Autism Answer: Autism is Unique

Autism is unique. 

It tends to magnify universal issues. Whether you yourself are autistic or you love someone who is, it seems to me that the challenges are intense, but also culturally and personally and universally important. 

I think we've been screwing up left and right, up and down, forwards and backwards, in how we relate to each other, what we expect from our children and friends, and how we expect it. 

Autism gives us a magnifying glass that grows these issues, big and beautifully in our face. 

We must deal with them if we are to be kind humans who want to love each other more than we want an easy life with nice things.

Of course, it also brings to the surface a sad truth that many of us don't want to love each other more than we want an easy life with nice things. 

And though that's sad, it's also a gift autism can give us.

The insistence that we look at ourselves and our world with honest eyes and hearts.

Autism is unique.
And we need it right now.
But we don't have to need it, we can instead learn from the autism and autistics in our lives.

When we no longer need autism, we may still get to keep it. But gifts that are accepted and adored affect us much differently than gifts we hide in closets or are afraid to figure out and learn from. Gifts we adore with healthy minds and hearts become a beautiful part of the tapestry of our lives.

Autism is unique.
It is a gift that we must be brave enough to receive. For our humanity and for our souls. And when we do, we will no longer need it.

But we will embrace it.

Because we value colors and landscapes and textures and flavors and melodies and scents, while craving a focus. Autism gives us all of these things.

Autism is unique.
It is exactly what the world needs right now.
And I am grateful.

Hugs, smiles, and love!!
Autism Answers with Tsara Shelton (Facebook)