I recently found out that someone living with Asperger's Syndrome is known as an "Aspie" for short. I've been a part of the autism population since I was young, growing up into normal intelligence (High-functioning Autism). I connect with people by observing a"common denominator." I take interest in many things so creatively that I make jokes about them once in awhile. As a writer, it seemed like a lifetime ago when I had trouble with reading comprehension. I couldn't thank my tutors enough to stick by my side while I was reading aloud, memorizing more words and rules of grammar. As challenging as History and English subjects are after the third grade, I found reading as more of my strong suit for research and writing. Mass media (news, TV shows, movies, comics) became my obsession when I started writing outside of my school assignments.
As I got older, my writing got more original and consistent by staying organized with the content and keeping them in separate journals. Yet, my Aspie intellect needs a few objectives on why I'm so motivated to write:
Self-Reflection
When life gets complicated, feelings are mixed. I once thought that a true diarist keeps a journal updated every day. I chose to write at my own pace because I don't always have a change of thought overnight. My most notable repetitive behaviors have been saying "sorry" at an impulse of guilt and saying "I know" with a loss of eye contact when I feel someone lecturing me. I usually feel better after writing about negative experiences if I'm consoled by someone first.
Changing My Perception of the World
I love people because they are the ones that make the world go round in the great "senses" of diversity and community. However, my hearing gets hypersensitive out of the concepts of "indoor/outdoor voices." Most of the time, I haven't been able to tell if my parents were yelling at me or only spoke in a volume loud enough for my attention. If I ever chose to be really focused on writing or reading, I listen to classical music. Loud, obnoxious noises make me less productive like washing machines and city traffic. I tend to speak in a quiet voice for the courtesy of others in case if I sound too monotone.
Accountability
Along with my college major of psychology, I took a minor in writing. I took up more responsibilities of my thoughts kept away in my journal for all of my secrets and truthful feelings. If I wanted to study people for a living, I would like to motivate more professionals on active communication. That starts with the effective listening, proper documentation and the research for further improvements.
Opening My Mind to New Ideas
Movies and TV shows have helped me dig deeper into my overall reality. My old history teacher had a quote that made more sense to me for what research is all about: "Everything is relevant." If the Odyssey Online is holding any kind of destiny for me, it must mean that I write to explore new ideas. If I'm ever caught quoting off movies randomly, that's just one repetitive behavior used as an ice-breaker when I'm wanting to fit in. If I sing a song relating to a group discussion, I get an easy laugh out of the group. If I can recall any healthy facts about food, I'm looking out for someone's health.
My Therapy
Even writing about pain and strong emotions can be indescribable at the moment. I can try to stay optimistic as much as I want, but I also want to be real with people. If I'm not writing down my negative feelings privately in my journal, I'm tempted more to rant all over my Facebook wall. My journal has been and will continue to be a great use of my recollection. Not only I can edit my grammar mistakes, I can write more about how I would've spent my day differently or how I would've interacted with people differently. If I have a single obsession in a past week, that's a personal journey I could make into a story.
Lately, writing has become a whole new thought process for myself. When I take time for self-reflection, I keep my sanity. I find comfort in my perception where and whenever I can. I admit my strengths and weaknesses for accountability. I research, go places, and take up new hobbies for new ideas. The cheapest therapy session out there may last 10 minutes or more of writing. I keep writing while I'm growing.
