An Aspie's Perspective: One Last Request (for 2018 and beyond)

Lest we not forget that April was designated Autism Awareness Month.

Much to my chagrin, I did not get to participate as much as I would have liked, but all month long; brave, courageous souls share intimate stories and partake in candid interviews in hopes that it sheds light on the complexities and stigmas associated with the condition.

Yes, we are teaching the world about what autism is. We are giving it a solid definition and definitive symptoms. We are teaching the world in hopes that our stories will cast light on the difficulties we face day-to-day.

But is awareness alone enough? Not in my universe. We have to strive for more; we should want to strive for the highest quality of life we can ascertain.

No sky is the limit, right?

We want to dream big; we want to seek; we thirst for knowledge, but more important, we long to fit in.

In today's world, it's hard to fit in. Nasty and ignorant stigmas suggest that people on the spectrum may be violent and someone, everyone should fear.

This simply is NOT true.

Instead, what society is failing to see is that each individual is unique, special in their own way, and we need to give them a platform to share their ideas, stories, and experiences so that we may become a more accepting culture.

"Of course there is no formula for success except, perhaps, an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings," said Arthur Rubinstein, Polish-American pianist.

The beautiful thing about acceptance is we are seeing the bright, positive imagery brought forth by each individual, whether they live on the spectrum or not. We are encouraging one another instead of bidding against another.

Turn on the television. You will find that there is too much hatred out there in our world, whether or not you agree that its promoted by our weakened media. No one wants to see the good in anyone or anything and this is simply WRONG.

But to reach true acceptance, one has to forget what is the norm. One has to be willing to exceed all comfort boundaries and see a person as they are; an individual who is trying to make it in a dog-eat-dog kind of world.

We should always want to help our fellow neighbor, particularly when we see that they may be struggling. This idealization should bring great satisfaction of exemplary behavior that should be modeled by all.

I was just reading on TinyBuddha.com titled "The Power of Acceptance: Stop Resisting and Find the Lesson." The author suggests that acceptance is the key convert of momentary happiness and enduring happiness.

The author says, "It helps you from feeling happy to actually being happy."

The author, also, infers that once we accept an unforeseen change that analyzing its purpose can help us embrace a change instead of fighting it.

What is the change we long for? For me, anyway, it's to fit in and feel like I am an attribute to society. I want my words to inspire; I want to institute and effect the needed change that it takes for us to feel that we too have an importance and purpose in this world despite our condition.

I want every Autistic person or person with Autism Spectrum Disorder to know that they are special; that they matter; and that they do, indeed, deserve to be heard in platforms that can make transitional day-to-day life more simple.

Forget what a person looks like; how they act; and just see them for what they are an individual who is waiting to show their strengths to the world and will also teach us things we have never unlocked in ourselves.

I will leave this piece quoting a small, but powerful excerpt from Martin Luther King's 1963 speech "I Have a Dream" that goes hand-in-hand with what I am trying to say; to serve as a central repository of my entreaty, if you will:

"This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the drug of gradualism. Now is time to make real the promises of democracy."

Remember democracy's principle, "For the people by the people." Give the gift of acceptance and watch butterflies take off in flight. I promise it will leave you with a good feeling.