I stand in a unique space between worlds.

I have always been weird enough to never quite fit the mold of "normal," yet normal enough to never quite fit the typical diagnostic patterns of neurodivergent disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—The Holy Grail of Defining Different.

At 57, I am a hyperverbal, language abled, extemporaneous speaking, gestalt thinking, unconventionally high-achieving person with AUDHD – a combination of high functioning autism and ADHD that still lacks a formal diagnostic category. I have spent more than half a century trying to understand what all those words mean.

I don’t expect them to make sense to you. Not yet anyway.

My story intertwines with two others: my father, recovering from a stroke that caused a mild neurocognitive disorder (long misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's) and my niece Nora, whose physical brain structure formed differently due to a genetic condition. Like me, they navigate a world that wasn't quite built for the way their minds work. Their memories, knowledge, and feelings are fully present – they just express themselves in unexpected ways.

As I see myself reflected in my relationships with them, I am beginning to understand us all better.

And then there's Greg - the glue that holds us all together. My beloved husband of 15 years, uncle to Nora, son in law to Daddy. He's what you might call neurotypical, though I prefer to think of him as Nearly Normal - having his own unique kind of weirdness. He accepts each of us completely, adores us visibly, but doesn't always understand the way our mind works.

And that's okay – because while I've never much cared if the world understands me, I do want him to.

A Message From Mommy

Hanging on my wall is a cross-stitch my mother made in 1992. It reads: "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." These words capture the essence of why I write. They speak to the heart of human connection, to the challenge of bridging the gap between what we mean and what others hear.

This newsletter isn't about solving the puzzle of neurodiversity. It's about understanding Neurosparkle…the unique ways that different brains work and embracing what lights us up. About finding ways to normalize the beautiful variety of human cognition. About helping those who live in the spaces between – and those who love them – to recognize that different isn't wrong, it's just different.

Welcome to Neurosparkle, where we explore the art of being unabashedly ourselves. But more importantly a place for being seen, heard, and valued for what makes us unique.

What to Expect Going Forward

The Neurosparkle Newsletter is an ongoing exploration of what it means to exist in the in-between spaces—where neurodivergence shines brightly yet is so often misunderstood. Here’s what you can look forward to as we journey together:

1. Stories from the In-Between

I’ll be sharing stories and insights from my life in this “in-between” space—the unique challenges, the unexpected breakthroughs, and the paradoxes I navigate. Expect a blend of honesty, humor, and heart, as I pull back the curtain on what it feels like to experience the world as a Neurosparkler who’s too functional to be believed and yet too impacted to be understood.

These stories are written for Neurosparklers and the people who love us. It’s a place for anyone who’s ever felt out of sync with the world’s expectations and wondered if anyone else truly gets it. We’ll explore what it means to live in between—finding common ground and validation in experiences that rarely get talked about.

2. Get to No University: The Neurosparkler’s Survival Guide

I’ll share practical insights, tips, and coping strategies I’ve developed over the years—my own “survival guide” for living with Neurosparkle in a Neuronormie world. From managing the avalanche of mental load to navigating relationships, this guide is all about finding ways to work with our unique wiring, rather than against it.

Each tip is a piece of my personal Rabbit Hole Roadmap. This isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach, but rather tools to help you find what works for you or your loved ones. It’s about honoring our quirks, embracing our rhythms, and creating a life that doesn’t just accommodate, but celebrates, the Neurosparkle.

3. Building Bridges: How to Speak Across Differences

Articulating experiences that others can’t see or feel is a challenge that many of us face. In each issue, I’ll explore different ways to “bridge the gap” between Neurosparklers and the Neuronormies in our lives.

For those who support us—partners, friends, and family members—these insights can help deepen understanding and empathy. For those of us who live it, they serve as reminders that we’re not alone, and that it’s okay if our experiences don’t fit the expectations of either world.

4. Letters to Poopsie (and you!)

In each issue, I’ll include a message from my Mommy. The one person who truly saw who I was and created a world built around my STIQS (Strengths, Traits, Idiosyncrasies, Quirks, and Skills). The one person who I wish could read about what I’m learning, the questions I’m wrestling with, and the reminders I leave for myself as I move forward. She was the one person who truly saw me. Heard me. And valued me for who I truly am…not what I hoped I could become.

So much so that her voice rings in my ears as I navigate a world without her in it. My story would not be complete without her messages.

My hope is that these letters feel personal yet universal, a conversation that’s both intimate and open. They’re an invitation for you to reflect on your own journey, to find wisdom in the small insights that carry us from one day to the next.

5. A New Language for Neurosparkle

Over time, we’ll build a context library—a vocabulary that captures the nuances of living with a sparkling, neurodivergent mind. Concepts like “glitch switch,” “shutdown versus meltdown,” and “the credibility trap” give words to experiences that often go unnamed. These terms are part of the growing language of Neurosparkle, designed to help us talk about our experiences in ways that feel true.

Expect new phrases, metaphors, and frameworks that shed light on the complex landscape of the brain. By naming these experiences, we reclaim them, bringing clarity and connection to ourselves and those we love.

I will create hyperlinks to terms that are unfamiliar rather than trying to explain everything in the body of the newsletter. If something doesn’t make sense, let me know and I’ll try to define it.

6. Invitations to Reflect and Connect

This newsletter isn’t just a one-way communication—it’s an invitation to reflect, to question, and to connect with your own journey or the journey of those you care about. Each issue will include a gentle prompt or question to help you look inward or start a meaningful conversation with the people around you.

Whether you’re a Neurosparkler seeking to better understand yourself or a Neuronormie wanting to support someone you love, these reflections are a bridge to greater understanding and connection.

A Note About Perspective:

This newsletter explores my personal journey with what I call "Neurosparkle" - my specific experience of living in the space between neurotypical and traditionally defined neurodivergent. While I share insights from navigating this particular intersection, I want to be clear: this is my story, told through my lens.

I acknowledge that neurodivergence exists on a vast spectrum, with many experiencing significant challenges and barriers that my perspective doesn't address. This newsletter isn't meant to represent, define, or speak to the full range of neurodivergent experiences. Instead, it's one voice sharing stories from one journey, offered in the hope that those who recognize themselves in these specific in-between spaces might feel less alone.

If you're looking for resources or communities that address other neurodivergent experiences, particularly those involving more significant support needs or different challenges, I encourage you to seek out voices that better reflect your reality.

The Neurosparkle Newsletter is my way of saying, “This is me—and maybe, this is you too.”

I’m writing from a place of curiosity, vulnerability, and authenticity. I’m writing because the world needs more spaces where being in-between is not just accepted, but understood.

It is my intention that the Neurosparkle Newsletter will arrive in your inbox every Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm. I want this to be a place where my story serves as an invitation to tell your own.

So here’s to the journey ahead. To the days when the glitch switch gets tripped and the world feels overwhelming—and to the people who make the space for us to reset. To the unspoken and unrecognized, and to the moments when we let our true brilliance shine through.

Thank you for being here. Let’s explore this together, one insight, one story, one connection at a time.