ScottinSoCal 🇺🇦 🕊 🏳‍🌈 @ScottSoCal@computerfairi.es

@actuallyautistic
I have lived all my life under the tyranny of should. Perhaps because I knew I was different, but without any explanation I didn't know why and so I stuck to the shoulds. You should be this, you should do things this way, this is how you should be. My life in other words was composed of what I should and shouldn't be. I should be hard working, I should be masculine, I shouldn't stand out, I shouldn't be strange. This was, of course, in part self-defence, the masking I learnt early to be able to exist. But it was also the only guide I had. The only way I knew how to be, that wasn't frowned upon or so outlandish by all that I could see about me that it had no place in the world. But only in the quiet places, in the night and the woods. Where I could listen to the silence that was never silent. Feel the connections to the wind and the trees and to the life about me, to the very universe of being that I could sense and feel without words getting in the way. There, briefly, I could be myself. But elsewhere, in the world of man, all I had was the should that imposed, that restricted, that never made any sense or allowed me to flourish, but that never allowed me to be.
But since realising that I am autistic I have been slowly releasing myself from these shoulds and more importantly the shouldn'ts. You shouldn't eat the same things all the time, but I like them. You shouldn't watch the same things over and over again, even though you've watched them a thousand times, but I enjoy them. You shouldn't stand and sway and smile where others can see you, as the world enchants and informs and fills you with wonder. That you shouldn't stand out, that you shouldn't just be yourself. I finally have an answer that makes sense, not an easy answer, or a safe one. But finally access to another way of being, a way that reflects who and how I can be. That doesn't judge or condemn, that doesn't restrict and confine me. I can finally embrace my own way of being, learn and adapt, change and grow how I actually want to and not because I feel I should do. I am finally free of the shoulds and as I am slowly realising, so much happier because of it.

#Autism
#ActuallyAutistic

Didn’t take long 😂

PS on these topics all credit goes to Black people who keep holding the mirror up so we can see who we really are here. Not listing (for safety) but if you’re paying attention, you’ll find who to follow and boost. I will credit Mekka Okereke for making the point that it’s not enough to say oh too bad, fedi doesn’t work for BIPOC at scale. Millions of Black and Indigenous and other people need good off ramps from twitter and the fediverse needs to fulfill its promise and become one of them

for the fediverse to live up to its potential, you do have to report accts that violate rules. when you hit block you have the option of sending a report to the user’s admins, which is what it takes to remove abusive accts.

if someone is invoking systems of oppression in their posts or replies, it’s not just words, it’s harm that causes real stress, anxiety, ptsd etc, all of which are physically unhealthy and/or change a person’s ability to express themselves or seek and find community here

Today sharing about my time in the tech hotspot of Cambridge when that town lead the world in affordable home computers and you couldn't move for young bright things making startups, and I had the most amazing job...

I'm acknowledging that while my undiagnosed #ActuallyAutistic self made life hell, it along with a good dollop of blind chance, also enabled me to have an incredibly interesting and privileged life,.

I won't say that being #autistic rocks but it wasn't all bad.
@actuallyautistic

Hate Group: OTC Birth Control Pills Are Anti-Christian - Joe.My.God. https://www.joemygod.com/2023/07/hate-group-otc-birth-control-pills-are-anti-christian/

See how easy it is to forgive debt?

Lets fucking go ...

Going out for a bit with no functioning AC in the car was a BAD IDEA. Windows down, air outside is HOT. Home now trying to cool down. I grew up in Greece in the 80s and it was never like this. Now you can’t leave the house without water and AC during the summer months. In freaking Canada.

We really are a *stupid* species, aren’t we? 🤦🏼‍♂️

“Tourists flock to Death Valley to experience possible world-record heat of 131 degrees”

https://nypost.com/2023/07/14/heat-fans-head-to-death-valley-for-possible-131-degree-record/

I'm going to do an open mic tomorrow afternoon (comedy). I did one last month and it went well. I'm hoping this one will be better.

Wish me luck.

Well, well, well. Look at the lead story in the Wall Street Journal. #Bidenomics #ThanksJoe

I relate to this so much right now! #AuDHD

Originally shared by Brains and Spoons on Facebook. I don't think they're in the fediverse yet 😕 so, for attribution, here is their link: https://www.facebook.com/brainsandspoons

Wanna bet that someone on YouTube can fix this with a glue stick?

#Funny #Fun #Humor #LOL #Humour

RELENTLESS: Biden finds route around SCOTUS for student loan relief https://occupydemocrats.com/2023/07/15/relentless-biden-finds-route-around-scotus-for-student-loan-relief/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

Night in #TimesSquare #NYC
Prints here: https://mark-tisdale.pixels.com/featured/broadway-nyc-mark-tisdale.html?add-to-cart=&product=art-print

#Manhattan #DigitalArt #MastoArt #FediArt #FediGiftShop #MarkOnArt