Bathrobe Gal, a webcomic

A webcomic about my adventures as an adult-diagnosed autistic woman, writer, and chronic bathrobe-wearer. Created by Sarah Jane Cody.

[bathrobe-gal]

Daring to hope. Daring to let little me show herself.

[bathrobe-gal]

Look, as far as I’m concerned, “okay” has a specific meaning. In the rankings from good to bad, okay = neutral/acceptable/alright. Merriam-Webster says, “satisfactory but not exceptionally or especially good." See? I insist. No more vague okay's. 😉 (Of course, sweet husband was just trying to comfort me. But who wants to eat a merely satisfactory cookie?! 😉)

Are there any expressions you often find yourself getting tripped up on or that people tend to use in a way that doesn’t make sense to you?

Love, Bathrobe Gal 💖

[bathrobe-gal]

I have an essay out in Electric Literature today about masking growing up, discovering my autism as an adult, and finally reclaiming my story. This was incredibly hard to write. I used to beleieve that I could not possibly write about myself––but look where we are! (I even draw little me!) I'm a storyteller, and when I discover I have story to tell, for whatever reason, I must tell it. I hope this helps someone else. Thank you as always for sharing space with me.

READ IT HERE 💖

Love, Bathrobe Gal / Sarah Jane

[bathrobe-gal]

💖 💖 💖

[bathrobe-gal]

Maybe it's enough to just take a step, any step. Now I'm in motion. I might not know where I'm going, but I'll end up somewhere...

They also say "it's about the journey," and I do think that's true.

❤️ Bathrobe Gal

[bathrobe-gal]

It's okay to be overwhelmed by feeling. There's even something beautiful about being able to feel so hugely. It's okay to get stuck. At the same time, I've learned that reframing can sometimes help me make some space.

[bathrobe-gal]

Hi dear ones!! I’ve so missed you. I’m back!

To explain my absence, I got a bit burned out and had to slow down and cut back on the number of projects I had going on for a while. (See also: in addition to other life stuff, I got my first dog as an adult. Taking care of a living thing that’s not a plant?! Oh my!) 

It’s funny, I’ve never considered myself a visual artist. I’m really a writer – who draws little things sometimes :) But as I started to connect with more people through my comics (which has been so heart-filling and wonderful), I also think I started to be harder on myself. What if I made things you didn’t like? What if I didn’t say the thing I meant to say just right (a forever-problem I grapple with)?

But part of the whole point of making comics (when I started making them just for myself) was so that I could practice saying/depicting LITTLE things. Bite-sized things. Instead of trying to address everything and every single (gorgeous!) detail (as my brain longs to do)! But trying to capture absolutely everything is kind of impossible, so it can lead me to shut down and say nothing at all. (And I already wrestle with making bigger-sized things in my long-form writing.)

Instead, this project is about taking the risk to share. Even when it’s not perfect. Even when I don’t feel ready. To trust that it's worth taking the risk to say SOMETHING. I’m heading into the new year with that in mind, and I'm excited to keep connecting :)

Love,

B Gal / Sarah Jane

[bathrobe-gal]

In my late twenties, it occurred to me that I had never gone clothes shopping alone. Mom was my protector, and I only ever shopped with Mom and sometimes with Dad into my twenties. Then I got married, and my husband, who is my best friend, became my ally and store protector/warrior. 

You know I love my pretty dresses, but stores are an absurdly stressful hell. Thank goodness for the invention of online shopping.

PS Hurrah for the secret, unused CLEAN  bathroom located in the Dillard's Men's Department of my hometown.

[bathrobe-gal]

Are your clothes also special? Can it be hard for you to find textures, colors, or a fit that is comfortable for you? Do you have a very particular style (you know, such as bathrobes and princess dresses)?

I really do hold grief rituals for old clothes (without the candles), where I make a big deal of mourning them and then get my husband to be the one to toss them (and sometimes I retrieve them).

[bathrobe-gal]

Our world vastly undervalues quiet. My need for quiet and periods of non-doing has always existed, since I was little; back then, I knew this need innately and understood its value innately. But the human world bombards us with constant noise, information, and activity. It can be so frustrating to shut down, but then, my body and my unconscious know things I don’t about my needs. ❤️

[bathrobe-gal]

When something bad happens and someone says, "It's okay." / When someone says it's okay and it's NOT okay.

That's just confusing! Instead, try saying what you actually mean :)

Like I've mentioned before, Dr. Donna Henderson frames the autistic tendency to be literal as a “need for explicit context”. I see this also as a helpful suggestion for what people can do to help their autistic loved ones. 💖

[bathrobe-gal]

I’ve missed a lot of social cues along the way. I think high school is a rough time for everyone though, and I don’t hold grudges; I always hope that we all grow in the end. I share this now because it’s an interesting moment and story to me now, one of those you look back on with understanding :)

And heck yes, my bag will always be full of all the things that make me feel safe and cozy. (Well, except my bathrobe takes up too much space, so...)

As always, I change the appearances of anyone (other than me) portrayed in a potentially negative light.

Love always,

Bathrobe Gal

[bathrobe-gal]

💖❤️❤️ It used to be so hard for me to talk about things. It still can be. Thank you for making space for me and for sharing yourselves with me. Love.

[bathrobe-gal]

A funny thing that happened on a rare occasion when I made myself go to the store (instead of ordering grocery delivery). 

Reasons stores are overwhelming:

- navigating people

- confusing social interactions

- loud (esp the music - why is there store music?!)

- bright & visually overstimulating

- so. much. stuff. = so much to process!

- &&&&&&&& (etc.)

Love,

Bathrobe Gal

[bathrobe-gal]

Join me! ...I am going to need way more bathrobes for this.

In full seriousness, I am so grateful to all of you for being part of my world!!! Much love.

P.S. This was originally created to celebrate r/comic's 3 million subscriber event over on Reddit, but I altered it for Bathrobe Gal's Instagram :)

Do you own a robe or something else cozy you wrap up in? Has the revolution already started?

XO

[bathrobe-gal]

Since learning about my sensory processing differences (SPD), it has helped me so much to identify my particular sensory needs and perception. Being aware of my sensory profile helps me understand, regulate, and be prepared for the ways the elements of the world can affect me.

To create this, I was inspired by several diagrams I had seen in the past of general SPD traits :) I don't have space to include all of mine, but I highly recommend taking the time to do a sensory profile on yourself or keep a list of traits you add to when you notice them being activated.

[bathrobe-gal]

Things I wish someone had said to me at particular points in my life, so I'm saying them for anyone who needs them. 💖