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- Beany Brain #103: My Sensory Footprint + Church of England Says ND People Are a Gift, Not a Problem
Beany Brain #103: My Sensory Footprint + Church of England Says ND People Are a Gift, Not a Problem
Abigail Munday
July 22, 2026
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
Photo by Abigail Munday
My Sensory Footprint
Did you know that the term carbon footprint was a term coined by an advertising agency working for British Petroleum? They want us all to think that through our individual cars or purchasing habits that we are completely destroying the plant.
It has nothing absolutely whatsoever to do with giant oil companies.
I’m not saying don’t act responsibly as an individual or family. Do act responsibly. Of course.
Anyhoo…in addition to caring for the planet…
I think of my daily choices affecting my regulation as my own sensory footprint.
If I buy earrings, they have to be lightweight.
When I go out, I take a little hand towel in my bag so that I don’t have to use those deafening 1 million decibel hand dryers in public toilets.
My clothes and jewelry and hats need to be colorful so that I feel happier.
All jewelry must come off by about 5 PM if possible.
Too much matchy-matchy is a no-go for me.
Absolutely no tattoos on my bod. I hate needles and I hate pain.
No hair in my eyes or touching my eyebrows. Nooooooo.
My glasses have to have separate plastic nose pads. I absolutely cannot have just the hard plastic frame on my nose.
Sunglasses sometimes even on cloudy days.
Absolutely no sandals with those plastic or leathery bits between my big toe and next toe.
No pointed-toe shoes.
No heels.
Those last few items were literally about my footprint.
When you saw only one set of footprints in the sand, it was after that when I washed your feet to get the bits off.
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.
Photo by Abigail Munday
Church of England Says ND People Are a Gift, Not a Problem
Someone close to me, who is a longtime Church of England member, sent me this wonderful article entitled “General synod backs new network of neurodiversity champions.”
You might recall, or not, depending on ADHD moments and longer-term memory deficits, that I Beany Brained about an Anglican priest in Nottingham named John Allister who wrote a book on his experiences as an autistic person and priest.
With more awareness and acceptance and yes, even gratitude for ND people and their gifts, it’s been a long time coming. And still more steps to go…
I was heartened by the General Synod and their findings. (For those not in the Anglican know, like moi, the General Synod is the church’s legislative body and national assembly, like the church’s Parliament.)
Here are some of the juiciest bits from the Church of England article:
Neurodivergent people, who include autistic people, people with ADHD, and those with dyslexia or dyspraxia, are a blessing to the church and wider society and their experience adds to the richness of experience of all, the General Synod heard, but they face discrimination and barriers that prevent them from flourishing.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was one of the speakers in the debate, describing how her dyslexia had led some people to believe she ‘wouldn’t amount to much’.
Archbishop Sarah, who became the youngest Chief Nursing Officer for England aged 37 and was installed as the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year, said that she hoped that by speaking of her own experience she might encourage people to view the Church as a place for all kinds of people.
And:
Opening the debate, Diocese of London General Synod member Fiona MacMillan, (pictured, above) for the Church of England’s Neurodiversity Working Group of the Committee for the Ministry of and among Deaf and Disabled People (CMDDP), spoke of diagnoses she has had since the age of 40 of ADHD, Tourette’s, and as autistic.
“These three diagnoses each came as a surprise, a serial unveiling of reasons for lifelong struggle and, initially a source of shame, grief and relief, before I gradually grew to understand and know myself as fearfully, wonderfully and intentionally made by God, with my particular combination of needs and gifts,” she said.
She added that the celebration of diversity and inclusion of all is a “core” commitment of the church.
“In each of the Gospels, Jesus welcomes the outcast and challenges those who limit the extent of the Spirit’s work. This motion calls on the Church to include people who think differently, and to allow ourselves to be blessed by them.”
What say you, dear Beany Brain reader? If you are a believer/churchgoer, how have you found church services/church people? Have you found an outlet for your gifts in the church?
Or have you had to stay home for regulation/dysregulation reasons? If that is the case, have you found friends who can encourage and support you in faith?
Do these quotes from the General Synod meeting bolster you at all?
How do you think Jesus sees you? I think that’s one of the ultimate questions in life.
And if you’re reading this as someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus or thinks all of this is unconnected to you, thanks for coming along on the Beany Brain Train anyway, friends.
Photo and Lime Green Circle by Abigail Munday
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?
Have you got a tenner? On one side of the 10 GBP, the illustrious Jane Austen says, “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!” Jane, girl, you’re the bomb. Let’s hang out and devour books together.
A dyslexic woman in Wales got hooked on books via BookTok (a subcommunity of readers on TikTok) and now runs her own local book club.
I highly encourage you to watch this 10-minute interview with Alexandra Adams, the UK’s first deaf-blind doctor, who officially started her first job this week (the interview was the week before). It’s on ITV, so I’m not sure you’ll be able to see it if you’re outside the UK, but you can definitely follow her amazing Instagram account @alexandraelaineadams.
Quote of the Week
Stagger onward rejoicing…
(W.H. Auden, in his poem “Atlantis”)
Beany Brownie Points and Extra Bonus Funniness
(source unknown)
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.
Photo by Abigail Munday
Today’s Beany-full Summary:
I think about my own sensory footprint when I wear or buy things.
The Church of England General Synod has said that ND people are valuable and worth including and celebrating.
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.
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