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Beany Brain #90: ND Diagnoses + TickTick

Author

Abigail Munday
April 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

ND Diagnoses

Unlike my own personal ah-ha moment and relief at the time of my neurodivergence diagnoses, not everyone is thrilled about their own experiences in this department.

It seems to me that there are a few different scenarios when it comes to an ND diagnosis:

  1. You pursue an ND diagnosis. {You have access. You have money. You have time. You have bandwidth. You have enough spoons at that time.}

  2. You’re relieved by the results. {Like me. Plus I was really thankful that it was possible in Japan on the national health system and in a timely and relatively easy manner.}

  3. You’re not happy with the results. {You think the psychiatrist might be wrong, whether he or she says you are ND or not ND.}

  4. You don’t pursue an ND diagnosis. {This could be for a variety of reasons: No access. Too expensive. You don’t want to know. You don’t want a “label” hanging over you. It’s possible that it might be dangerous for you in some way if you have an official diagnosis.}

Are you in one of these diagnostic categories?

I know folks who fit into each of the above situations.

To ND Dx or not to ND Dx, that is the question.

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.

Writing a ballad

More syllables than haiku

Need extra fingers

Abigail Munday

Photo by Abigail Munday

TickTick

When either of our sons recommends stuff to me, I sit up and take notice—usually it’s a news article, or funny Star Trek, Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings meme, but this time it was an app.

An app with little dopamine-ized and dopamine-sized clicks.

You get something done. Check.

It moves from the “today” section to the “completed” section with a satisfying little trill.

Ha!

That still makes me laugh.

Object permanence much?

Will I remember TickTick next week? Maybe. Maybe not.

But I’m happy that one of our sons found it, likes it, and thought I would too.

For today, I do.

Funny (and extremely annoying and frustrating) thing about ADHD: I need reminders for the reminders.

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. The artwork by local artists on the walls at the Methodist church cafe, The Ark, here in Marlow, UK.

  2. Birdsong in the UK. When we left Kanazawa, we had just started hearing uguisu (Japanese bush warblers) heralding the start of spring. The birdies sound really different here! Both places are lovely with the local birds’ tunes.

  3. We’re back in a land of little free libraries and I’m loving that.

Quote of the Week

In the middle of everything happening right now, I am finding it helpful to pause and notice what helps me feel even a little bit human, a little bit more alive. Naming these things can be a quiet act of resistance against dehumanizing systems. As you head into the next week, my hope is that you have moments of encountering your humanness and aliveness, even if brief.

Megan Anna Neff, neurodivergent author, psychologist, parent, and educator

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:

  • Do you have an official ND diagnosis? For some folks it’s easier to get access than it is for others, and some folks are happy or might be unhappy with their results.

  • TickTick is a helpful app for checking off your daily to-do list.

  • 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!