Ty Kelly

If you live with ADHD, you know the feeling well: your brain is like a browser with 47 tabs open at once. Each tab represents a thought, a worry, a task, or a dream, all clamoring for attention. One tab says, “Be proud. This is an opportunity.” Another screams, “How are we paying bills while we learn?” Meanwhile, others remind you not to forget the blog, the podcast, the kids, or yourself. And then there’s the tab that never closes: “Why does it feel like I have to keep proving I deserve peace?”

I've been masking my whole life. Not the casual kind people mention when talking about social situations. I mean the kind of masking that comes from knowing, deep inside, that if you show your real pain, others won’t be able to handle it. So you keep it hidden. You protect them by carrying the weight alone.

The world feels different now. Traditions that once brought joy and comfort during holidays can start to feel heavy, especially when the backdrop is uncertainty, conflict, or social upheaval. Valentine’s Day, a holiday centered on love and connection, often highlights this tension. While the world unravels in many ways, the simple acts of love—like a mother’s care, a sister’s visit, or the quiet presence of family—begin to mean more than any gift wrapped in shiny paper.