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The Autistic Achievement Rulebook

B

Just quoting myself here from the 'Self Worth' thread:

'There is also the question of life achievements/stages eg. degree, career, buying a home, marriage, having children.

If we don't 'achieve' these stages, I think that can unfairly affect our sense of self worth.'

We say we haven't achieved the usual life stages but maybe they need to be different for us because we aren't so likely to just fall into those particular 'achievements'.

We can make our own.  Re-write the 'achievement rulebook'.

So, what do you see as an achievement for yourself in the light of your autism?

Or what do you think is an achievement generally for us autistic souls?

I will start with connection - I have connected quite profoundly I think with animals, insects and trees.

Parents

  • Hmmmmm.....

    Interesting question, and one I am at a loss to answer properly, as my experience of autism is so limited, having only been diagnosed a little more than a month ago.  But here go my achievements of note to me;

    1) Getting a job in an approvals laboratory.  The company employed around 600 people, and more than two-thirds had a degree (I did not), with around half of those having multiple postgraduate qualifications and around 50 world-renowned experts in their respective fields.  Talk about feeling 'less than'!  However, it spurred me to enrol and then graduate with a master's degree.  Truthfully, I think that anyone who graduates, at any level, deserves the award, as it's jolly hard work. Now I realise that being autistic probably did me no favours in getting it.
    2) Sticking to my guns and getting a diagnosis.  Despite living in Spain and having to navigate everything in a second language, I knew that had to be done, and that letting it slip by unresolved was not an option.  So, after several false starts (especially being let down by an extremely rude diagnostician), I eventually paid to see a private consultant who was the most understanding and patient person one could wish for.
    3) Never giving up.  Sure, like most people, I have had setbacks, and there have been times when I really could not be bothered to 'keep on truckin', but eventually I have always found a way of achieving whatever goal I have set myself.  Often it was slow; one could say I habitually took the scenic route, but get there I inevitably did.

    The other stuff- relationships, house owning, jobs, hobbies- was to me just part of life.  Sure, I am immensely proud of my daughter and grandkids, but they did most of the work in becoming decent human beings, so I feel slightly fraudulent in claiming credit for their achievements.  Grinning

    Now I am an oldish bloke with a new mountain to climb.  This time I have time to take whatever route works for me as I get to grips with autism and what it brings (positive and negative) to my life.

Reply

  • Hmmmmm.....

    Interesting question, and one I am at a loss to answer properly, as my experience of autism is so limited, having only been diagnosed a little more than a month ago.  But here go my achievements of note to me;

    1) Getting a job in an approvals laboratory.  The company employed around 600 people, and more than two-thirds had a degree (I did not), with around half of those having multiple postgraduate qualifications and around 50 world-renowned experts in their respective fields.  Talk about feeling 'less than'!  However, it spurred me to enrol and then graduate with a master's degree.  Truthfully, I think that anyone who graduates, at any level, deserves the award, as it's jolly hard work. Now I realise that being autistic probably did me no favours in getting it.
    2) Sticking to my guns and getting a diagnosis.  Despite living in Spain and having to navigate everything in a second language, I knew that had to be done, and that letting it slip by unresolved was not an option.  So, after several false starts (especially being let down by an extremely rude diagnostician), I eventually paid to see a private consultant who was the most understanding and patient person one could wish for.
    3) Never giving up.  Sure, like most people, I have had setbacks, and there have been times when I really could not be bothered to 'keep on truckin', but eventually I have always found a way of achieving whatever goal I have set myself.  Often it was slow; one could say I habitually took the scenic route, but get there I inevitably did.

    The other stuff- relationships, house owning, jobs, hobbies- was to me just part of life.  Sure, I am immensely proud of my daughter and grandkids, but they did most of the work in becoming decent human beings, so I feel slightly fraudulent in claiming credit for their achievements.  Grinning

    Now I am an oldish bloke with a new mountain to climb.  This time I have time to take whatever route works for me as I get to grips with autism and what it brings (positive and negative) to my life.

Children
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