Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!

Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope today’s newsletter will bounce us up as we contemplate the upsides and challenges of being neurodivergent, a little beauty, some creativity, and just general yeehawesomeness.

Table of Contents

• Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!

  • Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope t …

• 100 Interesting Things About ND People

  • Ha Ha Haiku

  • 100 Songs I Enjoy

    • Yeehawesome!

    • Quote of the Week

  • Wonderful Wednesday

  • Today’s Beany-full Summary:

100 Interesting Things About ND People

*This newsletter has gone out a couple hours later than usual so that I could schedule it to be released at 10:00 AM (British Summer Time) because everything is 100 with this 100th newsletter.

To celebrate my 100th newsletter (go, moi), I’m sharing 100 interesting things about some ND people (IMHO). Notice that I’m saying interesting. Not all positive and fluffy. But some positive and fluffy. So without further fanfare (no, actually, do give me further fanfare, please—I think I deserve it):

1. hyperfocus

2. creative

3. busy brains = lots of ideas

4. honest

5. differently wired

6. differently abled

7. questioners

8. outside the box

9. very concerned about justice

10. sensitive

11. hate touch

12. like deep pressure

13. ligament laxity

14. RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria)

15. PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)

16. toe walking

17. fidget toys

18. interoception issues

19. noticers

20. experts

21. fizzing personality

22. drawn to other NDs

23. bullied

24. dyslexia

25. ADD

26. OCD

27. generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

28. stimming

29. analytical

30. making connections

31. autism

32. ADHD

33. dyscalculia

34. Tourette syndrome

35. low spoons (Spoon Theory)

36. giftedness

37. many NDs have overlapping diagnoses

38. allergies

39. spiritually sensitive

40. strong startle reflex

41. don’t like loud noises (public restroom hand dryers are my nemesis)

42. sensory seeking

43. sensory avoidant

44. strong connection with animals

45. detail oriented

46. like rigid schedules

47. predictability

48. panic attacks

49. meltdowns (not tantrums!)

50. sensory overload

51. love extra-bright lights

52. hate bright lights

53. enthusiastic

54. problem solvers

55. like being in or near water for play

56. don’t like showers or baths

57. clumsy

58. hate eye contact

59. proprioception

60. alexithymia

61. SPD (sensory processing disorder)

62. selective mutism (a paralyzing freeze response)

63. literalist

64. giftedness

65. stimming

66. misdiagnosed as depression

67. verbal stimming

68. echolalia

69. fine motor skills issues

70. overwhelm

71. IBS/gut issues

72. dysphagia

73. shutdowns

74. ear plugs/noise cancelling headphones

75. hyperfocus

76. executive dysfunction

77. clear language

78. burnout

79. black-and-white thinking

80. dyspraxia

81. disability

82. empathetic

83. comorbidities

84. catastrophizing

85. masking

86. high masking

87. double empathy problem

88. non-speaking (with or without intellectual disability)

89. Sir Anthony Hopkins

90. Simone Biles

91. synesthesia

92. about 30% of autistic people have epilepsy

93. IEPs (individualized education plan)

94. the ‘tism

95. hyperfixations

96. intrusive thoughts

97. parallel play

98. infodumping

99. eating the same foods over and over

100. made in the image of God

Ha Ha Haiku

A funny haiku for you every week in every newsletter, whether it’s one of my own or one I curate for you. HA. Ha. Haiku.

100 Songs I Enjoy

Just for fun and in no particular order.

1. Juno by Béla Fleck and Chick Corea

2. Cosmic Sans by Cory Wong

3. Je veux by Zaz

4. Make a New Dance Up by Hey Ocean!

5. Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

6. Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyoncé

7. Hasta Feo Estoy Bonito by Maykel Blanco Y Su Salsa Mayor

8. Miso Soup and Butter by Ushio Reira

9. Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett

10. Brighter Day by The Woodgies

11. Big Blue Wave by Hey Ocean!

12. Groovin’ by The Racals

13. The World Was Waiting by Dreamers’ Circus

14. Gloria by Les Troubadours Du Roi Baudoin

15. Well-Oiled Machine by Hot Buttered Rum

16. French Fries by Adèle & Zalem

17. Kung Fu Cowboy by The Wu-Force

18. Something To Talk About by Bonnie Raitt

19. Jet Pack by Recess Monkey

20. Radio Shack by Vulfpeck

21. Funky Duck by Vulfpeck and Antwaun Stanley

22. Conga by Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine

23. Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul

24. Venus by Bananarama

25. Blackbird by The Beatles

26. Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

27. Hold Me Closer by Elton John

28. Here Comes the Rain Again by Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics

29. Let No Man Steal Your Thyme by Pentangle

30. Englishman in New York by Sting

31. Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

32. Be Thou My Vision

33. She’s a Rainbow by The Rolling Stones

34. One That’s Built for Two by Ruthie McQuinn

35. How Sweet It Is by James Taylor

36. Bamboléo by Gipsy Kings

37. Freedom by Jon Batiste

38. Footloose by Kenny Loggins

39. 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

40. Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton

41. Your Labor Is Not In Vain by The Porter’s Gate

42. You Hold It All by The Porter’s Gate

43. Hodu by The Touré-Raichel Collective

44. Rescue Me by The Brilliance

45. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah by Josh Bales

46. We Praise You, Invisible Father by Monks of Senegal

47. My Soul Exalts the Lord by Monks of Senegal

48. That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright by Josh Bales

49. Glory Lord Jesus by Keith Green

50. I Will Give Thanks To the Lord by Keith Green

51. Wisdom and Grace by Bifrost Arts

52. Psalm 126 by Bifrost Arts

53. For Life by Ty Bello

54. Adonai Ro’i (Psalm 23) by Miqedem

55. Halleluhu (Psalm 150) by Miqedem

56. Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland

57. Birdland by Weather Report

58. You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon

59. Butterfly by Jon Batiste

60. I Was Glad by Monks of Senegal

61. A Kazakh Melody by Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet

62. The Carnival of the Animals by Camile Saint-Saens

63. The Mission by Ennio Morricone

64. A Day Without Rain by Enya

65. Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan

66. Cinema Paradiso by Ennio Morricone

67. Babette’s Feast Suite by Per Norgard

68. Minor Swing from the movie Chocolat

69. Caravan from Chocolat

70. September by Earth, Wind, & Fire

71. Groove Is In the Heart by Deee-Lite

72. Truly Madly Baroque by Red Priest

73. Love Shack by the B-52s

74. Roam by the B-52s

75. Your Smiling Face by James Taylor

76. Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor

77. Yuve Yuve Yu by The HU (Mongolian throat singing + metal)

78. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross

79. Use the Force by Jamiroquai

80. The Moldau by Smetana

81. Ramble On by Led Zeppelin

82. Won’t You Be My Neighbor by Mr. Rogers

83. Won’t You Be My Neighbor by Lady Gaga

84. Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty

85. I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty

86. Tequila by The Champs

87. Mamma Mia by Abba

88. Uptown Girl by Billy Joel

89. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee

90. Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin

91. Jolene by Dolly Parton

92. Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis

93. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

94. Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett

95. Step by Step by Rich Mullins

96. We Will Glorify by Twila Paris

97. Columba’s Prayer by Jeff Johnson

98. His Eye Is on the Sparrow by Mahalia Jackson

99. How I Got Over by Mahalia Jackson

100. Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

(Now I'm thinking of more, but for now, here are just 100. The others will have to wait till my 200th newsletter.)

Yeehawesome!

Yeehawesome! is a happy-brain roundup in each issue of Beany Brain. What’s happening that’s good in brain land? What’s bringing me joy?

1. Beany Brain is yeehawesome. You know it. Happy 100! Have a cuppa with me. Kanpai!

2. Three Peas is a charity that helps refugees who have reached Europe, and their main patron is Axel Scheffler, a children’s book illustrator whom we have loved for years. Good job, Axel and Three Peas! Axel says:

3. Getting Katharine Hayhoe’s email newsletter every week makes me happier! She’s a Christian and a Canadian atmospheric scientist. Katharine is a yeehawesome person and scientist.

Quote of the Week

Beany Brownie Points and Extra Bonus Funniness

Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday was a day once a year in college when they would suddenly and surprisingly call off all classes and we’d play all day. The cafeteria provided special fun food and we’d do stuff outside like slip ‘n slides and jello wrestling in sumo suits. This segment of Beany Brain is dedicated to that memory of silliness and fun—no words, just a photo from the week that I’ve taken or found that reminds me to let the joy in. Since Beany Brain is published on Wednesday every week (at least, Wednesday in Japan), I hope you enjoy this Wonderful Wednesday.

Today’s Beany-full Summary:

• 100 things about neurodivergent people—celebrating my 100th Beany Brain newsletter. Happy 100th!

• 100 songs I enjoy.

• Go forth in Beany joy. What will help you feel yeehawesome this week?

Thank you for reading this installment of Beany Brain! You’re very welcome to hop on by any old time.

If you’re enjoying Beany Brain, please share with a friend or seventeen at www.beanybrain.com. Cheers big time!