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Beany Brain #33: Amen to That Inception

Author

Abigail Munday
March 18, 2025

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

Amen to That

My paternal grandmother always jokingly said before a meal, “Amen, Brother Ben, dig in.”

This is a different kind of Amen today.

You may remember, if you were an OG subscriber of Beany Brain, that near the beginning of BB I wrote about Dr. Daniel Amen’s daily routine for a healthy brain. Here’s the video where he talks about it:

Well, guess what? Have I stuck to this routine?

No.

(I am ADHD after all.)

Did I try it once?

I think so.

To remind myself again to cherish my brain and give it some treats (and maybe we could all use a refresher), here is a recap of Dr. Amen’s thoughts on brain care:

1. Get 8 hours of sleep.

2. Put blue-light blockers on devices after sundown.

3. At bedtime: Say a prayer. Then ask yourself “What went well today?” and look for tiny micromoments of happiness. (This sets your dreams up to be positive.)

4. In the morning: Get up and say, “Today’s going to be a great day!” This resets your brain to look forward to the day.

5. Food in the morning: Eat protein, healthy fats, and polyphenols such as blueberries or strawberries. Take your supplements.

6. For every decision during the day, ask yourself, “Is it good for my brain or bad for my brain?”

7. Move your body; don’t sit all day.

Will I remember to do these things? Your guess is as good as mine, but maybe writing it out again here will help jog my brain to do some brain care.

I could say amen to some fresh blueberries or strawberries right now, actually.

Selfie by Abigail Munday

Inception Interoception, What’s Your Function?

My younger son just watched the movie Inception with my husband for the first time the other day, and he said he can’t believe I ever watched it. It’s intense.

I don’t remember much of that movie, but I do remember the stress from it and I’ve never watched it again. It’s not on my list of priorities for rewatching.

Not like:

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel

  • Next Stop Wonderland

  • When Harry Met Sally

  • Steel Magnolias

  • While You Were Sleeping

  • Rebecca (Netflix version)

  • The Anne movies (Canadian Broadcasting from the 1980s; not that newer series)

  • Frasier

  • Monk

  • Derry Girls

I could make a longer list, but you get the idea.

Inception doesn’t make the cut.

Don’t ask how I managed it, but I got a copy of the transcript from the screenwriter’s first pitch script:

Screenwriter: Thank you for meeting with me today. I’m very excited to share my script idea with you.

Producer: Let’s get right to it. I have 10 other pitches this afternoon. Whaddya got?

Screenwriter: So, imagine with me: A neurodivergent person can’t tell sometimes when she needs to go to the bathroom, or how she feels, or if she’s hungry or thirsty. It would be like a life within a life within a life. Layers.

Producer: Hmmmm…

Screenwriter: I mean, confusion is good, right. Just think about Plato’s cave. Is it the real me, or am I the shadow, or is the cave itself not even real? Am I thirsty? Or hungry? Or angry? Or frustrated? Do I need to brush my teeth? Or remove a clothing tag? Or what?

Producer: {radio silence}

Screenwriter: Let’s call the movie “Interoception.”

Producer: Nah. Nobody wants to know about not knowing. How would it end?

Screenwriter: I’m picturing a spinning top.

Photo 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?

  1. Soulseedsforall on Instagram! It’s such a positive, encouraging, hilarious, sweet cry-fest to follow.

  2. Reading African prayer books: An African Prayer Book, compiled and edited by Desmond Tutu, and Jesus of the Deep Forest: Prayers and Praises of Afua Kuma. Afua Kuma was an oral theologian, midwife, and farmer from Ghana. (This link will take you to a free and legal PDF of the book.) Another thing about Afua Kuma that strikes me is that her name, Kuma, means “bear” in Japanese, so in my mind she is a Mama Prayer Bear.

  3. Our snow is mostly gone! Good riddance! And my tulip shoots are shooting! (Actually, the first one popped up during the snow.)

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.

Photo by Abigail Munday

Today’s Beany-full Summary:

  • Follow Dr. Amen’s advice for healthy brains: get enough sleep; pray; remind yourself of happy micromoments; tell yourself that it’s going to be a good day when you get up in the morning; give your brain a good breakfast; move your body.

  • “Interoception” pitch script.

  • 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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