My autism revelation catapulted my liberation.
It allowed me to begin understanding my story—the why behind, for most of my life, feeling different, unusual, and like I didn’t belong.
This is a story many autistics, and non-autistics, share.
It’s also one of the most painful stories we tell ourselves; on a personal/individual level, this can lead to depression, bullying, suicide, self-harm, violence, abuse, shame, addictions.
When we feel separate from one another collectively, hierarchy, all the “isms,” and war begins. It’s where we see the split of “better than/less than” and “not enough/too much.”
This plays out on a global stage with politics and philosophies that harm our world because we have one group of people believing they are better than others, translating into the idea that some of us belong whilst others, well … not so much.
It’s linked to the myth that we are not interconnected.
When one of us feels we don’t belong, none of us are quite aligned in the world, as we are intimately interconnected and thus, responsible for eachother.
We belong to ourselves, to one another … and this world.
And when we see that — really feel it and know it in our very bones — we begin understanding we have a responsibility toward one another, to ensure that we care-take our land, the plants and animals, our governing systems, education. It starts with making sure those of us with the most needs are first taken care of.
If one of us suffers, we all suffer.
Likewise, when we’re free to be who we truly are and self-express (especially anyone who feels different, sidelined, oppressed, everyone benefits.
I truly have a vision of this world where we tell new stories of belonging, of freedom, of wild self-expression and acceptance … of ourselves and eachother.
And I believe that when we begin telling new stories, our world will change. We will not see the illusion of separation and feel the pain it causes us. Or at least it will be drastically reduced.
We will understand that we are different, unique, and beautifully necessary in order for us to hear the harmonious music we make together.
Do not be fooled: we already make this music … we just don’t hear it.
I want to hear it. With you.
I want to hear it when I press my ears to the dirt.
I want to hear the sky moan and the wind whisper your name.
I want to listen to the dove call to its lover and the stars weep, witnessing the beauty.
I want to hear your heart beat as I walk past you, and you hear mine.
I want us to recognize the symphony of love that plays when people, animals, plants — all beings — interchange and interact with one another.
I want us all to be liberated from the outmoded belief that we are separate from one another.
I want to hear your freedom song.