As a child, I wished to exchange my brain for someone else’s. Growing up, I felt misunderstood and lonely. If only I could have received my confirmation of neurodivergence when I was a child, perhaps I could have been spared some trauma and emotional pain.

Now, as a late-discovered (and diagnosed) Autistic ADHDer, everything is finally making more sense, and I’m rediscovering and loving myself. I spent many years figuring out “what’s wrong with me,” only to discover nothing was “wrong with me.” I’m just not neurotypical (that is, I’m neurodivergent). Not better, not worse—just different.

My Substack writing and all my work related to Courage To Love Yourself is intended to re-write and share my story and help others better understand and accept themselves. I hope you learn to love and accept yourself to live a healthy, happy, and joy-filled life.