Aged 7 at Pompeii in 1970

Discovering that I’m autistic as well as ADHD and 2eGifted has been like finding that long-lost puzzle piece that finally completes the picture of who I am. For more than 60 years, I’ve carried an unshakable sense that something was missing—like I was navigating life without the full manual.
The best way I can describe it is this: it’s like suddenly realising the reason I could never “run on Windows” was because I’m actually a Mac. I was built differently, but beautifully, and that difference was never the flaw I believed it to be.
This discovery hasn’t erased the struggles, but it has changed how I see them. I look back at the child I once was—the misunderstood little girl who tried so hard to fit in, who believed she had to be like everyone else—and my heart aches for her. She carried the weight of feeling “wrong” for so long. Today, I want her to know: you have been heard.
We are free now. Free to just be. Free to embrace the wonderful, unique person we were always meant to be.
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without scars. Along the way, I’ve gathered CPTSD, Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS and anxiety. These challenges are part of my story, but they no longer define it. I’ve adapted, learned, surrendered, and risen again, time and time over the decades.
This late diagnosis doesn’t make those years wasted. It gives them meaning. It allows me to honour my younger self for surviving in a world that never fully understood her. Now, together, we can move forward—healing, thriving, and living authentically as the person we were born to be.

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Navigating life as an AuDHD artist can feel like a dance between two contrasting worlds, each demanding its own rhythm and attention. Much of this I am only just learning to understand myself.  At the heart of this journey lies a complex interplay of traits: autism’s need for structure, routine, and deep analysis, and ADHD’s thirst for novelty, spontaneity, and the struggle to form lasting habits. 

For instance, my autistic brain finds peace in predictability, needing things organised in a certain way to feel secure. Each morning begins with the same familiar routine, a foundation that keeps me grounded. However, my ADHD can throw a curveball, easily distracted by the allure of something new—a project that pops into my head suddenly, or someone demanding my time during those crucial morning moments. One stray disruption, and my carefully crafted routine unravels, leaving me overwhelmed and struggling to regain stability for days.

Social interactions present another contradiction. My autistic brain overanalyses every detail, seeking clarity in social cues and instructions. I crave meaningful connections, yet find myself drained by the effort of deciphering social nuances. Meanwhile, my ADHD gets overly excited, can over-share, and struggles to stay focused on conversations or follow through with tasks that require sustained attention.

Balancing these dual forces goes beyond daily routines. I often feel the urge to say yes to every opportunity, fueled by my passion for exploration and creativity. Yet, the fear of overcommitting looms large, a constant reminder of past burnouts. Structure provides a sense of security, but too much structure can feel stifling. I crave excitement and spontaneity to keep my creativity alive and thriving.

As an AuDHD artist, my journey is one of resilience and adaptation. It’s about embracing the strengths each trait brings—meticulous attention to detail, seemingly boundless creativity, and a unique perspective—while navigating the challenges they pose. It’s a delicate balance of honouring my need for structure and routine, while allowing room for the unpredictable bursts of inspiration that define my artistic expression.

But it is in this dance of contrasts that makes me who I am as an artist— shaped by the interplay of autism and ADHD, weaving together moments of clarity, creativity, and constant growth.  I continue to learn how these two parts of me work themselves together to allow me to be who I am.

At 61, I finally got an official autism diagnosis. After decades of navigating ADHD, Giftedness, childhood trauma, anxiety, and that constant feeling of not quite fitting in, I discovered that ADHD, Giftedness, and Autism CAN coexist. I had spent years running support groups for ADHD and Autism, but it wasn’t until recent research made it clear that they can be diagnosed together that everything started to click into place.
Looking back, it’s clear to me now how much of my life was spent in pain, without even really knowing why. As a young adult, I became obsessed with psychology, past life therapy, life coaching, and Motivational Kinesiology... I was trying to understand people and myself, but something always felt like it was missing. I thought I was broken, and I spent so much energy covering it up, masking, overcompensating, and trying to fit into a world that never seemed to make sense to me.
But why now, after all these years, you might ask? Well, it took a while for me to find the courage to b e assessed and finally seek a diagnosis. But when I did, everything began to fall into place. And the best part is the weight lifted from my shoulders: I can now say with confidence  that I’m not a “broken horse,” (to borrow a well known cliche)  I’m a zebra. I’m wired differently, and I can now start to be proud of everything I’ve ever achieved. For so long, I have felt like the odd one out, constantly out of sync with everyone around me. But learning that I’m autistic was a revelation. It felt like finding my tribe, discovering that I wasn’t quite the misfit I always thought I was.
I’m so grateful for my autism diagnosis, even though it came later in life, but I’m also incredibly grateful that I was diagnosed with ADHD 30 years ago, as it allowed me to guide my children, who are both ADHD, and offer support to other neurodivergent people during those years. That said, not recognising my own autism for so long does leave me with a sense of grief, that I didn't expect, for the "missed" life, opportunities, and experiences that could have been different if I had understood myself sooner.
Living with AuDHD, Giftedness, and dysgraphia in a neurotypical world isn’t ever going to be easy though. We unfortunately live in a society where our differences are often viewed as a “disorder” that needs to be fixed or hidden away. So being AuDHD is still going be tough, sometimes painful, and for those of us who didn’t know we were autistic until later in life, it can be especially isolating. After all, we have spent years feeling like we were missing something fundamental, like everyone else was part of a Circle we never got invited to join or never wanted to join. It’s hard not to feel like an outsider.
For me, finding the autistic and especially the AuDHD community has been a healing journey. It reminds me that even though my brain is complex, lonely, and exhausting at times, there are others out there with similar brains. This connection is what I’ve longed for—people who understand what it’s like to feel like you don’t quite belong, but who also understand that your divergence from the “norm” is not a flaw, but a different way of existing. Even if I ultimately do have to deal with my brain alone, it’s comforting to know that there are others who share this level of complexity and divergence too.

Feel free to reach out if you are part of this tribe of "zebras".  There are more of us than you'd think.

It’s been a while since I properly introduced myself, so here we are. I’m Jane Marin—artist, illustrator, bookbinder, and creative guide behind Jaaneman Art.
Art has always been more than just a creative outlet for me. It’s my sanctuary, my compass, and the way I make sense of a world that often feels overwhelming. As someone who is neurodivergent, I’ve come to understand that my creative practice is also how I self-regulate, find calm, and reconnect with myself when everything feels a little too much.
You may know me for my Oracle card illustrations or my portrait paintings of strong, resilient women—figures who carry quiet messages of strength, love, and wisdom. Sometimes, a gentle masculine energy steps forward too. These characters often feel like messengers from another time, whispering stories that want to be remembered.
Bookbinding has become just as vital to my creative rhythm. There’s something grounding about stitching pages into form, about turning discarded materials into something meaningful and beautiful. Each journal I make becomes a little vessel for someone else’s story—a safe place for reflection, mess, and magic.
Through my ‘Gather and Create’ workshops, I invite others into this process of remembering and rediscovery. These gatherings are not just about making art, but about reconnecting—with creativity, with community, and with the parts of ourselves that need care and expression.
In the months ahead, I’d like to start sharing more about my journey as a neurodivergent artist—what it looks like behind the scenes, and how it shapes the way I create, teach, and live. If that resonates with you, I hope you’ll join me.
Here’s to finding beauty, healing, and meaning in the everyday.

Angela Norval
Bundaberg Today, Friday 13 August 2021

Artist, dancer, intuitive energy healer, life coach and more, Jane Marin of Jaaneman Art shares the beauty of the world with others.

It is easy to see why Jane has been named a s a finalist for this year's AusMumpreneur Awards in both the Creative Entrepreneur category and the Rural Business category, considering the awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.

The AusMumpreneur Awards presented by The Women's Business School celebrates and recognises Australian mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation.

Living in the Bundaberg region on a sugar cane farm with her husband of 33 years, Livio, they have two adult children, Levana and Demetre and a grandson aged 2 with another on the way. 
Jane works as an illustrator for various publishers/writers and sells her mixed media artwork, workshops and gift lines through her website, her own art centre, galleries and local artisan collectives.  She also has regular stalls/stands at energy and wellbeing expos throughout South East Queensland.  At Wattle Cottage on the family farm, Jane runs art workshops and retreats in a beautiful supportive environment.  Having studied and used creative expression and alternative healing methods to overcome many hardships, health issues and adverse life events, Jane now uses her experience to help others to heal their own lives.  The inspiration to begin her art business came when a series of dreams prompted her to create mandalas which were put together to eventually form "The Mandala Oracle" cards.  These cards landed her work as a freelance illustrator for a couple of publishing companies, but it was when she started to receive feedback from customers, describing how they could feel powerful energy emanating from her work that her life changed.  She began by selling her work at wellbeing and energy expos and eventually built a new business plan which focussed on her mission to heal people with art, love, light and connection.

Jane is delighted to be named as a finalist and is proud of her achievements, particularly the purchase of a Lotus Belle tent to increase space on her property for the running of art retreats - the first of which occurred in may and has been a dream for some years.

"Being a Mumpreneur, has meant the freedom to finally find my true calling.  It has meant being able to work to my own timetable - fitting in between parenting and now grandma duties" she said.
"It means I have been able to choose what I do and when I do it."
"It can be challenging to be a successful business woman while raising a family and I have personally given the advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise to tell everyone what you are doing.  It is amazing how many people would love to help you succeed.  It is important to remember that you follow your heart and soul, however.  Not everyone will be on your side, but stick with those that are.  Believe in yourself and keep on going."
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