Divergent Neuros

What Does Neurodivergent Really Mean?
Neurodivergent is a term we hear a lot more in today’s world, and it’s messy! A lot of people just don’t accept that neurodivergence is even a thing. It is a thing, and people that can’t accept that are just stuck in the divergence of their neuros. What does it really mean? In simple terms? It means that we all feel things a little different from each other. For example, a person with social anxiety may see things in the world as a threat that others are fine with. People have reasons for their divergence.

The Roots of Divergence
A person may develop sensitivities in life due to some events or periods of time when things happened. It could be that a person’s parents were generous to a fault with them as they grew up, leaving them ill-prepared to earn their own worth in a world that will demand it of them. Or, a person might have grown up, hit a lot by a parent, leading them down some path or another; maybe they grow up to be the adult bully and bad cop, or a person that makes a life defending those that can’t defend themselves.

My Experience with Neurodivergence
I am also neurodivergent! Yes, I am. I recognize how different I am from many of the different groups. Things that I was exposed to in childhood left me ill-prepared to ‘fit in’ with a lot of normal and polite society; some of you get it, you also had weird parents.

In my case, it left me disabled and not really capable of meeting the challenges that many people master with ease. How about you, or some of the people you know? Does one of your parents or siblings struggle with life? Don’t judge them too harshly, please. No one really wants to be a failure, a loser, or a disappointment.

Neurodivergence in Everyday Life
People that are successful in life can be neurodivergent too. Like, in one example I used, a child growing up hit a lot by a parent or sibling could grow up to be a powerful advocate that helps many people, earning admiration and gratitude.

Famous Faces of Neurodivergence
Neurodivergence exists across all walks of life, even among the famous and influential. Think of figures like Keanu Reeves, celebrated for his kindness and introspection, or leaders like Biden, Kamala, and yes, even Trump—each with their own quirks, strengths, and challenges. Neurodivergence isn’t about labels; it’s about understanding how unique wiring shapes who we are. How about you? What makes you unique?

A Universal Truth
“We are more alike than we are different.” That is one of those inspirational comments that I saw on a wall where I had a job for a short while. I weep at the beauty, truth, and value of that statement every time I meditate on it, like now.

Shared Human Experiences
Not everyone accepts that we are, in fact, similar, just like with the idea of neurodivergence. Try this: imagine you are the fish, and you went after a yummy snack only to be some human’s dinner. Now, imagine you are lonely, and you met a person ‘online’ only to be ‘catfished.’ Now, put yourself in the shoes of a senior on a fixed income looking to earn a little money on the side, they reply to an advertisement and… well, you know how scams work, right?

It’s not all dark and ugly like above. Watch a YouTube video of a rescued animal bonding with its human rescuer! Or how you might feel if you met that soulmate. You know how I feel when I get a little work I can manage?

In both types of scenarios, are we not similar? Would we not be horrified, saddened, or otherwise distraught at some imagined scenarios? Or, would most of us feel gratitude, joy, or a renewed sense of hope when we find ourselves in a positive outcome?

Conclusion
We’re unique. We’re similar. The world thrives when we embrace both truths.