Another one opens.
If you read my last blog post, you will recall that it summarized the four key themes from my first podcast tour. Although not planned as such, it was in effect the final interview in the series.
So now that series is in the books, or to be more accurate—online, what next?
Happily, another door has opened: my second podcast tour, which is now well under way.
And even better, thanks primarily to Joe Dimino, a great podcast host, the first interview set the tone for the overall theme of my second tour.
Totally unscripted, we chatted about various forms of neurodiversity, sharing stories of how different categories manifest themselves in practice.
By way of transparency, like 20-30 % of the population, I am a highly sensitive person.
This personality trait is characterized by heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli, emotions, and social cues. Also known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is not a disorder but a normal variation in how the brain processes information.
As HSPs, we tend to experience the world more intensely and be easily overwhelmed by strong emotions or sensory input.
And speaking of experience, with a son who is on the ADD spectrum, Joe has 20 years’ worth of experience with a family member dealing with his own bundle of neurodiversity challenges.
Optimist that I am, it was great to discuss how neurodiversity traits and attributes might be considered special talents and how these gifts can be applied to achieve positive outcomes.
In the past, many of these factors were seen as symptoms of problems to be solved. Now, most likely the result of increased awareness, neurodiversity abilities are frequently considered simply as part of who we are as unique individuals, much like the colour of our hair and eyes.
As someone who knows only too well the frustration of being overwhelmed by one or more aspects of life, I have learned the value of quiet space and inner peace. So has Joe’s son.
How much better would our lives be if those loud and noisy, non-stop talkers around us learned the value of space and peace as consciously practised by those neurodivergent individuals among us?
I especially enjoyed our discussion of a possible connection between today’s crazy, busy world and the increased incidence of neurodiversity-triggered challenges.
Neither Joe nor I have the requisite credentials to be considered experts. However, based on our individual experience, agreed that the incidence of neurodiversity is increasing at about the rate as our world becoming more wacky and hectic.
But the good news is that by considering individual neurodiversity attributes as the potential gifts and talents that they represent, imagine the positive difference that we can make in today’s unpredictable, zany world.