1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide? 2 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: Hosted by Tony Mantor broadcasting from the heart of Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. 3 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: Join us as our guests share their raw, powerful stories. 4 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: Some will spark laughter, others will move you to tears. 5 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: These real life journeys inspire, connect and remind you that 6 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: you're never alone. We're igniting a global movement to empower 7 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: everyone to make a lasting difference by fostering deep awareness 8 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: on wavering acceptance, and profound understanding of autism and mental health. 9 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: Tune in, be inspired, and join us in transforming the 10 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: world one story at a time. Hi, I'm Tony Mantura. 11 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: Welcome to Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide. 12 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: Joining us today is Sarah Hartley. She is the visionary 13 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: behind SLH Creative Group and a fierce advocate for the 14 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: neurodivergent community. She's an author, a storyteller, a guide, and 15 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 1: a champion for those whose minds dance to a different rhythm. 16 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: She channels her lived experience into books that are both 17 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: a rallying cry and a roadmap. She will give us 18 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: insight to her purposely me series, which is a collection 19 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: of engaging, heart centered, social emotional books for kids navigating anxiety, ADHD, dyslexia, 20 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: and other neurodiverse experiences. Whether she's coaching individuals, consulting with organizations, 21 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: or penning her next book, she hopes to inspire everyone 22 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: when it comes to living authentically and thriving on our 23 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: own terms. She has a great story to tell, So 24 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: before we dive into our episode, we'll be back with 25 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: an uninterrupted show right after a word from our sponsors. 26 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us today. 27 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: Well, thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to 28 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 2: be here. 29 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: Yes, my pleasure as well. If you would give us 30 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: a little information on what you're doing. 31 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 3: I'm Sarah Hartley. I'm a mom of two neurodivergent boys. 32 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 3: I'm a healthcare executive, and I've written fourteen now a 33 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 3: couple weeks ago it would have been thirteen, but fourteen 34 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 3: children's books centered around neurodiversity and difficult topics for children. 35 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 3: And I'm also an ADHD and neurodiversity certified coach. 36 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: That's really good. Let's start with the coaching side first. 37 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: What led you to get involved with coaching? 38 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 3: Honestly, it was my son's journey and everything that we 39 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,119 Speaker 3: have gone through to really understand his ADHD diagnosis. He's 40 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 3: now almost nine, and a lot of this started around 41 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 3: even eighteen months old, of where there were specific things 42 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 3: that we saw of where he might have needed some 43 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 3: early intervention, and so that really took me on a 44 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 3: journey of understanding my own ADHD a bit more and 45 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 3: really just wanting to be able to provide information to 46 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,639 Speaker 3: parents and children out there within my children's books so 47 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 3: that it becomes a more of that credible source and 48 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 3: have those true parenting strategies that will ultimately help for 49 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 3: us to calm ourselves, to help mirror that and calm 50 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 3: our children as well. And so within each of the 51 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 3: books that I've written in the back there are discussion questions, 52 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 3: there are different calming strategies used throughout, and so I 53 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 3: wanted to ensure that what I was articulating to those 54 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 3: that will read these that it was as accurate as possible, 55 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: because I am touching on very sensitive subjects. 56 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: You say you touch on some sensitive subjects, can you 57 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: expand on that? 58 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 2: One is around bullying, death, devor worse. 59 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 3: There's another given the appropriateness level of the age group, 60 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 3: it being more elementary school kids. There is one on 61 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 3: drills as well, and so I know that one really 62 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 3: hits close to home in Colorado. And you know, a 63 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 3: few weeks ago we had the shooting at Evergreen High School, 64 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 3: and so even just the anxiety that comes with children 65 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 3: doing fire drills and tornado drills and now active shooter drills, 66 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 3: there's a tremendous amount of anxiety from that. And so 67 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 3: other topics are anxiety, dyslexia, ADHD, autism, So it really 68 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 3: runs the full gamut of various things that can be 69 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 3: deuro diverse, but really are all centered around mental health. 70 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, those are all great topics. What kind of feedback 71 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: are you getting when you put something new like this out? 72 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: You never know what to expect. You can get positive, 73 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: you can get negative. You just never know what to expect. 74 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: So how's the feedback? I'm assuming it's good. 75 00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 3: So far, we've only shown these books to therapy ots 76 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 3: and different members of school organizations, so whether it's been 77 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 3: a principal or a social emotional coordinator, or teachers themselves 78 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 3: or teachers that are within the gifted program. To get 79 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 3: that feedback, that was really step one, even before I 80 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 3: was paired with an illustrator, so we've already run through 81 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 3: that process. The first book will actually launch in November, 82 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 3: and then we'll have one a month coming out after that, 83 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 3: so stay tuned. 84 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: They're coming very soon. But one of the. 85 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 3: Most critical pieces of feedback I received from actually a 86 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 3: therapist is she said, I see myself in this book, 87 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 3: but I see my daughter in the other book. And 88 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: so I think it's really important that while this is 89 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 3: directed for children, there's still this element of where an 90 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 3: adult can say, oh wow, I see myself there, and 91 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 3: then an adult can feel a little bit less alone 92 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 3: in their own brains as. 93 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: Well as I understand it. Then you have written this 94 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: mainly for children, even though adults may see themselves in it. 95 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: This has written is so children can focus on things 96 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: that may affect them. 97 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: Absolutely, So they are children's books. They're written in lyrical format. 98 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 3: The illustrations really bring to life the raw emotions of 99 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 3: the characters. It's a classroom of students, and so you're 100 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 3: hearing from a different child who's going to be shown 101 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 3: throughout the entire series, where they are integrated into each 102 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 3: other's lives. Given that there are specific neurodiversities that these 103 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 3: topics are touching on. I'm ensuring that the font is 104 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 3: open dyslexic font so that those who have dyslexia have 105 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 3: an easier time reading this. And while of course it's 106 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 3: centered around children, there is an element that I believe 107 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 3: there might be an older group that may find this 108 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 3: just as appealing. When I think about the ADHD brain, 109 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 3: it's not always the inability to focus, but sometimes determining 110 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,679 Speaker 3: what to focus on because there are so many things, 111 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 3: and so sometimes when it comes to self help books 112 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 3: or things that might not have as much of attention 113 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 3: grab to really fully get ingrained in the book, that 114 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 3: might be where an adult says, oh wow, this was 115 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 3: very digestible and yet very helpful, and the questions at 116 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 3: the end were very thought provoking and really allowed me 117 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 3: to take a step back and look at myself in 118 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 3: what really was causing maybe some of my triggers or 119 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 3: noticing some of those differences and really having that moment 120 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 3: of oh wow, that might be me. 121 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: That character sounds a lot like me. 122 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: So, you know, it's four children, but I think it 123 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 3: really can appeal to all ages. 124 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I can see why. You know, I have heard 125 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: so many stories of where a parent would take their 126 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: son or daughter to a doctor, eying to find answers 127 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: to their questions. When they started getting the answers to 128 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: their questions, then they started realizing, hey, I have the 129 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: same issues they are having. This could be me. So 130 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: with that said, are you getting the feedback that you 131 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: thought you might get from all this? 132 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 3: Some just elements of language that maybe modify this or 133 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 3: make sure there's a glossary of terms so that you're 134 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 3: able to truly resonate with all elementary students. My son, 135 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: my oldest son, and even my younger one as well. 136 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,559 Speaker 3: They're both highly gifted and so they're in the Gifted 137 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 3: and Talented program. Their vocabulary is much larger than say, 138 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 3: the average nine year old. 139 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: My oldest is actually eight, but he's. 140 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 3: In fourth grade. He started kindergarten at four years old. 141 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 3: He'll be nine actually in a few weeks. What he 142 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 3: understood and knew within the book, in the vocabulary I 143 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 3: initially was using, was maybe not as friendly or user 144 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 3: friendly for all children that are elementary school age. So 145 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 3: there was, you know, a bit of those revisions to 146 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 3: go back and say, Okay, I really need to think 147 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 3: about how this might land, and then would it be 148 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 3: beneficial to layer in some of those words. And so 149 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 3: my oldest son really was instrumental and one inspiring most 150 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 3: of these books. And also he's walked through all of 151 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 3: them with me as well and said, oh, Mom, I 152 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 3: think you should maybe change it to this, or I 153 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 3: don't think we're going to understand what that means. We're 154 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 3: going to need a definition for that one. But I 155 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 3: also want for parents to be able to walk through 156 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 3: it or a teacher and have that conversation that will 157 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 3: continue throughout the books. 158 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 2: So it gives a teaching moment as. 159 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 3: Well of oh maybe I'm not sure what ADHD means 160 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 3: or what is an intervention, you know, things like that 161 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 3: where you can really take a moment and pause and 162 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 3: have some of. 163 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 2: Those additional conversations with your children. 164 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: Well, sounds like all the comments you got were very constructive. 165 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: How long did this take you to put together? 166 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 2: It's taken quite some time. 167 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 3: It's been a labor of love, as it's not my 168 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 3: day job and so is definitely a passion project of mine. 169 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 2: It was probably in twenty twenty one that. 170 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: I had the first idea, and I was really at 171 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 3: a low point and breaking point. I had just been 172 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 3: diagnosed with lime disease. My oldest had just been diagnosed 173 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 3: with ADHD and sensory processing disorder and highly gifted. And 174 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 3: so with all that information, I was having that moment 175 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 3: in the shower of what is my purpose? Why am 176 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 3: I here? And that really sparked my creativity for the 177 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 3: first book, and then they grew a bit from there 178 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 3: and I'd put it down or maybe come back to it. 179 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 3: And it wasn't until last summer July of twenty four 180 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 3: that I was able to meet with a book coach, 181 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: and that really took it from seven books to really 182 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 3: developing this full theme and now what are going to 183 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 3: be fourteen books and making sure that all of those 184 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 3: elements really tie together, and also again having those readers 185 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 3: on the front end to help with that sensitivity aspect. 186 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 3: One thing I learned as well alluded to earlier around 187 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 3: autism and understanding that there can be a bit of 188 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 3: controversy of are you person first or are you diagnosis first? 189 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 3: And many people want to lead with person first. You know, 190 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 3: I am Sarah. I'm not leading by my diagnosis. So 191 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 3: that was something that we walked through and played around 192 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 3: with to decide, you know what direction we would go, 193 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 3: and we ultimately went with person first, so that you 194 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 3: know that ultimately autism is not finding who you are, 195 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 3: but it is a part of who you are, And 196 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: so that could be one later that might spark some 197 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 3: controversy or just spark some conversations which I think are 198 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 3: all healthy and don't know that everybody is in on 199 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 3: one side or the other. So I think that gives 200 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 3: a nice platform to just continue some of those conversations. 201 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, that makes perfect sense. Did this lead you to 202 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: create a group? I see on your website it says 203 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: SLH group. Is that you or do you have other 204 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: people that are involved in what you're doing? 205 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: I am primarily the group. 206 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 3: There are definitely other consultants that are coming in and 207 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:41,319 Speaker 3: giving those opinions. They are also giving quotes around what 208 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 3: they found informative within the books, what they found really powerful, 209 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 3: and so that will also be part of even the 210 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 3: front and back cover where you'll see some of those 211 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 3: quotes from certified professionals. But yes, you know, my hope 212 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 3: is to one day be able to expand this further 213 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 3: where there are more of these conversations happening, but a 214 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 3: lot of them in the school system and allowing four 215 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 3: children to ultimately feel less alone in what that diagnosis 216 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 3: that they have might be. So maybe they're paired with 217 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,479 Speaker 3: another child who has some similarities. 218 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 2: Maybe they both like legos but they. 219 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 3: Also have autism, or maybe you know, they both have 220 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 3: parents that have cancer. You know, there's a lot of 221 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 3: those hard topics that we do not touch on, and 222 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 3: when I was in school, I didn't have that kind 223 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 3: of support. I didn't know that I had ADHD until 224 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 3: I was twenty five years old, which is, apparently, as 225 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 3: I've learned more, an interesting time frame in life to 226 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 3: learn that most people, it's either when they're very young 227 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 3: or usually when they're you know, hitting their forties and 228 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 3: they've become moms, especially for women. And so for me, 229 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 3: I could have gone back to that child and said, 230 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 3: you know, hey, it's okay of why you're feeling this 231 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 3: different in your own brain, and this might be. 232 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: Why you just touched upon expansion. What are your goals, 233 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: let's say, over the next three to five years, to 234 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: build a bigger platform in order to help more people. 235 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 3: I ultimately would really love to have a full running 236 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 3: platform within the school system that allows for some maybe 237 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 3: it's virtual connection, but that we leverage the books for 238 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 3: a essentially curriculum and have used each one of those 239 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 3: almost You could even think of it like a book 240 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 3: club in essence, where you have these hard topics that 241 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 3: you're having conversations about. They read together the book as 242 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 3: a group, there's a counselor who is helping to guide them, 243 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 3: and then ultimately they have some sort of commonality that 244 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 3: allows for them to feel a little bit less alone. 245 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,959 Speaker 3: In my opinion, we have a mental health crisis. That's 246 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 3: what's happening within our schools, and I think there's a 247 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 3: lot that we have to do to ensure that our 248 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 3: children are not having any of those mental health capabilities 249 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 3: that are going to lead to gun violence later. You know, 250 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 3: I always have that moment of what was going on 251 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 3: that child's mind, Did they have support, did they have 252 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 3: some sort of neurodivergency or mental health thing that was 253 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 3: going on that we missed, And what could we have 254 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 3: done if that child had a friend and that friend said, hey, 255 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 3: I feel that way too, And then there's this moment 256 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 3: of connection and that somehow allows for us to no 257 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 3: longer have to worry. This morning, you know, I hugged 258 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 3: my child goodbye and it's not every day, but this 259 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 3: morning I had that moment of I'm going to make 260 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 3: sure this is a big hug and a good goodbye 261 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 3: because I don't know if something could happen in your 262 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 3: school today. 263 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a scary time, There's no doubt about that. 264 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: When you're dealing with serious mental illness, that's a whole, 265 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: complete different situation than ADHD, bipolar, or autism, even though 266 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: sometimes they all can overlap each other. So because of that, 267 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: it can fall under that mental health umbrella with the 268 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: mental illness. Okay, this is kind of a two part question. 269 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: When you say the school system, are you thinking local 270 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: schools or are you thinking maybe nationwide? The second part 271 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: of this question is are you concerned because you're touching 272 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: on subjects that could possibly be a little overwhelming for 273 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: some of them. The school system now sometimes have these 274 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: people that look at a book and if they don't 275 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: particularly like it, all of a sudden banned and it 276 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: might be just because it has ADHD or whatever word 277 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: that person may not like. Does that concern you at all? 278 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 2: Absolutely? 279 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 3: You know, I had moments throughout the entire last year 280 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 3: of pause thinking as I've heard of other books being 281 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 3: banned in other states and areas, and had this moment 282 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 3: of what I'm actually doing and all the time I'm 283 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 3: spending is that pointless? And so you know, that's where 284 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 3: my own self doubt creeps in and I have to 285 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 3: have that that. 286 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 2: I think my. 287 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 3: Book Coach really was wonderful and that reminder of you're 288 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 3: here for a reason, this is your purpose, and you 289 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 3: have to continue to get that message out. But I 290 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 3: would start locally being in Colorado. 291 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: It depends on the school. 292 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 3: But I am very fortunate that while we are in 293 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 3: Jefferson County Public schools, my children are going to what 294 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 3: I find to be one of the best schools in 295 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 3: the county. They have a Gifted a Talented program where 296 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 3: it's a school within a school, and so you know 297 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 3: whether it's their library, music, art, pe the classes are 298 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 3: all intermingled with general education and so there are many 299 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 3: kids there, of course, who have a lot of neurodiversity 300 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 3: with large gifted classes, and so they are very heavy social, 301 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 3: emotional based and they even follow this is a program 302 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 3: called Leader in Me. It's based on the seven habits 303 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 3: of highly effective people four children, and so they work 304 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 3: through those habits every month. There's a different one throughout 305 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 3: the year, and so it's something that there are specific 306 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 3: schools that this will resonate with, and that's a great 307 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 3: place to start. 308 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 2: I also think. 309 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,199 Speaker 3: After, you know, having a tragedy as we did with 310 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 3: Evergreen High School and in being the home of Columbine 311 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 3: as well, Colorado might look at this a bit differently 312 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,199 Speaker 3: and say, Okay, I see where this is going to 313 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 3: be powerful and what can eventually lead for those who 314 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 3: are neurodiverse or have ADHD or autism or since reprocessing disorder, 315 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,199 Speaker 3: all of that can lead to anxiety and depression in 316 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 3: their teen years, especially when the hormones begin. And so 317 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 3: if we can start earlier, as I felt like my 318 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 3: child benefited so much from early intervention, starting that at 319 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:36,360 Speaker 3: two and a half years old, and I had really 320 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 3: wished he had gotten into it sooner, I think the 321 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 3: earlier that we start with building that foundation that they're 322 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 3: accepted for all of their differences, that's going to grow 323 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 3: into something along the way. And so I imagine in certain 324 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 3: areas I will get pushed back. I think there's others 325 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 3: that will embrace it and eventually it will catch on. 326 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 2: Of course, my ultimate goal is for this to be national. 327 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: Going to be selling this book nationwide? Is it going 328 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: to be for anyone that would like to have it? 329 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 3: Absolutely so it will. It will be you know, direct 330 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 3: to consumer. There will also be an avenue for schools. 331 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 3: But you know, someone may only want to buy the 332 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 3: book on ADHD and they may not want the full set, 333 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 3: and because of that, you know, I want to make 334 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 3: that very flexible where there might be some group packagings 335 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 3: that make sense together of you know, now we have 336 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 3: ones that are around certain confidence or resilience that that 337 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 3: really paarwell together, and others that you could just buy. 338 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 2: A single book. 339 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 3: And I will also have an ebook available as well. 340 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 3: A few teacher friends have said, you know, with our students, 341 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 3: we like to put it up on their Mimeo boards 342 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 3: so that they're able to show it at a large 343 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 3: format so all the kids in the entire classroom can see. 344 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: Makes it a lot easier. 345 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 3: I've gone in and been a parent reader and done 346 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 3: the Mystery book reader with my son's class before, and 347 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 3: it is difficult because you have to aready kids crowded 348 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 3: around you, and they all want to see the illustrations 349 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 3: and they're fighting with each other. You need to sit 350 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 3: down or I want to sit in the front, and 351 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 3: so being able to have it on a large screen 352 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 3: in the classroom I think is going to be really important. 353 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 3: I've also noticed that my son will bring home a 354 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 3: few pages of a book and a lot of them 355 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 3: do have to do with differences, and they are social 356 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 3: emotionally heavy, and there's questions in the back, and then 357 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 3: for homework they'll have to bring that back in. So 358 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 3: that's where I could see this going long term as well. 359 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 3: It could be a handout that's sent home with children 360 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 3: and then they have to actually do some of those 361 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 3: discussion questions in the back. 362 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, great idea. Where will they be able to get it? 363 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 3: Right now, all of the information that I'm putting out 364 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 3: there for updates and calming strategies and my aligned parenting method, 365 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 3: all of that is found either on my website or Instagram. 366 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 3: It's Sarah Lewishartley dot com s A R A L 367 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 3: E w I s h A R T l e y, 368 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 3: and then at Sarah Lewis Hartley as my Instagram handle. 369 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: That's good for them to know. Now you see it 370 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: eventually getting to Amazon and other bookstores around the country. 371 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 3: Yes, potentially, I've learned a lot about Amazon and how 372 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 3: that works, so it's an interesting animal. But yes, absolutely, 373 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 3: we will make it as easily accessible as possible. 374 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: Of course, they can get it from your website, which 375 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 1: is actually a more direct path anyways. 376 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 3: Absolutely, and that's what we're working through right now, the 377 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 3: logistics around being able to take everything from print to 378 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 3: the direct to consumer and get that out there for everyone. 379 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's great. Now, what would you like to tell 380 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: our listeners that you think is very important that they 381 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 1: know about what you're doing and your plans for the future. 382 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 3: There are two things that I really love for listeners 383 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 3: to grasp onto. The first is a philosophy that I've 384 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 3: developed around echo parenting, And you said it yourself earlier 385 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 3: when you mentioned a lot of parents will understand that 386 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 3: they might have ADHD or autism after their child has 387 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 3: been diagnosed. So echoparenting is really understanding and learning that 388 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 3: you're on this parallel journey with your child and you're 389 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 3: really learning alongside of them, and their behaviors are really 390 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 3: a reflection of what you may need to heal with 391 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 3: your inner child. And I think the hardest part about 392 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 3: having a child who's neurodivergent is being neurodivergent yourself and 393 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:21,479 Speaker 3: trying to maintain that calm presence, because what I've learned 394 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 3: is when your child is melting down, you have to 395 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 3: also stay calm, and if you're not calm, it's going 396 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 3: to exacerbate what's happening with your child and they may 397 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 3: explode further. And so the aligned parenting method that I've 398 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 3: developed is really a way to walk through and understand 399 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 3: that awareness within your body, figure out and label what 400 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 3: those emotions are that you're having, then identify the triggers 401 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 3: what's causing that. There's always that root cause, whether that 402 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 3: is you're hungry, or maybe you've had a long day, 403 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 3: or it's hot outside or it's crowded, you're overwhelmed with 404 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 3: sensory overload, and then you use and leverage a grounding 405 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 3: technique that works for you. And lastly, whether you're doing 406 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 3: this alongside your child, just doing it for yourself to 407 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 3: calm down, there's a big element of nurturing where you 408 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 3: can allow yourself grace and say it's okay, you know 409 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 3: I'm feeling overwhelmed and give yourself compassion, or you do 410 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 3: the same with your child and you really try to 411 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 3: empathize with them becoming curious and empathy when those things happen, 412 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 3: you're not able to be angry at the same time. 413 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. Great points. Now you mentioned you went into the 414 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: schools and did some reading. I'm assuming you read one 415 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: of your books. 416 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 2: I did. 417 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: What was their reaction? First, what did you pick to read? 418 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: And second how did they respond to it? 419 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 3: The first one I picked was Purposefully Calm. It's the 420 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,119 Speaker 3: Purposefully Me series, so all titles will be purposefully brave, 421 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 3: purposefully resilient. I chose purposefully Calm. I wanted to do 422 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 3: purposefully Brave, but that one, the character looks a lot 423 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 3: like my son, and he was the one that pushed 424 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 3: back and said, you know, Mom, they're gonna know that's me. 425 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 2: I don't want to do that one. I said, okay, buddy, 426 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 2: I totally get that. 427 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 3: So Purposefully Calm is a lot about sensory processing disorder. 428 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 2: But I read this too. It was last year for 429 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 2: third grade. It was the third grade gifted class, so. 430 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 3: They have a lot of those overwhelming sensory things that 431 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 3: come into play. And so that one was about managing 432 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 3: your anger, and they had there was a you know, 433 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 3: centralized conflict. 434 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 2: This try to understand of what the purpose was and. 435 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 3: Then that went into the conflict resolution and actually went 436 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 3: and showed different calumning strategies that they could do, and 437 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 3: so they were all very receptive to it. I was 438 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 3: hoping there were some that I know that hand run hot. 439 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 3: You know, there are always kids who we all know, 440 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 3: those kids that we were in class with that maybe 441 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 3: run hot a bit, and so you know, that's where 442 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 3: I wanted for them to really have that moment of Okay, 443 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 3: this resonates with me. And so I didn't have a 444 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 3: lot of time to stay and get the feedback, but 445 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 3: I did speak with my son afterwards, and he said 446 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 3: that he really enjoyed the book and he felt like 447 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 3: everyone else in the class did as well well. And 448 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 3: I've talked to a few of his friends since and 449 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 3: they said that it resonated with them. 450 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 2: Good. 451 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: You mentioned you're a healthcare executive. What does that entail? 452 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 3: I am in healthcare marketing and technology, so I work 453 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 3: with health systems and help patients find the right doctor 454 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 3: and right care. I do work with many psychiatrists, companies 455 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 3: and psychologists. 456 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 1: So my question to you, and this is why I asked, 457 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: what you do when you do your job and you're 458 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: dealing with psychologists, doctors, etc. You can get their perspectives 459 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: on things. You've written a series of books that gives 460 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: your perspective on neurodiversity and the way that others might 461 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 1: see it. So with all the professionals that you've talked with, 462 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: then you start talking with the kids getting their perspective 463 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: on things. So my question is what have you learned 464 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: out of this whole process? 465 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 2: Oh, there's so much. All of it is a very 466 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,200 Speaker 2: difficult process. If you think, oh, I'm going to write 467 00:24:58,200 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 2: a book. 468 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 3: It is especially children's but being the illustrations that is 469 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 3: a different layer that's added in it can be tough. 470 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 3: And then being able to find those individuals who can 471 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 3: help lend that credibility and having them truly understand and 472 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 3: buy in. And one of the therapists who's read these 473 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 3: specializes in neurodiversity, so you know, holds a lot of 474 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 3: credit there of helping and understanding you know, will this 475 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 3: be something that resonates? And so I think it's just 476 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 3: important that you know whatever it is you're doing that 477 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 3: is not your expertise. 478 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 2: It's maybe for me. 479 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 3: It was driven by my own emotions, my own healing process. 480 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 3: It was very cathartic for me to write I am 481 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 3: in most of these books, especially the one about ADHD 482 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 3: what this child is feeling, and that was me. So 483 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 3: you know what I'm sharing. It's more about deep emotions 484 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 3: and how you truly are feeling being trapped in that 485 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 3: neurodiverse mind, but also showing that it's not a curse. 486 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 3: It is this beautiful thing where you have so many 487 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 3: strengths that sometimes it just gets overcrowded or people are 488 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 3: focusing more on what you need to work on versus 489 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 3: really highlighting what you do so well. And so that's 490 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 3: where you know a lot of it. It's not two 491 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 3: in the weeds are technical into the diagnosis, but there's 492 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,159 Speaker 3: these moments of understanding of these might be some quirks 493 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 3: or characteristics of someone who has ADHD or autism. And 494 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 3: so it's hopefully something that will resonate a lot, but 495 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 3: learned a lot along the way of you know, I 496 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:37,880 Speaker 3: hopefully thought, oh, I'm just this is my creative outlet, 497 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 3: not realizing the full business portion that's behind all of it. 498 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 1: Yes, Unfortunately the business side can take a lot of 499 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: joy out of the project. During this you mentioned emotions 500 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:53,919 Speaker 1: while writing this, A lot of memories went into it, 501 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: memories of your son, of course, memories of your life. 502 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: So my question to you is how did your emotions 503 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: run during this whole process. 504 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 2: It was eye opening for me. 505 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 3: I do find while it brings and bubbles up emotions 506 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 3: to the surface, it's also very healing at the same time. 507 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 3: And another element of this that I didn't know would 508 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 3: be part of writing a book was developing an author 509 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 3: platform and putting all of that out onto social media. 510 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 3: And there's a moment of where I had to get 511 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 3: over what other people might think and always ground myself 512 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 3: back in this is my mission, this is my purpose, 513 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 3: and I'm here to help someone. And even through social media, 514 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 3: from the people that have responded or reached out and 515 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 3: said that that really helped them and they saw themselves 516 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,919 Speaker 3: and whatever it was that I was discussing, that to me, 517 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 3: if it doesn't do anything else, you know, I've at 518 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 3: least helped, you know, some people, And so I think 519 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 3: that's my ultimate goal of what I have to go 520 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:59,120 Speaker 3: back to and know that because I'm continuing to talk 521 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,360 Speaker 3: about it, it's helping me in my own healing process. 522 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 3: So if I would have just written the books, I 523 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 3: maybe wouldn't have had this continuation of talking about it 524 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 3: basically every day as I'm posting things and I'm having 525 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:15,399 Speaker 3: conversations and just being very authentic and open and honest 526 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 3: about my own experience. And that's the only thing that 527 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 3: I know is my experience, and I know the experience 528 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 3: I've had alongside my children. You know, I don't really 529 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 3: know other peoples and how they felt in those moments. 530 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 3: But I'm hoping that the depth of the connection that 531 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:31,879 Speaker 3: I'm sharing will resonate with someone. 532 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. Good, and I believe that it will resonate. This 533 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: has been great, great conversation, great information. I really appreciate 534 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: you taking the time to join us today. 535 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 2: Well, thank you so much for having me. 536 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: Oh It's been my pleasure. Thanks again. Thanks for taking 537 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: time out of your busy schedule to listen to our 538 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:00,719 Speaker 1: show today. We hope you enjoyed it as much as 539 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 1: we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know someone 540 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: who has a story to share, tell them to contact 541 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: us at why notmt World. One last thing, spread the 542 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: word about why Not me, our conversations, our inspiring guests 543 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: that show you are not alone in this world.