Hello everyone

Thank you Lauren,

I appreciate your insightful words and advice. 

Wishing you lots of happiness in this new chapter of your life.

Debbie

I’ve been playing spyro again! I might start up on Skyrim online at some point and will send you over my ID if you’re ever interested in an adventure together. Also know what it’s like to be judged and misunderstood - I think some people do it deliberately

Hi thank you so much for your kind welcome! 

It is so refreshing to find a space that has so many wonderfully kind people to talk with and it has been the most warm place I’ve been able to reach out and talk in. I hope you have found a similar experience here since I se we are similar in our experiences with ‘fitting in’ and nerves. 

German is amazing snd I love learning it! I hope you have enjoyed your classes on it as it’s such a rewarding feeling to not only learn language but explore the cultures to.

I would have to say that my favourite animal is the Chinese water deer as I love the little fangs they have! What animal is your favourite?

Video game wise I have an absolute list!

Currently I’m replaying Skyrim on survival mode, Escape the backrooms, Minecraft, Overwatch 2, Pokemon, Peak a lot and I just finished 100% Red Dead Redemption 2

In terms of games I enjoy then there are so many more! What games do you enjoy?

I love to learn German immensely it just brings me a lot of joy to be able to keep my mind active and discover more about cultural differences.

I hope you get to go and visit the old studio! It sounds like it would be a really interestIng trip, and I’m sure Düsseldorf is beautiful with is harbour! 

I will definitely go look her up! I’m very I tested now and I appreciate you telling me about her art so much thank you!

Hi Debbie!

I am re Ive ting slowly but doing quite well thank you! Just letting myself rest up a lot and I’ll be back at work February time so still got a good few days to get over the sick bug.

I agree! I love forests so much, let me sit in the trees on a sunny day and watch the sunlight hit the leaves and I’m happy.

I am sorry the post diagnosis has been difficult for you, I know it can be quite daunting to process everything and sometimes things still feel like they make no sense. I’m glad you’re exploring things to help your wellbeing and I hope you find ways to gently understand your experiences with your diagnosis. The biggest advice I can give is any thoughts you have on this are valid and never push them down, let yourself feel freely with criticism of yourself, we should always be our number one supporter.

Hi Lauren,

Thanks for your lovely reply. I am sorry that you have been poorly. Hope you are recovering well?

I am so pleased that you are making more connections. 

Forests are amazing aren’t they. I can look at trees for hours, and I am in awe of their beauty.

Post diagnosis has been quite difficult for me, and I think I am starting to feel less scared about the future. Burn out has been problematic so I am exploring ways to improve my wellbeing.

Hope you have a great week.

Debbie 

Hi Lauren, welcome! It’s really brave of you to share your story. I’m also autistic and I completely understand that feeling of never quite 'fitting in' or being nervous in new communities.
I love the digital art in your profile picture the detail is amazing! I also really enjoy [German/documentaries/video games], As I have had series of German classes. I'd love to hear more about your favorite animals or which video games you’re playing lately whenever you feel comfortable sharing.
Please know there is zero pressure to reply quickly. I know social energy can be a lot, so just reach out whenever you feel like it. I'm glad you're here!

Hi there! 

oh wow we really do have a lot in common! I would love to connect! 

I apologise for the late reply I have been poorly with a horrible chesty cold that knocked me about a bit! 

Hi Debbie!

Thank you for the warm welcome! I am definitely making more connections that feel more authentic and understanding and I hope you are getting on well with being newly diagnosed as I know it can be a little daunting at the beginning.

i love the outside especially in forests and one nearby to me has tress from around the globe planted so it’s amazing to walk around and see them all!

I apologise for the late reply, I caught a terrible chesty cold!

:) Thank you I hope so too. 

Hi Lauren,

I think you sound really cool, and it seems we have a lot in common. And your profile picture looks great!

I’m 36 and got my autism-diagnosis last year. I love graphic design, gaming (don’t ask me how many hours I spent playing Overwatch ), and languages (I’m Norwegian and studied English in Germany ). I lived in Germany for 10 years, and I loved it. 

I’d love to connect if you’re up for it! 

Hello Lozza, I admire you learning German. I did try but am dyslexic so struggled. I do like Kraftwerk and would like to visit Dusseldorf one day to see their old studio. Last time I mentioned Fassbinder to a German they thought his films were miserable.

The Alice Neal exhibition was about two years ago but remember a portrait of Andy Warhol as he loved her work. Neal produced a self nude at the age of eighty as she would be accused of insanity not vanity if she were younger. She had a great sense of humor as one portrait was considered so shocking they had to exhibit it in a cleaners cupboard back in the 60's. Please do look her up as she is not well know here. Glad I did go as I loved her work within minutes of walking in.     

Hi Lauren,

I hope that you meet authentic friends and make positive connections. I am fairly newly diagnosed too and just wanted to say  

I share your interests in nature and wildlife. Being in green spaces is when I am most relaxed and able to be my authentic self. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Debbie 

Hi thank you for the lovely welcome! The outside is such a beautiful place when you get to be in nature and forests have always been wonderful places to walk and enjoy slower paced relaxing. I hope you’ll get to spend a lot of time outside this year! 

Hi thank you so much for the kind welcome! 

That is soo coo, it is nice to meet another person who enjoys German culture! My friend lives in Germany and often tells me about it there and just the past few days we stared speaking more in German to help my confidence grow!

Oh id love to hear about the exhibit sometime if you find time!

Hello Lauren :) I hope you find some supportive connections here. I also like spending time in forests, I would like to spend more time outdoors in nature this year. Welcome :)

Hello Lauren and wellcome to the community.

I enjoy my own company and have a love of German culture as Kraftwerk are my favorite band and Fassbinder is my favorite film director. I also appreciate art and  enjoyed a Alice Neal exhibition at London's Barbican Centre a few years ago.

I habe such a love for languages! I also get to learn so much about the cultures of the people who speak them too! I am always fascinated by it! 

I do draw too! I can draw in both traditional and digital media. Digital is my preferred but I loved the old pencils and ink drawings by hand too!

Yes, it’s a wonderful place and I’ve always felt very accepted here. It’s pretty special :) 

Thank you so much for the warm welcome! I’m finding it so very full of wonderful friendly people here like yourself!