I don't think I is all, I think there is many I's, many you's, we just hide better. Always. I think the more we let our real I come out, the more the Yous become the yous that feel like Is.
Happy birthday again to the ringmaster of our happy circus family!
My counterintuitive brain takes me to the statement that: “Perhaps being different is not so much a challenge as it could be a choice.”
“What?!?” ; you say. “I had no choice in who I am!”
Hold on. Yes, of course. I am not suggesting we had any choice in our biology, culture, or environment. I don’t mean it is a choice to be different, especially when one is born different from others around them. I am hinting at the idea that different people can (by choice) exist independently of, in defiance of, and even superior to, social expectations.
We are all different in some way, shape, or form. But some of us have the power or means to conform, conceal, ignore, or adapt our differences in order to fit in with the rest of “our world”. Of course, sometimes we do not have any choices, or our difference is exploited or regulated by others. Those differences are beyond our powers to change, even if we wanted to do so. But for some of us, we do become more “comfortable” being different (or as much as we are allowed to be so) than trying to be normal. That being said, I admit this may be the choice of lesser evils. And perhaps we have to relocate to find a community that is compassionate to our difference or is more like us than the rest. It may be a conscious decision to conform, conceal, ignore, or adapt our differences in order to fit in…. or live “out in the open” as we are in the eyes of others. Either is ok, because the decisions we make can also be for different reasons.
And it is the same for me. I am different and live differently in various “communities” (all legal though!). Although, this makes me no better than anyone else, I have always preferred “different” people in my life because of their indifference to the norm and their compassion to the vulnerable. Which, to me, makes “different” the most “normal” character I can appreciate. I could get into how much it is our appreciation of differences ( as we are undeniably so) that allows us to live peacefully in the world, but I will leave it here as is.
Ringmaster! I LOVE this title. I need a painting of me as a ringmaster with all you beauties doing all sorts of circus stuff around. How rad would that be, all wearing the Signal Fire lightning bolt!? Come on, someone has to be a good painter! This response is, as per usual, an enlightening piece of art in and of itself. "The differences are beyond our powers to change," deserves the biggest touchè. I love you sir.
“You don’t have to be anything other than what you are, who you are, how you are.” These words are so affirming to me even at 58. While not on the spectrum, I was always aware a being a bit different. A friend once said to me, “I thought you were weird until I got to know you.” As an adult who has learned how to successfully mask my idiosyncrasies in broad society, I think it’s the other way around: until you get to know me, you’re not going to realize that I’m a little bit weird. I have made peace with who I am although I sometimes still feel that I am lacking savvy in some social groups. Maybe that’s just in my own head, still. The words I quoted are a wonderful mantra, as I strive to be freely and fully myself.
Isn't it wild, how drawn we are to those that are different, those who don't follow the normal paths, those who unite in their feelings of that difference that have been there so long? I love the uniting that happens with this common thread. You're perfect, as you are. Hope ya know.
Oh I was definitely not cool in junior high. I wore what I want. We didn’t have money for me to be cool even if I had known what cool was. Two of my favorite pairs of “shorts” were actually boxer shorts with the fly sewn shut. One was Phoenix Suns that I wore with an orange t-shirt and one was Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechauns with a green shirt. In my spare time I tried to keep my little sister from realizing her parents’ marriage was falling apart.
I am thankful tho, that I didn’t know then what I do now. I enjoyed middle school, honestly, and adult me probably would not so much enjoy it.
I think I accidentally wooed a boy, by telling him the Sparky one wished all her Spicy Mates “Happy Executive Dysfunction!” on Facey, as we all limped towards Shutdown (when Oz…shuts down over Chrissy - New Year).
A Spicy M8 also introduced me to three maaaagical words - decision making fatigue. Again, probs something linked in to never not being Liesl in that magical dress in the gazebo… hopefully not with Rolf (boo hisssss). [Captain Von Trapp is an archetype. The best one.]
Maybe you just need The Sound of Music & take a beat? 💜💜
Junior High you is literally hitting EVERY HIGH FASHION Note of the "season" I am told by those younger than me. Boxer shorts ARE the shorts of all the "it" girls now. How rad are you?! Your final line "in my spare time," was haunting, and beautiful. Thank you.
Always an outlier. The Bohemian that everyone loved but never really got to know.
I found my people in the arts, but even then, I was still the odd one out. Wearing my brother's hand-me-downs [Annie Hall before she became on the screen] and my mother's vintage clothes because I loved them. My father's old ties and his bowling shirt that said Super Duper [the name of the grocery chain he was a lawyer for] ... Super Duper Ellison. And, I embroidered my father's old Navy jeans and my overalls.
An Earth mother at 14 ... into college and somehow beyond. I forgot about her when I was on the psych ward, opting for survival and a touch of fitting in because I felt even more foreign in my 'unseen' diagnosis.
Until two weeks ago, when I discovered my old Shuffle and listened to the music on it, music from 2008 [I was in the hospital in 2011] ... suddenly 'She' came rushing back.
But that's a story for another Signal fire >wink<
As you said. I always knew I was different, I just didn't care. AAAAND ... I love you back.
CHURCH
LFG
(Few spoons. Gonna let Kevin sage us all this week)
He sages us ALLLLL weeks.
You and I are so so much alike 😲. I dig it, but when do I find my people? Is you all? Is that the answer? Thanks for talking about this
Hi, hello, hi.
We're your tribe.
Kevin's the sage with pops of red cordial that lead to the best rabbitholes.
And, I get to be the Pippi Longstocking/Alice from the arse end of the earth (stolen land, residing in Darug.).
Did you wanna lift?
I'm currently benching 35kg from 23kg earlier this year (again. A gymrat tiny dancer of nearly 18 years at the same Dreamhouse).
Maybe we can be the lifting - right here.
With Lady G & TKG 💜💜
I don't think I is all, I think there is many I's, many you's, we just hide better. Always. I think the more we let our real I come out, the more the Yous become the yous that feel like Is.
Happy birthday again to the ringmaster of our happy circus family!
My counterintuitive brain takes me to the statement that: “Perhaps being different is not so much a challenge as it could be a choice.”
“What?!?” ; you say. “I had no choice in who I am!”
Hold on. Yes, of course. I am not suggesting we had any choice in our biology, culture, or environment. I don’t mean it is a choice to be different, especially when one is born different from others around them. I am hinting at the idea that different people can (by choice) exist independently of, in defiance of, and even superior to, social expectations.
We are all different in some way, shape, or form. But some of us have the power or means to conform, conceal, ignore, or adapt our differences in order to fit in with the rest of “our world”. Of course, sometimes we do not have any choices, or our difference is exploited or regulated by others. Those differences are beyond our powers to change, even if we wanted to do so. But for some of us, we do become more “comfortable” being different (or as much as we are allowed to be so) than trying to be normal. That being said, I admit this may be the choice of lesser evils. And perhaps we have to relocate to find a community that is compassionate to our difference or is more like us than the rest. It may be a conscious decision to conform, conceal, ignore, or adapt our differences in order to fit in…. or live “out in the open” as we are in the eyes of others. Either is ok, because the decisions we make can also be for different reasons.
And it is the same for me. I am different and live differently in various “communities” (all legal though!). Although, this makes me no better than anyone else, I have always preferred “different” people in my life because of their indifference to the norm and their compassion to the vulnerable. Which, to me, makes “different” the most “normal” character I can appreciate. I could get into how much it is our appreciation of differences ( as we are undeniably so) that allows us to live peacefully in the world, but I will leave it here as is.
What if we did a rhetoric tweak?
Authenticity over keeping up with the Joneses
The Neurospicies & the sparkly (of which I am the smallest & sparkliest).
What if The Tism is the superpower & we can all chuck an Elizabeth I & middle road it?
Meet in the middle of the air
Binaries are for chumps, tbh.
There HAS to be space for Everyone, or No One.
ALSO. I'm not even the Buddhist on our patch.
I reside kitty corner in House Corinthians with the Pendragon to my Merlin.
Love is a verb.
It has to be.
I don't even know the Joneses to keep up with haha. That's how far out I am.
Ringmaster! I LOVE this title. I need a painting of me as a ringmaster with all you beauties doing all sorts of circus stuff around. How rad would that be, all wearing the Signal Fire lightning bolt!? Come on, someone has to be a good painter! This response is, as per usual, an enlightening piece of art in and of itself. "The differences are beyond our powers to change," deserves the biggest touchè. I love you sir.
“You don’t have to be anything other than what you are, who you are, how you are.” These words are so affirming to me even at 58. While not on the spectrum, I was always aware a being a bit different. A friend once said to me, “I thought you were weird until I got to know you.” As an adult who has learned how to successfully mask my idiosyncrasies in broad society, I think it’s the other way around: until you get to know me, you’re not going to realize that I’m a little bit weird. I have made peace with who I am although I sometimes still feel that I am lacking savvy in some social groups. Maybe that’s just in my own head, still. The words I quoted are a wonderful mantra, as I strive to be freely and fully myself.
Hold on. Weird?
Against whose ledger.
It says more about them than it does about you.
Show up, exactly as you are.
Folk spend a lifetime masking & hitting targets to blend in.
Why do that, when you can unclench your jaw & breathe deeper here?
Isn't it wild, how drawn we are to those that are different, those who don't follow the normal paths, those who unite in their feelings of that difference that have been there so long? I love the uniting that happens with this common thread. You're perfect, as you are. Hope ya know.
Oh I was definitely not cool in junior high. I wore what I want. We didn’t have money for me to be cool even if I had known what cool was. Two of my favorite pairs of “shorts” were actually boxer shorts with the fly sewn shut. One was Phoenix Suns that I wore with an orange t-shirt and one was Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechauns with a green shirt. In my spare time I tried to keep my little sister from realizing her parents’ marriage was falling apart.
I am thankful tho, that I didn’t know then what I do now. I enjoyed middle school, honestly, and adult me probably would not so much enjoy it.
Lolsob. This makes so much sense
Hello, First Pancake Club.
How's your hyperindependence treating you today? 💜
Oh goodness. That’s a loaded question. Lol.
Ah, Lovecat
Hence, the brevity & an Actually Succinct Jo.
I think I accidentally wooed a boy, by telling him the Sparky one wished all her Spicy Mates “Happy Executive Dysfunction!” on Facey, as we all limped towards Shutdown (when Oz…shuts down over Chrissy - New Year).
A Spicy M8 also introduced me to three maaaagical words - decision making fatigue. Again, probs something linked in to never not being Liesl in that magical dress in the gazebo… hopefully not with Rolf (boo hisssss). [Captain Von Trapp is an archetype. The best one.]
Maybe you just need The Sound of Music & take a beat? 💜💜
Junior High you is literally hitting EVERY HIGH FASHION Note of the "season" I am told by those younger than me. Boxer shorts ARE the shorts of all the "it" girls now. How rad are you?! Your final line "in my spare time," was haunting, and beautiful. Thank you.
Always an outlier. The Bohemian that everyone loved but never really got to know.
I found my people in the arts, but even then, I was still the odd one out. Wearing my brother's hand-me-downs [Annie Hall before she became on the screen] and my mother's vintage clothes because I loved them. My father's old ties and his bowling shirt that said Super Duper [the name of the grocery chain he was a lawyer for] ... Super Duper Ellison. And, I embroidered my father's old Navy jeans and my overalls.
An Earth mother at 14 ... into college and somehow beyond. I forgot about her when I was on the psych ward, opting for survival and a touch of fitting in because I felt even more foreign in my 'unseen' diagnosis.
Until two weeks ago, when I discovered my old Shuffle and listened to the music on it, music from 2008 [I was in the hospital in 2011] ... suddenly 'She' came rushing back.
But that's a story for another Signal fire >wink<
As you said. I always knew I was different, I just didn't care. AAAAND ... I love you back.
"I found my people in the arts" is like a rallying cry and shared truth from so many amazing people I know and love. I love that you're one of them.