November Mini-Series

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I've been trying to be more grateful lately, and just more positive overall. I'm struggling a little with applying that to autism. I'll be completely honest: sometimes I hate autism. It's hard to see Bug be limited by something totally out of our control. I tend to see autism as a vehicle for opportunities to learn and grow, but have difficulty being thankful that autism itself is a part of our lives. That's a narrow differentiation, but I get stuck on it anyway. 

So, for the month of November, I am going to try at least once a week to relate to you something about autism that I am thankful for. 

Today, I want to start with compassion. Because autism is a "hidden" disability, or something you can't tell someone has just by looking at them, I've learned not to make quick judgments about people. To anyone we pass while we're out and about, Bug physically looks like an average preschooler. Strangers don't know about his sensory issues and his feeding difficulties, or his astounding memorization skills. Just like they can't understand Bug and all his weaknesses and strengths by looking at him, I can't understand everything about a person by one, or even several, meetings. That's why I am trying now more than ever to try and be compassionate and understanding to others around me. Like the saying goes, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" (to which I'd like to add something about how everyone has super powers to help in their battles too). It's something I've always known on principle, but autism has taught me to truly understand and live it.