Neurodivergent

Neurodivergent.

I had to look up what it means. I read about it on the Fediverse quite a lot, so I had to know.

According to the Cleveland Clinic (version of 2024-01-31 YYYY-MM-DD):

Neurodivergent is a nonmedical term that describes people whose brains develop or work differently for some reason. This means the person has different strengths and struggles from people whose brains develop or work more typically. While some people who are neurodivergent have medical conditions, it also happens to people where a medical condition or diagnosis hasn’t been identified.

This doesn't mean it's lethal, or about people who don't function normally. Some really can't, but it's often simply having brain that's "wired differently".

"a medical condition or diagnosis hasn’t been identified" doesn't mean there is a condition that's not been identified yet. There may simply not be such a condition. We're just different, which is the whole can of beans. Most people are scared of anything or anyone who's different.

Why this interest?

Over time I came to realise my brain isn't wired the same as most people.

* Worrying.

I hardly do it. Perhaps that makes me more a stoic (I like to think I am one) than neurodivergent, but I hardly ever stress out or freak out.

If I do stress out, it's usually after the fact, once things are done and fixed. Most of the time, I don't do that, because it's useless and a waste of energy.

* Seeing options others don't.

Most striking example is something a former manager once told me: "You have a special talent of looking at problems sideways. You see options and solutions no one else does. Cherish that talent."

Or when someone says: "How on earth did you see / think of that?" and my reaction is: "Why didn't you?"

It's my experience that many people don't like "my kind" of people. We all should struggle the same way. Fight the same problems for just as long. Often you're not good company if you point out a flaw, or see a shortcut, or look at something for a minute and hand a solution over something four people have been puzzling for a few days.

It hurts to feel that. I tried to stop myself from 'being like that', but I can't. This is who I am. Who we are. The neurodivergents.

Those who are different without wearing purple overalls to warn you about that.