Hello, I’m Becca

So who am I? Like all of us, lots of things I guess — a xennial (Those of us with ‘both a healthy portion of Gen X grunge cynicism, and a dash of the unbridled optimism of Millennials’ according to Anna Garvey.) living in a 500 year old pink cottage on the border of Suffolk and Norfolk in the UK.

A Gemini, although with a Moon in Aries which helps a bit I think. A Generator (Human Design), an INFP (Meyers Briggs) and a Rebel (Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies). Can you tell I love a personality test.

In other words I’m an optimist (Gemini) but with a hefty dose of cynicism (Aries). Someone who really should trust their gut more often, but who struggles not to get led astray by their hyperactive mind. Very much an Introvert who doesn’t like to be told what to do. But one that likes hanging out with other people… as long as we’re on the same wavelength. No small talk to be had here thank-you very much.

I’m also, like many of my fellow creatives it seems, neuro-diverse. In 2021 at the grand old age of 41 an ADHD diagnosis gave me a lifetime of validation for my scattered mind.

Looking back, the fact that I have ADHD has been kind of obvious for a long time. I mean, not revising for your GCSE’s — well, apart from Chemistry which got a bit of revision the lunch time before because, well because Chemistry… that stuff is hard. Writing the vast majority of your dissertation the day before it's due in. Changing jobs approximately every year and a half, because they seemingly became too boring overnight. 

I put all these things down to there being something wrong with me. The idea that perhaps there was something different about my brain never crossed my mind. That is until social media and other neuro-diverse creators put ADHD firmly on my radar.

My diagnosis gave me an explanation for my winding path of creativity. A childhood spent lost in reading, making and all things imagination quickly took a turn for the worse during secondary school. A C grade in GCSE art (my lowest mark due to running out of time during the exam… hello time blindness) and a school that wouldn’t let me do both A level art and Theatre studies meant that Art and much of my creative aspiration got abandoned at 16. Fast-forward a few years — a job in a stockbrokers, a history degree, a fashion buying career and two children later I found myself somewhat lost. Longing for a creative purpose but minus the confidence to make it happen.

So now, armed with my diagnosis and a whole lot more self awareness I am on a mission to figure out how I can work with my neuro-diverse brain rather than have it work against me. And maybe, just maybe, figure out how to get shit done.

These letters are to myself as much as they are to you. An effort to untangle my overactive brain. To share what I’m up to and what’s helping me move forward. To prove to myself that it’s not about showing up perfectly. It’s just about showing up, learning, and then showing up again and again.

Thank-you for being here.

You can find me on Instagram here and my website here.

You can expect The Cherry Post every Friday. This letter will always be free. Just as my journey to self awareness and ADHD diagnosis came from other creators sharing their own struggles it’s important to me to be able to share mine and hope that it may help someone else. Thats said, if you have the means to support me and are enjoying what you read here then you can become a paid subscriber for just £3.50 a month. About the price of a coffee.