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- Beany Brain #66: The Good Stuff
Beany Brain #66: The Good Stuff
Abigail Munday
November 04, 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
For Goodness’ Sake
Today is a whole yeehawesome round-up of goodness. Goodness in and around neurodivergent people.
So sit back and relax if you don’t have a million-miles-an-hour-ADHD-jumping-bean brain.
Not in any particular order, may I introduce you to…
Nuala MacDonald, a teenaged autistic girl in the Scottish Highlands. Nuala wasn’t diagnosed for years, and used to fight with her mum after school, at home in her safe space. She’d force all her stress down inside during the day and then let it out at home at night. Nuala is affected by smells, noises, and certain kinds of lighting. After her diagnosis, she and her mother visited a town in Newfoundland called Channel-Port aux Basques, which is known as Canada’s most autism-friendly town! Nuala came back to Scotland and advocated for changes in public spaces that would make it easier for autistic people to go out in town. West Coast Delicatessen in Ullapool, Nuala’s hometown, is the first company to implement Nuala’s ideas: a map to show autistic people where there’s a quiet space in the restaurant, and times when the radio is turned off. Good job, Nuala!
The town of Channel-Port aux Basques in Newfoundland has to be next, of course: It’s called the most autism-friendly town in Canada. With only 4000 people, look how much they’ve done to accommodate and help their ND children succeed:
Daniel Lee Barnett, an autistic teenager in the UK, is Britain’s youngest cryptozoologist and a Bigfoot hunter! He’s even created his own documentary.
Professor Sandra Thom-Jones in Australia was diagnosed as autistic at age 50, and then started figuring out why work made her exhausted and unwell. She used to get migraines from the bright lights, for one thing.
She says:
Some of the changes I made to my workspace were having dimmer switches installed in my office, having the air-conditioning vent disconnected, dimming the screen on my computer, purchasing a folding screen to go around my desk, getting a comfy reading chair in my favourite colour, and bringing fidget toys into my office. Some of the changes I made to my working conditions were wearing sunglasses or a cap when meeting in other people’s offices or meeting rooms, ensuring that my dietary needs were considered in catering for meetings and work functions, and negotiating to work from home two days per week.
Professor Thom-Jones has now written a book called Autistics at Work: A Practical Guide.
Gavin Simpson left school with no qualifications and wasn’t diagnosed as autistic until his 40s, after he’d worked as a binman, truck driver, and in other menial jobs. After his diagnosis, he was energized to become a Chartered Accountant and work in management. Gavin credits this to discovering his “spiky profiles,” the challenges he faces and also what he is good at. He’s also written a book called Binman to Boardroom, and he helps corporations and individuals with mentoring.
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
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?
Yes, even more yeehawesomeness today! Here’s something I never imagined could happen: I like working out. Yes, it’s hard, but two friends and I keep each other accountable (in a good non-threatening and fun way) in a text group, and we’re doing workouts for ladies of a certain age (ahem). I mean over 40. And I feel stronger, more energetic, and my core and posture are much better. I never thought I would say that I enjoy working out. I never felt like one of those people who felt energized after a workout. It’s been over 2 months of almost daily workouts, and the workouts are WORKING OUT for me. I’m even doing push-ups. I mean, who is this new woman? Have you ever seen the “Derry Girls” series? You remember the episode where Orla goes a bit crazy with the aerobics and can’t stop? I’m not that bad, but I did catch myself doing some of my side lunges and toe touches in the church kitchen yesterday when I was reheating my coffee in the microwave. Glad nobody walked in at that moment.
Manatees sleeping. I mean, come on. Are they not the absolute best water mammals? Of course they are.
This’ll make you cry happy tears: A group of formerly-blind patients can now see again thanks to eye implants from a hospital in London!
Quote of the Week
Every day, take a walk, read a book, make a friend.
- Max Osterman, born in Latvia in 1890, and the grandfather of US comedian Andy Borowitz of “The Borowitz Report” fame on Substack
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:
A list of goodness in the ND world.
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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