The Conscious Crow: Acceptance Autism – A different perspective
As we glide past April coasting into May, we reflect upon April, also known as “Autism Awareness Month,” and what treasures it brought to our life. No individual experiences the world from our exact perspective. It looks different for everyone. And for those experiencing life with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or Asperger Syndrome, socially acceptable “norms” and things that may come so easily and naturally, are a daily struggle and entirely foreign concept.
A handful of social cues generally allow us to comfortably engage with one another. There are an invisible set of social rules that define how we are to behave and communicate with one another, and when someone does not align with conventional standards like: look us in the eye, offer a common gesture we are accustomed to, or present themselves in a familiar way, we make the mistake of identifying and applying an unfair label. If someone does not mirror a response that is “socially acceptable,” fits the conventional approach, and instead responds in a manner we least expect – or even find inappropriate for a situation- we revert to obsolete, inaccurate definitions.
In reality, there is absolutely no “normal.” Not one way particular way to be or interact with each other. There are as many ways to communicate as there are types of individuals in the world. Since there are an infinite number of ways to express our human nature and we each experience the world in such a radically different manner, so too the behavior following our communication approach need be just as unique. An entire realm of creative expression and wholesome connection is overlooked if we blindly conform to societal constraints, with the pressure of fitting into an outdated, illusory “social norm” that no longer applies to such a rote description of acceptance. Instead of yielding the ever-expanding expression of ourselves into a model that hinders natural growth, creates barriers and tailors to how we once were, let’s alter our style and approach of communication to fit what we are now becoming.
If we lack attention and education towards a topic then we cannot expect appropriate action to follow. In other words: we cannot know what to look for if we do not know what we are looking for. Only when we are exposed and given awareness are we able to act with conscious intent and a higher level of recognition to a more positive, inclusive relationship with our incredibly diverse world. This seed of awareness grows every time we turn our attention in any given direction. The more compassionate, accepting and understanding we are, the more effectively we are able to engage, communicate, and shine light upon each and every variety of truth in the spectrum of our existence, uniting every walk of life and relating with the intrinsic humanness we all exude.
The Conscious Crow ~ Reminding you to Grow!