My Happy Place
I had a great vacation at my Aunt and Uncle’s farm in the country. I enjoyed my family, the animals and the countryside. I got to do a lot of interesting things like horseback riding, feeding the animals, and we went on lots of walks. I love that their ranch has lots of wide open […]
Read moreFriendship
Recently someone broached the topic regarding what one can do to begin a friendship with someone on the Autism Spectrum. Since I have Autism and have a few good friends who aren’t on the Autism Spectrum, I have been thinking about this question on and off. Wanting to be someone’s friend and being willing to […]
Read moreGreater Acceptance
When I was growing up few people had even heard of Autism, let alone understood what it was like to have Autism. The closest people got to having any understanding was what they gleaned from watching the movie “Rain Man.” As a result, oftentimes when I told people I had Autism, I would receive a […]
Read moreTo Drink, or Not to Drink
As you know, it’s March and St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. This is well known as a big “drinking holiday.” I thought that it would make sense to talk about drinking alcohol. It seems to me that a lot of people treat alcohol very casually like it’s no big deal. For me, using alcohol […]
Read moreLove is in the Air
I have experienced Valentine’s Day in February from the perspective of being single and also being in a romantic relationship. When I was single, I thought it would be amazing to have a date on Valentine’s Day and to be in a relationship. Boy, I was partly correct, but also way off. While it was […]
Read moreResolving Resolutions
It’s January again and everyone I know is talking about resolutions and wanting to make changes. This can be incredibly helpful for me, however I need to be really careful to focus on positive goals and things that I want to change. Why do I need to be careful? Because there is a little voice […]
Read moreBlack and White Thinking
Coloring books are funny things for me. Even as a kid they were hard because I believed that there must be a right way to color the page and ultimately the entire coloring book too. I believed there was a right way and a wrong way to color a coloring book. I was constantly frustrated […]
Read morePreplanning my Beach Vacation
I’m really excited about my upcoming vacation to the beach with friends. What I’m nervous about is making sure I have everything ready when it’s time to go. Do I need to replace or get new clothes for the anticipated temperatures/weather conditions for the trip? Do I need to get any supplies, such as paper […]
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Communication Roadblocks
I’m not very good at communicating, especially with the people I’m close to, such as my friends and family. I spend so much time trying to find the right words that won’t hurt other people’s feelings that I often end up not saying anything. This leads me to “stuffing” my emotions and thoughts. Keeping in […]
Read moreDating Q&A with Dr. Melissa Brown
Q: I’m really nervous about dating, especially approaching someone for the first time. I have a hard time reading other people’s body language. Do other people not on the Autism Spectrum have similar experiences? A: Absolutely. Most people are quite nervous to introduce themselves to someone they are interested in. It is a natural human need […]
Read moreSuper Bowl
A big social event is happening in February: the Super Bowl. While I’m not a football fan, I really enjoy watching the Super Bowl commercials. I never really understood what the big deal was for many years but I think I understand now. This annual game is important because it’s the culmination of many games […]
Read moreTime to Change
I need to change things in my life so I waited to New Years to say “Yes, I’m going to change this year!” I feel a bit silly waiting til’ the start of a new year to think about making important changes in my life, but I wasn’t ready to admit that I need to […]
Read moreSaying No
I found that speaking up for yourself is difficult and that saying “no” is not a popular response. Sometimes others encourage me to do something that I don’t feel comfortable doing. Sometimes when I say “yes”, there is a high price I pay for being so agreeable. I used to say “yes” even when it […]
Read moreHanging Back
I have never been a “get in the middle” type of person. As far back as I can remember, I have been more of the “hanging back, watching” type, only coming closer if I feel comfortable. Being around groups of people is draining even if I know them well. Family holidays would be tiring since […]
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