Hi there! My name is Kourtni and I’m a queer and disabled 29-year-old living in the northeast US with my blue heeler, Emmett (pictured left) and my boyfriend. If you caught that, yes my blog is named after my dog and I (sorry, boyfriend).
I spent most of my life feeling out of place and I could never quite pinpoint why. No matter how hard I tried to be “normal,” it didn’t seem to work. There was always something a little off and despite my best efforts to mask it, others could always tell.
Just before my 29th birthday, I found out that I’m AuDHD – Autistic and ADHD. Talk about life changing! Suddenly that out-of-place feeling I had always experienced actually made sense. Things that I used to view as character flaws and beat myself up over – like my constant procrastination and “laziness” – had a much better explanation. My brain works differently and I was trying to make it work in a way it never would.
It’s been a big adjustment, but this new information has been a really positive change for my self-esteem. For the first time in my life, I have truly felt like it’s ok to be myself. I no longer feel obligated to try to hide my quirkiness in order to fit in. I finally free to embrace all the things about myself that I tried to hide out of fear that people would think I’m weird.
I know I’m far from the only person out there who is discovering their neurodivergence late in life. I wanted to connect with other neurodivergent people because us having a community where we can all be ourselves is so important and, quite frankly, necessary for our mental well-being! Many of you are probably in the same situation as me – finally wanting to let go of neurotypical expectations and embrace your true selves.
Here on the blog, I share things about being neurodivergent and about my creative pursuits, mainly crochet. Leaning into my AuDHD brain has meant exploring more of my creativity and sharing that creativity with others. I talk about my journey learning about my neurodivergence and share things with you that I hope can help you on your own.
Alongside the blog, I also have an Etsy shop. I’m still in the process of getting things listed, but my goal is to make and sell items that are as unique, quirky, and fun as we are. There will of course be plenty of crochet items, but there will also be other fun things like pins, bookmarks, and more.
My goal with all of this is to share my journey and help you find things that will create more joy in your life. I want you to be able to embrace your quirkiness and build a life that fits your unique qualities rather than continue trying to mold yourself to fit a neurotypical life. If any of this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, I’m so glad you’re here! Welcome to the quirky crew.
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