You know that lovely poem, “The Road Not Taken?” It describes the life-altering decision to take the less conventional path.

I can’t quite relate to this concept because my particular journey seems to be composed of an unusually high number of adverse land conditions and proverbial quicksand. Instead of two diverging paths from which to choose, I tend to see an infinite number of possibilities and then develop decision paralysis over what to do next. Life is never so simple as to make a choice one time and count that as THE defining moment that makes all the difference (with all due respect to Robert Frost). We build our lives one choice, one moment at a time. This gives me comfort because the best we can do is make a course correction and keep moving forward.

I come from a spellbinding time called the 1970s. I’m the age that kid me thought was super-old, but that adult me accepts for what it is. When I was growing up, we were basically classified as “normal” or “weird.” I was definitely in the weird category. I was forever doing and saying the wrong things, had unusual sensitivities and interests, and generally experienced difficulty interacting appropriately with others. At that time, there just weren’t many doctors diagnosing or treating neurobehavioral outliers like me. They were still busy telling people to smoke cigarettes to prevent asthma (spoiler alert: that was not good medical advice).

It wasn’t until my son was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Asperger’s Syndrome (which at that time was defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition or DSM IV) that a doctor took one look at me and said, “Ma’am, you know this is genetic, right?” It took me some time to figure out exactly what that exchange meant, but as I learned more about my son and his needs, the more I came to understand that my “weirdness” was something I could explain and finally begin to understand.

I started by seeing a psychiatrist who essentially gave me an A+++ on the ADHD test. I have since seen various therapists and coaches over the past two decades (at times more consistently than others) who have helped me understand and navigate the complexities of being an adult on the Autism spectrum. While a formal autism diagnosis was not a priority for me, I have been blessed to have been able to access a variety of mental health professionals over the years who have guided me to find the balance between the life I had been living, masking the real me because society expected me to (which is exhausting), and accepting the fact that my authentic self is good enough, even when others don’t understand. It’s a challenging line to walk. I have to be able to effectively interact with neurotypical individuals to be considered a productive member of society and earn a living, but I also deserve to be proud of my own unique talents, abilities, and skills.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from a therapist was to be a worker at work and stop bringing it home with me (easier said than done but I’m getting there). At home where my people know, love, accept, and appreciate me most, I should do the things that bring me joy in whatever way this manifests itself. This may seem obvious to some, but if you were trained to be a good Capitalist worker with a strong work ethic, to put others first at all times, and/or have had poor boundaries with employers, it can feel next to impossible to create a healthy work/life balance. So I gathered my craft supplies. It was time to get some of that joy and dream some big dreams!

I have been a crafter and tech nerd for as long as I can remember. I always said I had many talents, none of which earned me money! Sad, but true. I love learning new things, but I could never put together a cohesive plan for a business. Until I decided to make digital stickers to sell, that is. It seemed like a small step, but I went for it! Before I knew it, I had learned how to create a digital planner, and here we are! This would not have been possible if it hadn’t been for the amazingly supportive Michelle Rohr and the Secret O.W.L. Society.

This collective led me step-by-step to where I wanted to be. If it’s time for you to make your leap and see what roads can open for you, do yourself a favor and get to know my affiliate partner, Michelle, for yourself at the Passive Income Planner Girl Course. This course was exactly what I needed because it forced me to pace myself and learn at a rate that was right for me. I can still revisit this course anytime I forget how I did a particular thing or if I just want to feel inspired and remember that I am already enough. I can’t overstate the profound relief I experienced when I read this line from Michelle’s philosophy: “Being WHO YOU REALLY ARE is always going to be more powerful than how many boxes you check off.”

Some days are more productive than others, but the personal transformation that takes place when you are taught to honor your desires, your personality, and your joy in the journey (Michelle’s words, of course) is undeniable.

• • You already know what to do.
  • You already have what it takes.
  • You are a freaking genius.

This community helped me see all this (and more!) and showed me how to put it all together. It’s all true. You just have to find the right vehicle to get you there. This was my vehicle. If it sounds like this could be yours, too, click the green button below to visit Michelle’s course page to learn more.

All my warmest wishes,

-Beth

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We can’t wait to cheer you on as you create YOUR path for achieving your dreams.