Hyperactive.

When someone says you have enough energy and enthusiasm for two people, they mean that you're the life of the party. You’re the one who’s always ready to dive into a new adventure or liven up a dull moment. You're full of vitality, bringing positivity to the people around you. This type of person can instantly change the vibe in a room with their contagious energy, inspiring others to get involved and share in the fun.

As a child, I was the textbook definition of hyperactive. I’d bounce off the walls, driving everyone around me a little crazy. My mother, though, suspected my constant buzz of energy might be tied to something I was eating. So for an entire week, she put me on a strict diet of nothing but vegetables, and to her relief, the hyperactivity faded away. Then came the food reintroduction experiment. Dairy went fine. Milk, cheese, yogurt, no problem. Same with meat, fruit, fish. Then cereal entered the picture, and the chaos returned within minutes of one bowl of Rice Krispies. Crackers? Bouncing. Bread? Pure mayhem. Peanut butter and jelly? A wild time. Spaghetti sauce? Look out. 

It turned out that any processed food was setting me off, except when it didn’t. For example, Kellogg's Corn Flakes was a disaster, but Post Toasties Corn Flakes? Totally fine. If I had a granola bar, it was a total circus, but a Peppermint Patty? Nothing. Eventually, my mother cracked the code: it wasn’t the food itself but preservatives like BHA, BHT, and red dye number 5 that triggered my hyperactivity. While it was a relief to know the culprits, they were added to just about everything.

From that point on, my mother took matters into her own hands. Every Saturday, she baked our bread. She made homemade versions of cookies, cakes, crackers, taffy, and other treats, working tirelessly to ensure I could still enjoy the foods that would otherwise send me bouncing off the walls. And with every batch, she made sure love was the secret ingredient.

I shared that story to say this: 

Through her dedication, my mother taught me how to live for two by the way she channeled her energy, love, and enthusiasm into someone else. And that someone was me. 

It’s about investing your energy to lift others up. Just as my mother poured her time and love into helping me, your natural drive can be channeled into those around you. When you share your enthusiasm, it empowers others to grow and thrive. It’s not about having double the energy—it’s about choosing to dedicate that energy to support someone else. When you focus on giving that energy, you bring out the best in others, making today’s fortune ring true, “You have enough energy and enthusiasm for two people.”