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 …

• Just Let Me Overexplain

  • Interoception Junction, What’s Your Function

    • Yeehawesome!

  • Wonderful Wednesday

  • Today’s Beany-full Summary:

Just Let Me Overexplain

Maybe I’ve already overexplained this to you guys in previous newsletters, but did you know that autistic people sometimes overexplain things?

Yep.

It’s true.

Me too.

And then I can kick myself about it for years. I’m not kidding. YEARS.

Even decades.

Like the time at the eye doctor’s in Seattle and she asked me how my kids were and I said that they were at home napping. (They were little then.)

My anxiety kicked in on my walk home and yes, I actually turned around, went back, and explained to her in front of other clients that she shouldn’t worry—my husband was at home with the kids. I hadn’t left them alone to nap.

She looked at me funny. The other clients looked at me funny.

And I writhed in embarrassment all the way home. Even 13 years later I cringe at my verbal diarrhea in that moment. (And yeah, many other moments.)

Now, this life coach, who is autistic himself, shares the difference between overexplaining and oversharing in this video. (Believe me, I’ve done plenty of both.)

Overexplaining is giving too many details; oversharing is giving too many private, personal details.

Autistic people are prone to doing all of the above.

The life coach I mentioned above, Paul Micallef, runs a YouTube channel called “Autism from the Inside,” and here are a couple ideas from him to avoid overexplaining (tips to avoid oversharing are apparently in a different video, but unusually I don’t feel like sharing it with you):

1. State your truth. The truth resonates.

2. Overexplaining is related to executive dysfunction, so combat it by prioritizing. Work from the top down. What do you want from this situation? Most of the time, you can avoid the details, which only confuse others and can make your request or statement too much.

What could I have done differently at the eye doctor’s? Well, hindsight is 20/20, and because she didn’t react when I mentioned the boys were home napping, I could’ve left it at that.

But you know, autism.

I just like to keep things neurospicy. (Maybe “like” is too strong a word here.)

Anybody else overexplain and/or overshare?

If so, I need lots of details and specific personal embarrassing examples.

Interoception Junction, What’s Your Function

Heard of interoception? Me neither, until people I love (and I) got diagnoses of various neurodivergencies.

Basically, it’s knowing and understanding what’s happening in your body.

It’s realizing what’s happening in your body.

That’s the hard part if you’re neurodivergent. Our brains don’t always alert us to what we need when we need it. There’s even science that shows good interception leads to better emotional wellbeing. (Interestingly, studies have proven that aerobic exercise and/or strength training have actually increased good levels of interoception and alertness in people and decreased their anxiety.)

I can be super-duper uncomfortable for a long time and it doesn’t click that it’s because I need to go pee.

When I realize, the problem is solved. (Like right now…OK, I’m back and life is better.)

Now I stop and think again because I’m not totally OK.

Thirsty! (That problem solved.)

Think some more…

Need to brush my teeth! Hold on a second, dear readers…

I’m back. All good.

Nope. I need a shower…

Bye for now and scrub a dub dub.

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. You know I wrote about Mr. Rogers last week, and then I saw Kelly Latimore’s depiction of him (above). See @kellylatimoreicons for a lot more beautiful (and unexpected) saintliness.

2. We got our new washing machine! Fewer trips to the laundromat, though I’m still going for the big stuff like top futons (duvets), blankets, and winter coats. Did you know the Japanese have a specific word for washing all the things and putting away all the other things for a new season? It’s koromogae. Handy one word, hey.

3. TV BRA (TV Good) in Norway: a program run by folks who are disabled, learning disabled, or autistic. They create a weekly news digest that is more accessible for people who need it. And they have shocking pink decor on set, which I can’t argue with one bit. Good job, guys!

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:

• Overexplaining is giving too many details.

• Oversharing is giving too many private, personal details.

• To avoid overexplaining: State your truth; what do you want from this situation?

• Interception is realizing what your body is doing and what it needs. Exercise can help train and strengthen your interception signals.

• 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!