'It is what it is, except when it isn't.'

The Gift That Keeps on Taking
 

Either way, it’s safe to say our dyslexia has its share of contradictions that are sometimes hard to wrap our heads around.

Today, we’re simply acknowledging that “Yeah, dyslexia can be really messed up but we’ve made it this far and we’re going to be ok, even with our cockamamie contradictions.”

For instance, I’ve never called my dyslexia my superpower and never will. But, I understand a lot of dyslexics like to categorize theirs this way. 

Calling it a gift? Not how I'd describe it either.  

Stage Fright or Stage Right?  

I've never been someone who craved attention or the stage. I always said I preferred staying in the background, away from the spotlight.

But as I write that, I realize it's not entirely true...

Pre-dyslexia discovery, there were times in my life where I was on stage. I didn’t go onstage to have people admire me or to be the center of attention - I was up there because it was a creative outlet; a new way for me to express and challenge myself. 

“Can I actually do this?” I asked myself.

As a hack acoustic guitar player and wannabe singer with no range, I played open mics in my younger days. Full disclosure - it was the Tequila talking; it’s not like I ever got paid or signed an autograph. 

But, I was always proud of having performed despite my skill level being miles away from virtuoso. My brain could hear the music perfectly, I could feel the emotion I wanted to express - but my fingers and voice couldn't match what was in my head. 

OverThink Tank

When I did improv 2X a month, it wasn't for attention. There wasn’t even an audience. It was a way to improve my communication skills by forcing myself into situations where it was literally impossible for me to overthink.

Because here's the thing - my dyslexic brain might generate brilliant connections, but then tangles them all up on the way out of my mouth. It’s like a traffic jam of thoughts, each one jockeying and leapfrogging for pole position.

Improv forced me to trust the first thought, not the perfect thought. And when it bombed, well - next! 

But if I’m being honest - there has to be a part of me (even a small one) that craves the attention or the need for applause, approval or atta-boy! 

Powered by Dyslexia

Dyslexics are intuitive and complicated beings who can be pulled into opposing directions at the same time.

My dyslexia is definitely not a superpower but maybe it's a blessing.

Without having discovered it in my late 40’s, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now. I wouldn’t have had to do multiple deep dives into my mental health and psychology so that I could show up for you on social, here, on camera and on stages as Me.

This work has forced me to evaluate myself more than I ever thought possible and I’m still “in it”.

And despite the contradiction of someone who doesn’t like to put themselves out there, I had to come to the conclusion that my message and my mission were bigger than my fear and desire to stay hidden in the background.

Your Pain Can be Your Potential

So as you look to criticize yourself for being too much of this while not enough of that…

Maybe cut yourself some slack today. 

We both know making yourself the punching bag is one of your pastimes - a familiar space where you attack yourself for old mistakes and ones you haven’t even made yetm but imagine you will.

Lower your weapon LEX. You’re not the only one who’s ever gone IN through the OUT door. 

The contradictions you're beating yourself up for? They're not flaws that need fixing, they're features of a bad ass cognitive system.

The science backs it up. 

Researcher Roderick Nicolson's work on 'Positive Dyslexia' shows that our brains are complex systems where contradictions aren't accidents - they're adaptive advantages.

Your biggest challenges often create your greatest strengths.

Every struggle forces new pathways. Every push builds resilience. 

Contradictions are proof of your system working exactly as designed, creating safety, innovation and flexibility.

Being able to hold two truths at once is also a sign of high intelligence. 

Contradictions in Action

• You comfort others with kindness AND attack yourself with harshly

• You hold impressive job titles BUT privately feel undeserving

• You're highly intelligent YET feel dumb when grammar fails

• You see big-picture patterns BUT trip over filling out forms

The same LEX that makes you hurt, can help you thrive.