Is this space for you? Let’s cut to the chase: everything you want to know.
How I approach community, criticism, creativity & boundaries:
I believe in being clear about my work, what I value, why I create, and how I expect my creative spaces to be treated. I’m sharing openly so you have the information you need to decide whether my creative space feels like a place you want to be.
about me:
Bonjour! I'm Joaness, a multicultural AuDHD artist and writer rethinking what we call "normal." Here I question what we've been taught, exploring identity, culture, relationships, neurodivergence, and everyday life.
People deserve to be accepted for who they are, not who they're expected to be. We live in a neurodiverse world; it's time we made space for different ways of thinking instead of forcing everyone into outdated norms. I find that challenging harmful systems and decolonizing our thinking are essential for real change. I'm still unlearning, unmasking, and making space for who I really am.
Off camera, I enjoy art, writing, photography, nature, dancing, hiking, cycling, roller skating, travel, DIY projects, and collecting '70s/'80s treasures, especially vinyl. My AuDHD mind is endlessly curious.
No sugarcoating here. I call out the BS with a little sarcasm and challenge the idea that there's only one way to be. We're allowed to evolve, reinvent, and create our own way of being.
My favorite saying: E hele me ka puʻolo
“Make every person, place, or condition better than you left it, always.”
A beautiful Hawaiian saying that reminds us to leave a positive impact wherever we go, no matter how small.
Life gives us so many moments to make a difference in the lives of others. Sometimes, it’s in the way we listen, the encouragement we offer, the care we show, or simply the energy we bring into a room. Even the smallest gestures can brighten someone’s day and remind them that they matter.
May we always strive to leave people, places, and circumstances a little better than we found them.
my values.
Values:
Joy & Wellness
Personal growth.
Education & the arts.
Honesty & transparency.
Slow living & Slow creating.
Community, diversity, unity.
Making the world a better place.
Celebrating life & living out loud!
And, sh*t I’m not into:
Unwilling to evolve: victimization or “fragility”
False sense of entitlement, superiority, elitism
TOXIC: traditions, religion, wellness/positivity
Bigotry, white supremacy, capitalism, colonialism,
or any system that thrives on oppression & injustice.
Jealousy/Envy
my space. my rules.
Including my Instagram & YouTube.
1 Anonymous Profiles
If you need to hide behind an anonymous profile to talk smack, I’m absolutely not taking you seriously. I don’t entertain foolishness. If you’ve got something to say, say it from a public profile with a nice, bright, real photo of who you are, of your life, and stand on it (wink).
2 Just Because I Share Publicly
Sharing publicly is not an invitation for hate or disrespect. It won’t be tolerated, and you may be publicly called out, blocked, or deleted. You don’t run this space; I do. So check yourself.
3 Engage with Care
You are a guest here. Engage with care, curiosity, and respect, or don't engage at all.
4 Drive-by Comments
Listen, if you’re not invested in my work, I’m not invested in your criticism. I value feedback from people who actually engage with what I do. So keep it moving.
5 Lived Experiences are NOT up for Debate
Tone policing, gaslighting, committed to misconstruing because you don’t like me? Keep scrolling.
6 I’m Not Here to Regulate Your Emotions
Lashing out is not welcome. I’m not here to regulate your emotions. If my work stirs something up, take it to a safe space, like therapy.
7 I’ll Show up However I Choose
My body, weight, hair & style are mine to change as I please. Your discomfort with any of it is: Yours to unpack.
8 Your Short Attention Span is Not My Problem.
If you rushed through my work, didn’t finish it, and then jumped into the comments to draw conclusions or tell me what I meant: That’s on you. You are responsible for managing your own impulsivity.
9 Unfollowing is an Option
If at any point my content causes you to unfollow: I invite it. And if you think commenting “unfollowing” will somehow punish me: (yawn) It won’t. 😉
what not to expect.
Perfection.
I make mistakes, change my mind, learn, and grow. When I know better, I try to do better. The same goes for my work and my writing. There will be typos. Awkward sentences. Imperfect ideas. You’re not the grammar police, and I won’t let perfection stop me from saying what I actually want to say.
To agree with everything I say.
You won’t. And that’s okay.
My work to move in one predictable direction.
I can change direction. I can change my mind about what I like. In other words, I can do whatever I feel like.
One piece of work to contain every possible perspective.
It can’t. There is context, nuance, and layers. An essay is an essay. A video is a video. There are limits to what one body of work can hold. I may be completely aware of an aspect that I simply didn’t discuss. My not mentioning something does not mean I don’t know it exists. Don’t confuse that with a lack of knowledge.
And, absolutely do not expect me to not discuss racism.
Hello? Racism is a very real part of my life. It exists alongside my joy, my relationships, my work, my humour, my ordinary days, and everything else that makes up my life. I don’t get to opt out of it. I will talk about it. Openly. And if discussing racism makes you uncomfortable, you might want to ask yourself why your discomfort is somehow supposed to become my silence.
If you are here for the beautiful parts of my life, my creativity, my joy, my essence, my wisdom, but disengage the moment I speak about racism or injustice, then let me be clear: we do not share the same values. If anti racism is optional to you, then access to me is optional too.
I am not here to entertain you while you ignore the realities that shape my existence. That is beneath my standards. You do not get to consume my light while dismissing the truths that influence it. My joy does not exist separately from the systems that impact me, my community, and people around the world. The same systems that shape our experiences require all of us to reflect, learn, unlearn, and do better.
We are all affected by systems of racism, and we all have a responsibility to challenge them. You cannot claim to care about me or any brown person while refusing to listen, engage in conversations about racism, and actively work against it. My humanity is not something to celebrate only when it is comfortable. If you want to stand with me, you must be willing to stand with the truth that shapes my life.