Adults On The Autism Spectrum

@mamasitalucita

To be content with your own company and to also be free to enjoy the company of others is a wonderful way to live. I feel badly for people who have difficulty with either state of being. Thanks for that great reminder.

I hope that others on the Spectrum might add to these thoughts.

Teresa

I definitely paid attention to my body , I love it when I feel like doing things in or outside of my house but if I’m having a more painful day I don’t try to push myself but the thing I’ve noticed is that it’s hard for me to make a definite commitment to a friend like going to do something it just makes me to not make any plans , and that makes me sad. Do any of you have that problem ?

You inspire me. I love reading your posts. I’m so glad I found this blog. Thank you mama!

God, Jehovah, Jesus, the Great Spirit, or however your spiritual inclinations lie, loves you so much.  He has your picture on His refrigerator.  And that's a fact, Jack!  Trust me.  I will never beat you over the head with any definitive religious beliefs.  But all of us are spiritual beings, I think. We feel better when we feel like someone else is looking out for us. You know the neat thing?  Makes me want to kind of look out for others, too.  We are better together.  Until next time, Mama

@jfsherley

Hello, I appreciate your honesty in your post. I believe that what you are saying is that you do not like to pre-plan activities because you are sure that you will feel like keeping the commitment when the time comes. Is that correct?

Teresa

Yes that’s right

I tried to comment earlier while I was on my way home from my cousin's funeral. Apparently it didn't work, for some reason. In my world, plans are made to be interrupted! Take this weekend, for example. We have this big church gathering in another city two hours from here maybe twice a year. It is planned for, anticipated, hotel rooms are rented, new dresses bought, hats to match the dresses, activities lined up after church is over, where we go eat....the list goes on. Then we find out earlier in the week my first cousin won't likely make it through the night. Great lady. Her suffering is over. As much as we want to go be with our church family and celebrate, we must change our plans and prepare for a funeral. Well, guess what? It was a lovely gathering. I even got to speak a little bit. And I am so glad we changed our plans. My health issues require me to say no many, many times. I cannot attend every concert, seminar, birthday party, or baby shower I am invited to! I only have so many spoons. I have to store up energy like a solar panel, child, so I can shine brightly later on! So, don't be too sad, for too long. When you get to be my age, you will have said "no" so many times, it will slip right off your tongue like a nice cold piece of homemade lemon pie! It's called self preservation. Explain to your friends nicely, and they will get it. Eventually. Until next time, Mamacitalucita

@jfsherley, what helps me is having a mini-sized dry erase board on my kitchen table. At the top I write the day, month, date, and year. My "to do" list will have usually three things written in bright, but soothing colors. This lets me know that I have plenty of spoons left over if I will just focus on those three things. Time for a nap, time for a movie, time to go somewhere fun with my daughter! If someone invites me out for coffee or lunch, I can usually manage it. As long as I don't overdo it and try to pack too many tasks into the day. I hope this helps! You might try it and see how it goes. And if for whatever reason you still don't feel like going to that event, it is your right to bow out. You just be you. Your first priority is to take good care of you. Then you can save the world. But only if you feel like it. Oops. I made a joke! Who says Auties don't have a sense of humor?!! Love and hugs, Mamacitalucita

Colleen Young, thank you very much.

I wanted to add that there are ever so many tasks to complete that I don't even bother to write on the dry erase board, because they are a given. I can get quite a bit of work done in a day, actually. But if I were to post it as a MUST DO then I would get stressed. Besides, maybe I can convince someone else in my house to do it! Ha! Another bit of feeble humor. That's two in a row. Yay me. Love and light, Mamacitalucita.