February 24, 2019

Yesterday, a friend complimented my ability to build healthy relationships by clearly communicating my boundaries, expectations, and wishes – and asking others for theirs in return.

I thanked her, but also laughed, saying that I only have this ability because I’m compensating for my disability. The reason I try so hard to establish clarity is because I’m terrified of ambiguity.

Communication can often feel like an uphill battle, with misunderstandings causing wounds in both directions. But so many years of fighting have made me a warrior for clarity, and it feels nice to finally begin reaping the rewards.

P.S. I write from my personal experience as an autistic. What I share is not a substitute for advice from an autistic medical professional. Also, some of my opinions have changed since I first wrote them.