I’m about to share more than I usually do, so if you’re not in the mood for raw honesty, now might be the time to stop reading. But I’m putting this out there because, deep down, I know how isolating it can feel to exist in a world designed for someone else. Watching others rise after being beaten down has always given me hope, and if I can be that voice for even one person, then it’s worth it.

Here’s the truth: when life kicks you down, it's those who somehow manage to stand back up that remind us we're never truly alone. After years of being knocked around, I think I've earned the right to share a few hard-won insights for anyone who might need them.

I’m on the spectrum. In the life and business I’ve built, my neurodivergence feels like a superpower. But out in the so-called “normal” world, where everything moves so fast, and the noise never seems to stop, that superpower fades. Instead, it feels like a vulnerability.

Last night, I was invited to speak at The Full Circle. It should have been an amazing opportunity—a chance to share my journey. But it turned into the perfect storm: bright lights, blaring music, overlapping conversations everywhere. My mind couldn’t filter it out. All I wanted was a moment of quiet, a space to breathe. On top of that, earlier that day, I’d received my fifth job rejection, and my son had called to say he’d hurt himself at school.

For someone like me, it’s like carrying a cup filled to the brim with water—one more drop, one more small pressure, and it overflows. But when it overflows, it shatters. And last night, that’s exactly what happened. I had to apologize and leave—a first for me. I’ve never walked out of a speaking engagement before. In the past, I’ve pushed through, even after hearing that someone I loved had died just moments before stepping on stage. I’m not a quitter. But I do know when it’s time to step away before I break.

After I left, I cried. At first, it was just the release of being overwhelmed. Then, it was the shame of feeling like I’d let people down. But the hardest tears came when I faced an uncomfortable truth. Through all these job applications, I hadn’t checked the “disability” box. In the world I’ve built for myself, I feel capable, strong. But last night forced me to confront something painful—in the world outside my own, I’m not always able. And that hit hard.

So now, here I am, reeling from rejections and this very public failure, wondering if finding a job is even possible. Maybe I can’t turn my business into a side project like I hoped. I still have to eat, and right now, I’m broke. And yeah, I’m feeling pretty worthless.

But I’m sharing this because I know I’m not alone in feeling locked out of “normal.” My advice? Don’t sink into despair (I am talking to myself here too). Create your own space, the one where you thrive. Turn something horrible into a positive. Last night was tough, but it taught me about my limits and how to navigate this world. Remember: resilience isn’t about never falling; it’s about rising again and again, embracing your journey, and finding strength in vulnerability. And listening to the lessons life teaches us. 

My inner voice is telling me - "It's time to wipe the tears and be your own hero". 


Lots of love,
Yvie xo