I don’t really know where to start. I feel like I always have so much to say! But then when the time comes, I have no idea where to begin.. I imagine a lot of you reading this can relate!
Why am I doing this?
The past few years I have learnt a lot about myself. Since working in a school environment with many children with SEND, I started to realise that many of the traits I was learning about autism, fit my own experience of the world.
I’ve spent the years researching, learning, and starting to feel like I finally have an identity. The past year in particular, I have done a lot of therapy, and put a lot of work into unmasking myself. I have also faced a lot of discrimination, and since trying to drop my mask and stop putting on an act of “being normal” and trying to fit in, I have gone through a lot of hurt from “friends”, lost friendships, and spent many days walled in by anxiety.
However, I have also felt a freedom that I have never experienced before. I have gained closer relationships with those that truly matter, and I have worked on being kinder to myself and giving myself compassion when I need it.
So the reason I’m now ready to start a blog, is because the most recent discrimination I have endured was the final straw. Why should I keep quiet, and go through this journey alone, when I know there’s probably other people out there like me, that don’t realise they don’t have to accept this kind of treatment. I am fighting back for myself at last. I refuse to walk away and let them get away with it. And I want others to know they can do the same. The side benefit is having an outlet to document my thoughts and feelings, and also build what could be a supportive website with some helpful info pages on what personally has worked for me.
So, on that note, I leave you with a promise. I promise that I will work my ass off to advocate for myself, and others like me, whenever and wherever I can. I hope that along the way, we can support each other and build a more compassionate space for ourselves.
