As a newly self-realized neurodivergent person, I finally understand why I love making sparkly art. I have experienced a variety of stimming behaviors throughout my entire life. These behaviors help me focus--especially hair twirling. You'll see me do that for the entire span of a horror/thriller flick, as well as through stressful conversations, in or moments of deep thought.

Well, just like the physical stim of hair twirling, I am also magnetically drawn to visually sparkly objects. The more facets and colors of light, the better. When I was a kid, I stared at gold sequin-covered high heels, old costume jewelry (especially the jeweled pins), and an endless parade of sparkly Barbies and Lisa Frank stickers. When the little mermaid walked up to the shore in her sparkling blue gown, I wanted that dress SO BAD. And don't get me started on prisms in sunny windows!

All of this is to say, I finally know why I enjoy making my sparkly treasure art so much. When I look at sparkling things, it's like time slows down and my eyes just overflow with the bits of colorful light that are firing at them. I keep several of my most sparkly pieces at my desk, so I can look at them when I'm feeling distracted, unfocused, or overwhelmed. Go figure--it gives my brain a shot of dopamine and I'm all excited to focus again.

In essence, I create fidget art to satisfy visual stimming needs.

From what I understand so far, stimming behaviors are a way our bodies regulate stress, focus, and sensory overload. Everyone stims now and then -- like shaking a foot when you're anxious, for instance -- but neurodivergent people experience stimming on a more frequent (and sometimes detrimental) basis. There are many kinds of stims, from twirling hair or rocking, to mouth biting and verbal repetition. Stimming is not necessarily a bad thing. Often, it's to help one's self stay focused and in the moment. It can also be the reverse and help you to disconnect from the moment while you zone out and calm down. Stimming is especially present in individuals on the autism and ADHD spectrums.

I have never experienced a negative effect from visual stimming. Staring at sparkly stuff makes my eyes brighten, my focus sharpen, and it literally gives me a jolt of joy. During my workday, I will pick up and admire one of my art cards when I need to shift my focus between projects, when I'm feeling overwhelmed, or when I'm needing to increase my mental focus on anything that's draining my cognitive energy (like analyzing data, or writing a technical document).

I have to believe there are other visual stimmers out there, who enjoy staring at *sparkly stuff* as much as I do. If that's you, I warmly invite you to check out my MakerPlace Shop. Thanks!