Imagine yourself in a world surrounded by textured glass. You can see images on the other side, but they are all distorted. No matter how hard you try to focus, you can’t make sense of anything that you see.
You try to break free, but what you don’t realize is that it’s ballistic glass. It’s extremely difficult to penetrate, so every attempt fails. You’re stuck.
People on the other side of the glass sometimes get a glimpse of you moving, so they stop to peer inside. With curiosity they watch you, and some even call out to you. But like you, they only see a distorted image.
Desperately, they try to get to you. With every tool they find, they try to shatter the glass, but all attempts are met with failure. You’re stuck and they’re powerless.
Trapped alone, you try to make the most of your life. You learn to find pleasure and joy in the few items around you. That is your home. Some may call it your prison.
With persistence, the people on the other side continue striking the glass. They never give up hope, bringing new tools day after day. They wait. They watch. They hope.
You’re trapped.
Years pass. A tiny crack finally begins to appear in the glass. Slowly the crack grows and widens, until a small hole is formed.
You look through the hole and are amazed by what you see. Even though you don’t know what the images are, they are clear. For the first time, you can see to the other side!
The people rush around the glass, each of them taking a turn to look inside. Smiles fill their faces. After all those years, and although the hole is small, they can see you. Finally.
The glass continues to break apart a little more each day, and with every new break your view broadens. Everything is unfamiliar and overwhelming, but slowly you begin to emerge from the other side of the glass.
The people can sense your hesitance, so not wanting to frighten you, they gently offer their hand and gradually help you to emerge.
Everything on the other side of the glass is peculiar and difficult to understand; the language, expressions, the people. It’s all new to you, and even though the people have seen your image through the glass, you are also new to them.
It will take time to figure it all out, but you are no longer trapped behind the textured glass. You are free.
This is a journey. My son’s journey. A journey called Autism.
Appreciate your helping people glean a better understanding of autism. I like “You are free.” That is positive and forward reaching.
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Thank you. It’s written in honor of my son, who’s Autistic. Over the past several years, I’ve watched as he’s slowly emerged. He’s still making his way out, but he’s come so far!
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What a great way to phrase it for those like, to understand! Beautiful way to honor your son’s journey!
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Thank you, Kate!
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Thank you for sharing this post. I myself have a daughter with autism. It really is arduous work to be able to connect with her.
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You’re welcome. It sure can be, yes. My son seems to connect best with others through humor. Odd humor, but humor nonetheless. In order to get him to grasp things though, it requires constant repeating…like hammering a nail through a wall. But once it penetrates, it’s there to stay.
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Beautiful. His journey has been an amazing, exciting and beautiful one to watch.
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Thank you! It certainly has.
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Wow! So beautifully written. 🙂
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Thank you!
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A beautifully written explanation, with compassion and a mother’s love. Powerful!
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Thank you, Cindi. It’s a wonderful thing to see him emerging day by day, little by little.
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At first, you led me to think that this is what depression feels like at times. However, I love how you shared your experience with Autism. I love reading the pride in your words about him. 🙂
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That would actually be quite fitting too, wouldn’t it? Hadn’t thought of that. Thank you. He makes me so proud, every day.
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Good analogy. I usually use ‘shit-tinted glasses’ to explain how I often see things. Yours is much more elegant!
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Well, thank you! I appreciate that.
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