Gratitude
It’s Thanksgiving time and I’ve started to think about what I’m grateful for in my life. This ties in with what a close friend told me recently, “One should count their blessings every morning.” I’m going to share in this blog what I find valuable in my life. I am going to review the healthy […]
Read moreApp of the Month*: Penny
Managing money isn’t usually fun, unless you’re using Penny! This free app helps people track income and spending through the help of your personal assistant, Penny. When you open the app, Penny is there to chat with you about your finances, making it simple and easy to track and save money! She’ll let you know […]
Read moreNaturalness in Communication
I don’t really think about this as much, but sometimes I wonder, “Do I really follow up with one on one communication well?” I don’t think about it that much because whenever I am feeling social, I tend to do MOST of it well, like making direct eye contact and using my gestures properly to […]
Read moreHalloween Town
October is my favorite month of the year. It’s a turning point. The air cools, it becomes crisp and clear, humidity leaves and taking walks outside is refreshing and restoring. It’s also the last month before we turn our clock’s forward and it gets darker a lot sooner. So, while I do enjoy longer evenings […]
Read moreLove at Work Takes Work
Last month, I wrote that marriage can be a bumpy road, but that there’s nobody I’d rather do this with than my husband. I will never doubt that he cares about me or loves me. Sometimes, I think that he may care or love a little too much. Everything he does, he does for me. […]
Read moreFinding Success Through Failure
Failure can be good for you to learn and to grow as a person. Too much success during your life can result in having difficulties with failing and being successful with moving forward. However, I have found that too little success mixed with false praise can be just as bad. I have seen how being […]
Read moreSummer is Over: What is There For Me in the Fall?
As summer starts to die down, I wonder what my next set of plans will be since I would usually be starting school around this time. Since I won’t be doing anything school or work related for a while, I think I’ll just go on the rest of this autumn actually enjoying it and taking […]
Read moreBecoming a Certified Peer Specialist
Years ago, when I was at my lowest dealing with anxiety and depression, I couldn’t imagine doing the things I am now. An autism diagnosis came later in life as well after a doctor noticed that the current medication regimen wasn’t panning out and referred me to get tested for ASD, rather than just try […]
Read moreMarriage and Being on the Autism Spectrum
“You’re weird, I like you.” That is what my husband says his opening line should have been when we first met eleven years ago. I’ll be the first person to admit that when we met, I had no interest in having a romantic relationship with my husband. I joke with him all the time that […]
Read moreWho I Am
I’m a thinker, a dreamer, a writer, a self-advocate. These words describe parts of me, but only parts of who I am. I can choose which label to use in many situations and that changes the way other people interact with me. The way people see me also changes the way I see myself and […]
Read moreNew Beginnings
In mid-October last year, my sister announced that she was pregnant and it was by far the biggest surprise for me because I came to the realization that I was nervous at this point in my life to become an uncle. I wondered if I was even going to do it right since I have […]
Read moreInsincere Reconciliation
The word forgiveness can instill a lot of emotions. From pain and trauma to perhaps a reconciliation with one who has hurt you or a quiet forgiveness that you only offer to yourself. Apologies can meld a wound closed if a person is truly sorry and pledges not repeat a harmful action. On the other […]
Read moreHome Alone
After some prompting my parents they decided to leave me home alone while they went away on two trips recently. Since this was the first time that they’ve done something like this they used this as an opportunity to see if I could take care of everything without them. The first night they left for […]
Read moreOvercoming the Green-Eyed Monster: Jealousy
I have always struggled with jealousy of other people, whether it was my siblings, acquaintances and friends. The main reason I felt so jealous is that I thought their lives were easier than mine and their lives looked so picture-perfect. I always felt like the ugly duckling, usually feeling out of place, especially since things […]
Read moreLooking Back and Moving Forward
It’s officially been a year since the #ASDNext website has launched! To celebrate our first anniversary, we’re taking a look back at what we’ve accomplished and sharing some insights on where we’re headed. #ASDNext was created with the goal of expanding the work already being done by ASERT to support individuals across the state, specifically […]
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