About - old

I'm on a journey of discovery, and I'd like to share what I find. 

Despite most external appearances, I've had a lifetime of Learning Difficulties and Social Challenges that have made it difficult for me to function in the world. Without help, the energy expended coping with this can be exhausting.

However, the silver lining of this particular cloud is that I've spent a large chunk of my life finding ways to manage my wayward brain and reduce the friction it introduces into my daily life.

What this means for you, dear reader, is that I probably have something in my bag of tricks that can help you up your mental game, whether you identify as Neurodivergent (like me) or you're just trying to cope with a world drowning in information.

I'd like to share what's worked for me in the past, and also take you along on my journey to discover the latest advances in understanding about the brain, and how they can help us all level-up as humans.

The Backstory

You're probably thinking, "What an odd name for a website."

Not really. Not if you've met me.

Certainly not if you met me more than a couple of years ago.

Why?

One client told me after a few months of working together that he'd actually "warned" his boss about me before our first meeting!

Well, in the past, I had a bit of a reputation.

One client told me, after a few months of working together, that he'd actually "warned" his boss about me before our first meeting!

Depending on your perspective, apparently, I have some "odd" behaviours. I also have some "odd" abilities. So you win some, you lose some.

...within a few minutes, I would be asking the equivalent of "whose elephant is that?"

My reputation (and the name of this site) came from my habit of walking into rooms (you know, meeting rooms, boardrooms, those kinds of rooms) and within a few minutes, I would be asking the equivalent of "whose elephant is that?"

In some cases, that's not such a bad thing. I like those cases. I work well in those cases. I can add value in those cases.

But in other cases, it could be what you might call a "career-limiter". I've had my fair share of those too (although at the time I might not have known it).

Either way, for the longest time, I couldn't help myself (probably because I couldn't see what was wrong with doing it).

...adding friction to my life and others since 1972.

Fast forward to today, and I'm a bit more self- and world-aware. Actually, a lot more aware.

This has been a long, slow journey until a year or so ago, when it accelerated rapidly (like, Tesla "Insane Mode" rapid).

After 50 years on the planet, I discovered there might be an explanation for this and many other "quirks" that have been adding friction to my life and others since 1972.

There's a high probability that I'm Autistic.

I turns out, there's a high probability that I'm Autistic.

Once I made this discovery, a lot of things started making sense.

To be clear, before this discovery, I had less than no clue. Seriously (I'll talk about why another time).

I felt more surprised than I did when I saw "The Sixth Sense" for the first time

But when I finally grasped it as a possibility, I felt more surprised than I did when I saw "The Sixth Sense" for the first time.

Pretty much every day since the discovery has contained at least one flashback that made me shocked no-one pointed it out before. 

...when I tell people, the standard response is along the lines of, "my dog knew."

At the same time, when I tell people, "I might be Autistic," the standard response is along the lines of, "my dog knew."

Thanks, everyone!

No, seriously, thanks. Other than that potentially frustrating response (if it was so obvious, why did no-one say anything for 50 years?), everyone I've told so far has been super-supportive and understanding.

There has also been an outpouring of "me too," type revelations that have been both heartwarming and distressing in equal measure.

I've had a relatively easy journey by comparison to many people.

Why "distressing"? Let's just say that I've had a relatively easy journey by comparison to many people.

Most of the manifestations of my Neurodivergence are not what you would call debilitating. Yes, I have my own forms of Learning Difficulties and Social Difficulties, but those challenges are often masked by some of the more positive aspects.

This masking was so effective - and instinctual - that I managed to get through 50 years without really wondering too deeply about why there was so much friction in certain circumstances.

As for the rest of the world, well, except for a couple of major blips during my education, the external signs weren't severe enough for anyone to flag.

Plus, for the longest time, Autism and all the other Neurospicy presentations had a pretty bad rep. So little was known about Neurodivergence, and the general opinion of the various forms were so extreme, that there's no way anyone would have pointed at me and said "hey, are you autistic?"

Neurodivergence in all its forms is a real thing now

But these are different times. Neurodivergence in all its forms is a "real" thing now, thankfully.

People talk about it openly, again, thankfully.

Sadly, it's still not totally "safe" to stick your head up above the parapet and proclaim that you are "Neurospicy AF" without fear of some sidelong glances or worse. But at least people like me can find and talk to other people like me, celebrate our similarities and our differences, and share our stories.

More importantly, the people who are suffering from their own forms Neurodivergence can finally get some help to ease that suffering.