Adults On The Autism Spectrum

I love what @gingerw said "If I don't honor myself, who will?" While on the Thanksgiving trip to Georgia to see my youngest daughter and celebrate Thanksgiving with the family, I have let some things "slide" which I shouldn't have.

Auties are certainly not alone in making this simple mistake. Our Neurotypical brothers and sisters all over the planet are very busy doing the same thing. Prioritizing and keeping the "main thing" the main thing is problematic for us all, from time to time.

Whether we realize it or not, most of us are creatures of habit. We plod along, day after day, doing pretty much the same thing we did yesterday. Good thing. If our ancestors had not done so, most of us would not even be here. Someone had a passion for making things grow in the dirt. Someone like my favorite Aunt Annie, who knew the name of every flower, tree, plant, and shrub in existance. People like her kept food on the table.

Persistent young boys with a dose of adventure, like my Daddy, found potatoes in the ground during a cold winter day, when there was nothing at all to be had for dinner. He was just a little fellow when that happened. He was hungry, and there was no food. Details are sketchy, but there had been a separation, then a divorce, at a time in this country when to do so propelled one into the depths of poverty. Entire families suffered. Still do.

So it is important to keep the "main" thing the main thing. But what is the main thing? Depends on who you ask. So many would not have a clue. They are too busy working three jobs to provide a roof over the head of their 2.5 children and food on the table. In their case, the main thing, I suppose, is being strong enough to master those three jobs to provide for their babies. If one little thing is thrown out of balance, life as they know it would change forever.

Yet so it is with us all. We are not unlike Aunt Annie's plants in her garden. Like the fruits and vegetables she so abundantly provided, we need several things to honor ourselves on a daily basis. Sun, water, fresh air, and roots planted firmly in the ground. Now, think about what that might mean to you, literally and figuratively. Let's have a bit of fun with this. I can't wait to hear what y'all come up with. I have my own ideas, of course. But I haven't lived your life. I want to hear what you think!

I will check back in with you guys later. Have to do some more things on my "to do" list. Before it gets much later. Love you all and TTYL!

Mamacita

Heller!!! A la "Madea." Man, I just love that character. How is everything?

Mamacita

Good Sunday Morning to you, me lovelies. I am flat on my back with a fibromyalgia flare, so this will be brief. I am still a contented member of groups on social media. These groups are wonderful for us Auties. But sometimes we have folks who like to stir up things and cause unpleasantness. The term "troll" has been used, and when these individuals are found out, they are blocked. Hopefully in time to avoid too much damage to the community.

Trigger warnings are another issue I would like to briefly address. The very essence of our lives, our struggles, and successes, involve triumph and defeat. Lessons learned . We learn and we grow by sharing our stories, I believe. I would borrow from our "cousins", the twelve step groups.....I can only share my "experience, strength, and hope." I do not give advice. But I can certainly share what I have seen others do. Their successes and failures. We try here to be honest, respectful, and to treat others as we would like to be treated. In that way of thinking, we are not likely to alarm others with information that is graphic and insensitive.

Thankfully we have wonderful moderators and a director who is amazing. She manages to keep us intact and whole with gentle reminders and lots of good information. Bottom line, that's what we are here for.

Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here. I can't wait to meet all of you someday! Have a lovely rest of the weekend and remember to take good care of you, first. Love and hugs!

Mamacita

@mamacita Thank you for your words. To be in a flare yet take time to message to us, lets me be grateful once again to here on Connect. Please take care of yourself until you feel better. Sending you a warm scone and cuppa tea, all by cyber mail.

Lovely @gingerw, thank you for your kind words. It is so easy to just want to curl up in a ball and stay still all day long, even through the night, when Fibromyalgia rears its ugly head. In fact, I knowingly fell asleep on the sofa and stayed there through the night. It felt so much better to be there than a flat bed with no sides to it.

Being surrounded by heavy weight helps my Fibro so much. I am thinking of getting a weighted blanket just to help with Autism as well as Fibro.

As for taking the time in spite of pain, I am learning that I don't want anyone viewing our site and seeing that nothing has been posted in days.

A newcomer, or someone who has only been scanning our discussion site, might feel disappointed at what might seem to be indifference. Or apathy.

We are anything but apathetic here! If anything, this is the Spectrum Cafe, where we can relax, discuss issues, and chat about what is going on in our lives. I want this group to get better and better at being a place where everyone can do that.

I have reached out on social media, and will continue to do so. I give out Mayo Clinic Connect cards wherever I go. I am on a mission! I want to be able to give what I so desperately needed, years ago. And even now.

Love you, lady!

Mamacita

@mamacita As I read your post, a couple of things dawned on me. Most nights our cat [a rescue who has trust concerns] sleeps plastered to my leg. I have realized her weight and warmth is an anchor for me in a fibro flare and sensory issues being an autie. When she chooses to sleep on the chair, I miss her. She gives me a sense of comfort, besides being a little "hot potato". Critters know how to heal, no doubt.
Ginger

Dear, sweet @gingerw, our little old man Pug is truly a therapy dog. From the very first day we got him from the shelter, he would cuddle up wherever I was and go to sleep.

He never failed to find just the right spot to plant himself. I always have a certain level of pain, but he never fails to be there for me. Animals are so intelligent. Our Sheltie, Franklin, also never failed to go and lie down next to whoever was hurting the most. He just knew.

Pressure therapy has been around for a good while. I know personally it works for me. Believe it or not, in the early days of Autism Awareness, we in the School System had permission from the family to "sandwich" our charges between two bean bag chairs, purchased specifically for that purpose. The children would beg to be "squished. " They felt so relaxed and calm afterwards.

Pardon me while I go check on bean bag prices! Love you big!

Mamacita

playing in the snow miss Lulu AND SHE NEEDS SNOW BOOTS FOR HER PAWSIES MISS mAMAMCITA

@sirgalahad, have I seen pictures of Miss Lulu? Have you gotten a new dog/cat? I needs to know. I am an enquiring mind, after all!

Mamacita

not as yet I am helping out at a boarding cattery on the weekends to get my cat cuddles and helping to clean their home