Welcome NEW Members

[Guest guest]

Greetings:

I just wanted to take a moment to WELCOME NEW members. Our community continues to grow as more folks gain awareness of AS and seek answers for family members or those in a relationship where U suspect AS may help to explain some of the issues you are experiencing.

ASPIRES is a "mixed" bag of nuts as we are a group of parents, partners, spouses and those "with" AS. Some of us continue to make the journey while others are just starting their path.

Those that have sought membership privately through me have given me a glimpse into "your" fork in the road. Allow me to share a little about me.

My name is and I am the list owner. I was married to Larry a self dx. Aspie for 18 years. We are now divorced, although we still see each other because of the kids. We have 3 kids. , soon to be 24 working on her Masters; Cass just turned 21 dx. With AS in 1990 {I always remembered it as 1994 lol] working and living with Larry and Britt soon to be 20 dx with ADHD @ the age of three that turned out to be an ASPIE. She lives with me. Larry and I believe AS runs on both sides of our family in various degrees. Larry and I tried to make our marriage work, but the differences were too great for both of us. We live close to each other and get along much better.

As life would have it I went back to work 3 years ago with a tech company. The fact that I am still there is because of the money in the area I live in (a resort/retirement) and the fact that I love the job. I won't lie to you as it has been a challenge as it is mixed with NS/AS BUT, we don't live together. <Wink> it has been a great place to practice skills while doing your job.

Part of life is finding your way and overcoming challenges. We are often placed in a position that makes us feel uncomfortable. I tell Britt this every time she comes and complains about work. "They asked me to train someone today and I suck at it. What are they thinking?" Maybe YOU need training and you have to learn to step out of your shell and try?" "Do U think I don't do this every day at work there is always some situation that comes up where I am left to make the final call. Maybe it is the right one, maybe it’s not it depends on how the powers to be look at the situation and how I explain how I came to the resolution. With me it is not always the facts, although I look at that first, it is emotion and empathy and a responsibility of behavior. That is how "I" work and we all work differently as we are all wired differently. I work in customer service for a small wireless company that was just taken over by Verizon. There are some things they do differently although we are still operating under our label until they overlay our towers. Never a dull moment as technology changes moment by moment.

Life is no different. Friends and relationships come and go as we travel our journey through life. I was watching the movie, "The Other Sister," the other day when the husband told the wife, when U get our age and are not talking to your kids, you are missing a big part of the journey. Life is too short. Life is hard. My journey with AS was probable exactly like it was suppose to be. "I" had to get it and decide what direction "I" wanted to move it. "I" had to "get it" for ME. It was all about ME. Once "I" got it and what it meant to "me", I became more productive to all around me. I was OK with "ME" and my choices. Will I always get it right? NEVER. BUT, making mistakes and repairing them and learning from them is just a part of my path to the mountain.

I wish this for you. Read, read and LISTEN and filter out all that does not apply to you. Find yourself and in the process hopefully U will discover it all begins with YOU!! We spend so much time blaming others for our situation that we cannot sometimes see the trees through the forrest.

It is all about YOU. It starts with YOU and the energy you radiate. I find myself saying with confidence these days after being in the community, "I just don't get it?" lol Folks just laugh and say it again it a different format. "What don't U get? I get the gist of what U are saying but not the entire picture? I hear U saying this is what I see for the project and your road map is vague to me. I'm visual; can U draw your vision out? OK, I get it! I think we have to be more proactive when asking for help or clarification NS or AS. It is OK to say, "I don't get it?" lol It's OK to be different, but that is just my experience.

Welcome to ASPIRES. May U find the answers YOU are seeking...?