The first response of the conservative is
‘actually…’
The first response of the progressive is
‘consider…’
The first response of the ones who actually consider is
‘resolve,’
and we recognize that
‘solver’
and
‘lovers’
are both represented, and we’re trying to figure out how to include the extra
‘e.’
The struggle is real.
e pluribus unum.
My autistic traits are nothing to be afraid of. They are highly effective strategies in the environments for which they are adapted. If you spend time with me in these environments, a little of these traits may rub off on you, and your movement through these environments may be eased.
I have come to never doubt this.
I have also come to never doubt that people with autistic traits are not to be feared–whether we are nonverbal or highly talkative, highly energetic or profoundly still, highly organized or seemingly chaotic, hermetic or super social. If you recognize the environments for which we are adapted, and move through these environments with us, we often rub off on you in ways that make these environments easier for you to navigate.
We are connected to something, which sometimes makes us appear disconnected to you. If you connect with us, you connect to something, too.
We connect directly, which can sometimes seem off-putting, since we are not putting off connection or putting on appearances. Yes, we will likely rub off on you, but this rubbing off may actually make your way appear easier.
Please: recognize us. Recognize the environments for which we are adapted. Move through these environments with us. Let us rub off on you.
Despite appearances, it’s way easier than you think.
May all beings recognize their true nature.
Every day is neurodiversity awareness day.
We’re at a turning point: we are abandoning the need to evaluate the worth of a person by their ability to engage with capitalism, and adopting the wisdom to be inspired by those who, by their mere presence among us, increase our capacity to care.
We could simply care for one another, but capitalism demands that its needs are met first, and its cut exhausts our resources, completely. We must then engage with capitalism to simply receive care, and we cannot care except through transaction. To care becomes a term for believing in something strongly, while being reminded, moment by moment, of our being too busy to engage our natural response to offer care. We need to care for one another. Capitalism doesn’t care.
Who is the you? Which is the me?
Wait–are there three?
You may find that you see
everything one way,
just as it is,
until one day you
question something and
have a crisis, and
make a big cognitive leap,
and then suddenly,
there’s another
possibility.
You might find that you’re seeing
everything a million different ways,
completely overwhelmed,
until one day, you
have to get something done,
and you have a crisis, and
make a big cognitive leap,
and then suddenly,
there is only
three.
One of you is going
to be the me
in a conversation with you
some time today.
You’ll know, because
you will find yourself
thinking, “this person’s thinking
is so simplistic,”
or possibly
you will find yourself
thinking “that person’s thinking
is so complex.”
Which one will be right?
If we pause, and reflect, and listen,
and speak with care,
i think you’ll see
–(between you and me)–
we’re not two,
but three.
You,
the peace we just made, and
me.
Which one is the me?
You see an old man in the parking lot, losing control of his cart, and you’re right there, and your hand instinctively reaches out and stops the cart from rolling, and you pause, just long enough to show safety with your body, and say:
“it’s fine,”
and move on.
And then, a second later, you are standing across from a young woman screaming at her wailing child:
“chill tf out!”
And your body is frozen, except for the heart that pumps as if it is trying to put out a fire. Which it is.
And as you bear witness, you wish that it was this cart your hand could instinctively reach out and stop from rolling.
seeing a man peeing on a wall, next to an open port-a-potty:
have I crossed a threshold into a world of pure metaphor?
When your heart is connected to people in Palestine, Israel, and Iran, there are no good days, only good moments that refuse to find common ground.
Meth makes you feel powerful.
Healthy habits make you powerful.Rage makes you feel powerful.
Discipline makes you powerful.
If you know where plastic comes from
you may experience overwhelming grief
when you see a child’s dinosaur toy
abandoned in a vacant lot.