- Beany Brain
- Posts
- Beany Brain #84: Familects + "Just One Song" Decluttering
Beany Brain #84: Familects + "Just One Song" Decluttering
Abigail Munday
March 10, 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
Familects
Mickeydoodanadoo.
That’s probably our favorite word in our Munday familect.
Wondering what a familect is? I just recently heard this term for the first time via Gretchen Rubin on the Happier podcast.
Wikipedia says:
A familect or marriage language is a set of invented words or phrases with meanings understood within members of a family or other small intimate group. Among the pioneers of research on familects is Cynthia Gordon, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University, who discussed the concept in her 2009 book Making Meanings, Creating Family. Familects fall within the intimate register of communication. Familects often gain vocabulary through the words young children create as they learn to talk, when these words are adopted by the family. Familects also gain vocabulary through slips of the tongue and word invention.
Anyhoo, Gretchen Rubin suggested keeping a running list of words that help make up your own familect. So I’ve started doing that and it truly is a happiness booster.
I think you can guess what Mickeydoodanadoo is. And I hope my dear mom forgives me for sharing her version of the Japanese katakana word that is McDonald’s.
Since her first trip to Japan, this has been our forever family term for the Golden Arches. And I have to give my mom credit: She picked up quite a bit of Japanese in just the short times she and my dad have visited. I’m always impressed with her pronunciation too—I think she’s a linguist and doesn’t know it.
Life is complicated, isn’t it?
It helps my busy brain to make lists.
And a familect dictionary list is just quirky enough to bring extra joy when it’s really needed.
What would be in your familect, friends?
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
“Just One Song” Decluttering
The consensus is that ADHD brains have lower levels of dopamine, and it’s harder for us to get motivated and stay focused.
So when I read about the “Just One Song” decluttering method, I thought I’d try it.
It didn’t sound too hard.
In fact, my songs sounded great, my enjoyment levels were up there, and yes, I got some dopamine bonus tracks along the way.
I didn’t use rhyme or reason for what I cleared, but one 3 minute 30 second song involved moving some stuff upstairs, throwing some stuff away, putting some papers in for recycling, and putting a couple books back on the shelf.
Not bad a’tall!
In fact, one tune led to three, and some dancing too.
Here they are, in no particular order:
“Hasta Feo Estoy Bonito” by the Cuban salsa group Maykel Blanco Y Su Salsa Mayor
“Make a New Dance Up” by Hey Ocean!
“Miso Soup and Butter” by Reira Ushio
What songs would you dance and declutter to?
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?
If the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” was a Renaissance Madrigal:
A rare albino wallaby has been born in the UK, and he or she is absolutely adorable.
Need a hilarious podcast with two Bostonian car mechanic brothers? I’ve been listening to the NPR Car Talk podcast reruns again—it’s a drive back in time to when cars were simpler and people would call or write into radio shows. It’s definitely a good 30 minutes of putting the brakes on the current horrendous news.
Quote of the Week
If war is right let it be declared by the people. You who have your lives to lose, you certainly above all others have the right to decide the momentous issue of war or peace.
Eugene Debs, labor organizer, 1917
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 familect is a group of words that a family would make up or use together. Try keeping your own familect dictionary.
The “Just One Song” decluttering method involves listening to one song and decluttering for that amount of time, just until the song ends.
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!