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 …

• Asking for a Friend

  • Ha Ha Haiku

  • ‘Tis the Season…

    • Yeehawesome!

    • Quote of the Week

  • Wonderful Wednesday

  • Today’s Beany-full Summary:

Asking for a Friend

I’ve always asked people questions that get me strange looks in return.

And I have people in my life whose dominant tendency is Questioner. (Not me. I’m an Obliger. Mostly.)

Neurotypical people tend to think you’re weird or stupid or annoying or aggressive for asking “too many” questions.

Once, when I was living and working back in Florida after college, I ran into my dental hygienist in line at Walmart. I said hi and we chatted for a moment. As it so happened, I was carrying a bottle of mouthwash to buy. Mouthwash with a bright blue dye in it.

So I asked her why doesn’t it turn our teeth blue? I felt like she was strategically placed in line just ahead of me at that very moment of mouthwash purchasing. Perfect! I could get an answer to a pressing question! (I mean, this was before Uncle Google.)

But instead of answering, she just looked at me like I was absolutely bonkers.

(Maybe she didn’t know the answer. Or maybe she really did think I was weird.)

She bought her stuff and left.

I wrote my check (remember paper checks?) and left with my mouthwash (and I’m sure other sundries).

Feeling sort of flattened.

I’m still doing it too.

Asking loads of “why” questions.

This past week I had my annual city health checkup, and when I was signing in, they asked me if I’d like to get tested for Hepatitis B and C.

I held up the line by asking, of course, why?

At three separate stations, I asked why. Nobody had an answer for me, other than it’s a free test…

And everyone else there was being tested, so I should too.

(I did. And I later researched and found out that yes, actually, it’s a good idea to get tested. Hep B and C can hide any symptoms while also attacking your liver and other organs. So yes, if you can, get tested.)

Whether I get answers or not, weird looks or not, I’m wired to ask WHY. It’s not my main tendency, but it’s a big part of me.

In school, I used to be too timid to ask it out loud. I didn’t want to make waves or my teachers to think I was being obnoxious. Not anymore, folks!

Asking for a friend. And I hope we are all friends to ourselves.

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.

‘Tis the Season…

To do the tea ceremony.

To sit down and write.

To make a dessert together.

To read a book.

To watch that movie you’ve been meaning to.

To sit and chat.

To play a board game.

To _____________________.

You fill in the blank for you.

If like me, you can do relaxing things while also not feeling relaxed, you’re not alone.

If like me, your brain is always ADHD busy, you’re not alone.

If like me, you kick yourself for not fully relaxing, you’re not alone.

If like me, you get to the end of a “break” or “holiday” and still feel like you never really relaxed, you’re not alone.

Here’s my new aim, and it might sound cliche:

Just grab your brain for a split second and tell it that you’re enjoying this particular breath.

This particular moment.

This particular sight.

This particular sound.

This particular taste.

This particular scent.

This particular touch.

Maybe that’s what you’d like to aim for as well.

Anyway, I hope this coming week has brain moments that are helpful and life-giving for you. And for me.

May it be so. Amen.

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. All of my yeehawesomes are music this week. First up, the gorgeous music at the Christmas pageant at a local Christian-founded high school here in Kanazawa. I wish I could share it with you: the organ, handbells, choir. All of it. And then at the end, the whole audience sang the Hallelujah chorus together.

2. Vulfpeck is a jazzy/funky/soul group and their latest concert video from Madison Square Garden is SO SO SO joyful. It makes me smile.

3. Based on Isaiah 43, “Do Not Be Afraid” by Philip Stopford:

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:

• Autistic folks need to be allowed to ask WHY and other questions. This is not aggressive. It’s just clarifying.

• If you have a busy brain, you can focus on just enjoying one breath or one moment of the five senses.

• 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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