Tag: Hope

I HAVE BIG NEWS

May 3rd, 2022

The big news is this- I HAD MY FIRST LIVE INTERVIEW!

This is huge for not only my love for writing, but for getting my name out there.

It all started in a writing community called Hope Writers. I have come across a Facebook post from another Hope Writer looking for a guest to interview for their blog. As nervous as I was, I have replied that I was interested. Then lo and behold, another reply was posted by another Hope Writer. It said, ”I do bi-monthly virtual talks and have been looking for someone to discuss their experiences with autism this month.” Since I did not receive a response from the author of the post, I immediately responded to this reply. Lo and behold, she messaged me, asking me to meet up with her on Zoom to get to know more about me. I did not hesitate! We met over Zoom not too long after. Afterwards, we planned the virtual chat for April 28 of this year!

Once we’ve ended the chat, I was a combination of nervous, excited, insecure, and anxious.

Nervous because it was my first live chat.

Excited because this is a sign that my vulnerability about living with autism is worth the risk.

Insecure because I stutter when nervous, worried, or anxious.

Anxious because speaking in front of an audience is not my forte.

Yep, my emotions were all over the place, but I knew that I had to take the leap in order to overcome my stage fright. The emotions I were experiencing were being internalized. I knew that I could not make how I was feeling obvious. I did not want to give off the false notion that I did not want to go through with the chat.

The best part is that by the grace of God, I have gotten through the 30 minute interview without stuttering left and right.

So what happens now? Well, Renee (the woman who interviewed me) wants me to write a piece for her website. I agreed with no hesitation. Whenever the day comes, I will be ready. It will be my first time writing for someone else, but it’s something I feel in my heart I must do.

My prayer is that when the day comes, I will have the inspiration needed to write a piece that will bless other special needs adults and their families.

All I have to do is search for some inspiration. As hard as it will be to find it, knowing it’s out there is all that counts.

Almost forgot, the video of my interview is available on YouTube. The information is pictured below.
Not Easy, But Worth It

February 15th, 2022

Becoming more public about my experiences as an autistic woman is honestly the best decision I have ever made in my 33 years of living. I would not trade it in for nothing, not even a million dollars. I am constantly getting support from parents of autistic children and it’s absolutely incredible. Nothing but joy overtakes me, knowing that sharing my stories can actually inspire someone else.

There’s a sag though. It’s not as easy as it looks.

As I am speaking more openly about Autism and being on the spectrum, I am quickly noticing the emotional toll it is taking on me. Whenever a parent of an autistic child reaches out to me, I feel like my 10 years old self all over again. The reminders of my childhood and the challenges I faced overtake me. In my heart, I think I discovered why there are not many autistic adults that are willing to discuss their past experiences. It’s not an easy feat being an autistic child. Being reminded of that in adulthood is heartbreaking. You so desperately want to be that beacon of hope for autistic children everywhere. Meanwhile, the awareness of the challenges these angels will face tears my heart out. Part of me wants to jump in and rescue them from their future hardships. I know that’s not possible. If only it was.

However, there is still good within all of this. Instead of holding onto my personal struggles as an autistic adult, I have decided to share my experiences in hopes of inspiring autistic children and their families. I want them to grow up with a positive perspective on life, even though there’s a bumpy road ahead of them. I am walking that bumpy road ever day, but getting too caught up on the negatives about autism only makes living with the disability harder. Yes, it’s a tough thing to discuss personal challenges. But, knowing that there are children who will face similar challenges is tougher.

For those who are concerned about me:

As far as a coping mechanism goes, journaling is part of my writing routine. It keeps me sane. So I do have a healthy outlet if steam has to be let out. Also, I am blessed to have a family who I can turn to for anything. Lastly, I am continuing medical treatment for severe depression and anxiety (commonalities in autistic adults). So no worries. I am okay 🙂

I will continue what I started, even though it’s very difficult. It was a calling that was put on my heart. The uncertainty as to where this leads scares me to death, but I will never know where this will lead if I stop. The journey must continue…

Tag: Hope

I HAVE BIG NEWS

Not Easy, But Worth It