Finding my way in...

Hi Blackfeather, just wanted to say that was a beautiful post. 

I wanted to say something poignant in return, but it appears I can't today, my reserves must be too low. But please know the sentiment is there!

Looking forward to hearing more from you here!

Hi Blackfeather and welcome!!

Thank you for this beautiful post.(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠

I feel things deeply too, it’s a blessing and a curse, so finding people who understand that is rare.

I agree with what you said about people being wonderful. It made me realise how special this place is, and not to take it for granted.

It’s not often you find gentle souls, people who think the way I do, or people who don’t think I’m weird for loving nature.

I’m really glad you’re here, and I hope you’ll stay.

(⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

Thank you Blackfeather for your beautiful post. This community feels very supportive. I’ve only been here a day so far.

Thanks you black feather! I needed your positive words today. I felt like giving up a little bit. Yeh I will keep sharing my light everyone it's a nice light

Hi and welcome to the community. I'm female, in my sixties and retired. I've known that I was on the spectrum for almost 10 years now and have learned a lot and shared a lot on this forum. But I've never heard what I've experienced said in quite the same way that you did:

Blackfeather said:

I live mostly in observation. I feel deeply, often too deeply, so it takes me time to process language and emotion

That is beautifully put and resonates with me. I hope you stay and share more insights.

Thank you, It will be a change not to bore the pants of people.

Hello Blackfeather You are very welcome to the community.

You say such lovely things—thank you.

Glad that you are here.

Hi ... isn’t it! I felt that too — almost overwhelmingly so. It amazed me how many people could articulate the deepest wounds alongside the gentlest yet most powerful words of encouragement and support. And I don’t think I read a single ‘you just need to keep going’ (the sound of those particular words, in that particular order .......heaven save me).
The best gift I’ve ever given myself was to stop what I was doing long enough to discover what was actually going on.
I wish the best for you on your  path of self-discovery. 

Thank you, I'm genuinely excited by being here! And I have to say, your interests in archaeology, ancient DNA, and anthropology absolutely light me up, they sound like the most delicious monotropic rabbit holes!

Hello. I was always mostly overloaded so never stopped to think. I knew I was different but assumed I was normal and everyone else was wrong. I was somehow extra normal.

It seems a bit funny now. I am not sure how I thought that. I guess it just didn't occur to me I might be autistic; it was suggested once a long time ago but I dismissed it out of ignorance (a bit more understandable 30 years ago when less was known).

I thought it was others that were just not so good at communicating. I guess it is a strange type of arrogance, or defence mechanism.

Anyway, at least you have found some others now.

Thank you for your warm welcome and kind words of acceptance. Acknowledging that I can’t walk this path alone is a powerful new step for me. I’m working on prioritising my needs, learning to accept myself as I am, and finding the courage to share my lived and survived experiences within the support, help, and kindness of others. I’m truly grateful to be met with such understanding. Thanks again!

What a beautiful entrance. Thanks for sharing your observation with us.

The line about never having said 'people are wonderful' until today really landed with me. It's a powerful thing to finally find a community after holding your stories quietly for so long.

Take all the time you need to process, observe, and settle in. You are already offering support just by sharing such a thoughtful sentiment. Welcome.

Thank you, I hope you stay and contribute more posts, you sound like a lovely person

What a wonderful post (I also don't say that very often!) I am glad you have found this a helpful place to visit, I know I have. "I live mostly in observation" is something I recognise strongly.

I find a lot of the things I have experienced in my life very difficult to put into words in a coherent way. Hearing other's stories and seeing such familiar thoughts that I have struggled to articulate is a huge comfort and aid to self discovery.