Ten reasons I’m happy to be autistic 😎

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#ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD

1. I get to have those moments where I look around a room full of people thinking, ‘Yikes get me out of here!’ but then notice the other autistic person.

And make a beeline for them.

Then we can quietly read each other’s minds while we sit scrolling on our phones next to each other in the corner.

#Autistic

2. I have a very silly sense of humour, and often find things funny that no one else seems to.

Note: Children usually appreciate my sense of humour more than adults do.

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3. I always think love is beautiful, regardless of context.

Anyone, any being, towards any other person, being, or thing – or towards oneself or a bit of oneself.

Tree-hugging. A bedful of Beanie Boo Owls. 🦉 ❤️

If it’s love, it’s beautiful!

#Autistic

5. I find outcomes more important than making a point, or than intentions.

This has been described as a deficit in autistics.

But for me, it makes a lot of sense to focus on outcomes. If the outcome is an unhappy one, then you can modify your actions accordingly.

If I instead placed my focus mainly on what’s *true*, who’s *right*, and who’s *to blame*, I feel that the outcome would get sidelined and things would stay the same.

5. My visual experiences can be very intense, even too much so – especially my sensitivity to light.

But they can also be very beautiful, even spiritual!

I’ve heard people describing certain aspects of being on hallucinogens – such as the air around you pixelating, lazily swirling, and/or sparkling (alla Van Gogh) – and I think, ‘Ooh yes, I get that when I’m walking the dog sometimes!’

#Autistic

6. My sense of smell is like a bloodhound’s (talking of dogs).

I can smell cookies baking in the house down the street. I can smell it when people near me are nervous.

This skill is super handy, e.g. in case of a house fire.

But can also be a handicap in a lot of situations, such as a public toilet. The natural smells there are just about bearable, but the smells of bleach and perfumed cleaning products can be frankly overwhelming!

#Autistic

7. I have a laser-beam awareness for when people are being controlled, manipulated, or oppressed in my vicinity.

And, even if I’m scared, I feel a strong urge to call it out in one way or another.

The strong emotions I feel (and the trouble I get into!) aren’t quite so much fun, but I personally think it’s worth it.

#Autistic

8. The things I do that are important to me don’t depend on other people’s approval.

I can go for years working on something with no external validation whatsoever.

Part of me thinks, ‘What if no one cares, what am I even doing, does it even have any meaning?’ But for some reason, even without any answer to the ‘why’ question, I feel compelled to do it anyway. For me, I guess it has meaning.

#Autistic

9. I look for more information when in doubt… about anything and everything! Research is a fundamental part of my life.

I’ve read that ‘autistics don’t do heuristics’ (‘heuristics’ being the basis for quick-and-dirty decision-making, where we come to conclusions based on limited information).

That certainly seems to be true in my case. I always want more info.

#Autistic