My Brain Is Pretty Much an IMDb Script
Out of the hundreds (thousands?) of movie quotes, song lyrics, and old conversations that live on repeat in my head, three stand out. Not just as random noise in the background, but as themes in my life. We’ll get to those. But first, a quick(?) detour into echolalia and neology.
Echolalia is one of those “things” common in autism (hand raised). It’s also one of those things allistics like to use for their “we all have a little bit of the ‘tism” moments — usually in that kumbaya, “I totally understand your struggles” kind of way. Spoiler: they don’t.
People think echolalia (if they’ve ever heard the word) is just “having a song stuck in your head.” Sometimes it is. But it’s also replaying dialogue, repeating what you just heard out loud or under your breath, or looping a line until it feels “right.” It’s not about fun quirks. It’s about how our brains process and regulate.
Then there’s neology (or neologisms): the creation and use of made-up words or phrases. These don’t get talked about nearly as often (at least not in the circles I see) but they’re just as present — and sometimes even trickier. Comfort can look like repetitive phrases or invented language. And nothing screams awkward like dropping “versa vicey,” “snaggeraticle,” or “panticles” in casual conversation with a commoner who hasn’t been initiated into (aka forced into learning) your personal dictionary. Cue the blank stare. Cue the sweat dripping down your spine as you realize: wrong audience.
This isn’t about that and that isn’t about this, but I do think people (you’re people, right?) should be more aware of what echolalia is and isn’t and that it is MUCH more than a song stuck in your head. People, again in general, should also have a working knowledge of neology and neologisms because, if nothing else, learning is fun. If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge on these fascinating topics, check out this, and this, and this, and you can also do your own search of the Googles and linguistics in general. I already told you this isn’t about that.
Onto the Show
I’ll share the quotes with you but not where they came from. Won’t that be fun? It will for me. Stick around until the end and I’ll give you some hints on the movies. Also, I should note that this isn’t an invitation to the 24/7/365 pity party that’s in full swing in my head. It’s more like a “look at this picture on my phone and pretend to be as excited as I am” situation.
Quote 1: Humor as Survival - “You’re doing it wrong.” - I use this phrase constantly. Not just the words, but the voices, tones, and inflections from the actors who delivered them. I lob it at Bud when he’s trying to help. I mutter it to myself daily when nothing goes smoothly. It’s become part inner-critic, part comedy routine.
And that’s the thing: the quotes that stick aren’t always profound. Sometimes they’re just the shorthand we need to laugh at the disaster in front of us. Humor has always been a survival skill. Mine just happens to come with an echo.
Quote 2: Healing Hurts - “You suppose if a wound goes real deep…the healing of it can hurt almost as bad as what caused it?” - This one cuts deeper. Pun intended.
It’s about redemption. At this stage of my life — growth, change, reconciliation — this line hits me in the gut. My faith is central. So is my role as a mom. My kids are grown now, and while their stories aren’t mine to share, I can tell you this: if they’ve carried pain, much of it traces back to me. That’s a truth that doesn’t fade.
I can’t rewrite the past. I can’t fix what’s already been lived. What I can do is change today, this moment, this keystroke forward.
So yes, the quote’s question deserves only one answer: healing does hurt. Sometimes as much as the original wound. But that pain? It’s proof you’re finally tending to it.
Quote 3: The Creative Struggle - “I don't know. I've thought about this quite a bit, [sir]. I would have to say, considering what's waiting out there for me, I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. As a career, I don't want to do that.” - If you’re a creative, you already know why this lands like a mic drop.
I spent EXACLTY 24 years 2 months 26 days, or 290 months 26 days, or 1264 weeks 3 days, (8851 calendar days, if we’re being precise — and yes, I checked) working as an accountant (precision clarified) in a range of industries from liquor/alcohol distribution to real estate (commercial/residential/profit/non-profit) to non-profit education. That’s a long time to sell, buy, process, and repair things that were sold, bought, and processed.
Now, as a small business owner, the irony is that I still do all those things. The invoices, the logistics, the spreadsheets — they never really go away. But my heart is still where it’s always been, creating. I tell Bud almost daily, “I just want it to be pretty, and I want it to work.” That’s it. That’s all I want. No selling, no processing. Just making.
But this quote reminds me that even when I can’t escape the admin, I can still choose creation over consumption.
Why They Stick
So why these three? Because they aren’t just clever lines. They’re mirrors.
The first one is my critic but softened with humor. Laughing is my favorite thing EVER. After self-deprecation, obviously.
The second is my truth: healing hurts, but it’s still healing. I use this term loosely. Read here to understand why.
The third is my desire: to create without drowning in the buy-sell-process grind.
They repeat themselves like songs on a loop, but instead of driving me mad (most days), they anchor me. They remind me who I am.
And maybe you have your own quotes that do the same. Maybe there’s a movie line or song lyric you catch yourself muttering under your breath, one that’s less about entertainment and more about recognition.
Want to Play Along?
If you’ve made it this far, chances are you’ve got your own lines on repeat — the ones that play in your head whether you like it or not. Or maybe you’ve invented a few words of your own when English just wasn’t cutting it.
That’s why I put together a little zine called Echolalia & Me (…and Neology Too). It’s part explainer, part humor, and part journal space — designed for anyone who’s ever:
Quoted the same movie line until everyone else rolled their eyes
Accidentally blurted out a made-up word and then had to pretend it was totally real
Wanted a place to keep track of the “brain echoes” that never go away
Inside you’ll find:
Short reflections on echolalia and neology (in plain language, no textbook stuff)
Examples of my own “words that shouldn’t exist but do anyway”
Interactive pages to collect your own quotes, inventions, and Top 5 Lines on Repeat
Download the zine here.
Because if your brain is going to echo or invent anyway, you might as well give those words a place to live. Not to brag or anything, but it’s really pretty, too!
Okay, as promised — here are your clues:
An 80s classic comedy where a stay-at-home dad is way out of his depth. Let’s just say school drop-off lines aren’t for the faint of heart.
A small-town story from the 90s where redemption, kindness, and a stubborn grill collide. (Bring tissues.)
Another 80s classic that gave us boom boxes, awkward dinners, and the most painfully honest career goals speech of all time.
If you can name all three without Googling, you’ve earned honorary membership in my headspace. That’s probably not a desirable reward though.
Now it’s your turn: drop your guesses in the comments. No cheating. And if you don’t know them? Tell me the one line that lives rent-free in your brain, or share a word you’ve invented that should probably be in the dictionary of you.
Come on, I shared mine. Your turn.
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About the Author
Gal is an autistic artist, late-diagnosed at 49, and the creator of AuRTistic Expressions—a space where neurodivergent truth meets creative survival. Through books, blog posts, printables, and coaching, Gal explores what it means to unmask safely, communicate authentically, and make art that doesn’t ask for permission. Stick around—there’s plenty more where this came from.
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