Practical Sanctuary

I wrote this true story, then realized it was a poem.







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I wrote this true story, then realized it was a poem. #sensoryinteriordesign #nervoussystemregulation #highlysensitiveperson #neurodivergentdesign #traumainformeddesign #holisticinteriors #designforwellbeing

The biggest design mistake people make in their spaces is neglecting to fix the 'trivial' problems. The extension cord that poses a trip hazard so obvious that you will DEFINITELY avoid it. The pile of used tissues and unopened junk mail next to your desk. The burnt out light bulb. The picture you haven't gotten around to hanging.

There's a reason you're avoiding easy tasks, which has nothing to do with how much energy they'll take to handle. It's not laziness. It's shame.

That shame is not yours to carry. It was handed to you by a culture that benefits from weighing you down and keeping you quiet.

Give it back.







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The biggest design mistake people make in their spaces is neglecting to fix the 'trivial' problems. The extension cord that poses a trip hazard so obvious that you will DEFINITELY avoid it. The pile of used tissues and unopened junk mail next to your desk. The burnt out light bulb. The picture you haven't gotten around to hanging. There's a reason you're avoiding easy tasks, which has nothing to do with how much energy they'll take to handle. It's not laziness. It's shame. That shame is not yours to carry. It was handed to you by a culture that benefits from weighing you down and keeping you quiet. Give it back. . . . . #youarenotbroken #sensitiveandsmart #burnoutrecovery #selftrustjourney #neurodivergentlife #emotionalregulation #gentleliving

What's that appalling sound? Either the cat is challenging a vicious rival, or a neighbor is operating a buzz saw in twelve degree weather.

I can't focus until it stops.

I open the door to chastise the cat. It's not the cat.

How long can this buzz saw keep going? Why this? Why now? How do I make it stop??

The cloud loses my file during a system reboot. Panic.

I'm at a crossroads. My day could go one of two ways.

Option 1: Distraction. Open my phone. Scroll to mute the anxiety. Look up five hours later. Realize the day is over. Go to bed despising myself for laziness, sensitivity, and existential despair.

Not today, Satan.

Option 2: Regulation. Spend ten minutes doing dishes. Five minutes mopping rock salt footprints off the living room floor. Let the cat in. Change playlist from "Cold Weather Jazz" to "Zen Meditation." P*e.

Buzz saw: intermittent.

Peace and creativity: restored.







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What's that appalling sound? Either the cat is challenging a vicious rival, or a neighbor is operating a buzz saw in twelve degree weather. I can't focus until it stops. I open the door to chastise the cat. It's not the cat. How long can this buzz saw keep going? Why this? Why now? How do I make it stop?? The cloud loses my file during a system reboot. Panic. I'm at a crossroads. My day could go one of two ways. Option 1: Distraction. Open my phone. Scroll to mute the anxiety. Look up five hours later. Realize the day is over. Go to bed despising myself for laziness, sensitivity, and existential despair. Not today, Satan. Option 2: Regulation. Spend ten minutes doing dishes. Five minutes mopping rock salt footprints off the living room floor. Let the cat in. Change playlist from "Cold Weather Jazz" to "Zen Meditation." P*e. Buzz saw: intermittent. Peace and creativity: restored. #sensoryinteriordesign #nervoussystemregulation #highlysensitiveperson #neurodivergentdesign #traumainformeddesign #holisticinteriors #designforwellbeing

The font used here is called Lexend. It's designed to be more easily legible to neurodivergent and dyslexic people.

Over the next few weeks I'm trying an experiment. I fed the manuscript of my book, The Eccentric Genius Habitat Intervention, into ChatGPT and asked it to break it down into social media posts. I'm curious to see how it comes across.

My usual style is pretty baroque and elliptical. This is both a lot of fun, and not necessarily...necessary.

Healing isn't easy, but it can be simple.







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The font used here is called Lexend. It's designed to be more easily legible to neurodivergent and dyslexic people. Over the next few weeks I'm trying an experiment. I fed the manuscript of my book, The Eccentric Genius Habitat Intervention, into ChatGPT and asked it to break it down into social media posts. I'm curious to see how it comes across. My usual style is pretty baroque and elliptical. This is both a lot of fun, and not necessarily...necessary. Healing isn't easy, but it can be simple. #sensoryinteriordesign #nervoussystemregulation #highlysensitiveperson #neurodivergentdesign #traumainformeddesign #holisticinteriors #designforwellbeing