For those who missed the fun, yesterday was the #AutismPositivity2013 Flashblog where people sent in thoughts about the theme “1,000 Ausome Things” in an effort to counter at least some of the ongoing negativity surrounding autism and those who are autistic. All the posts have been compiled ‘here‘. I helped tweet, share, google+ and pinned the posts as they came flooding in and WOW! It was exhilarating to read so many words written by Autistic people, young and not so young, non-autistic parents, Autistic parents, siblings, cousins, educators and everything in between. There were bullet points, numerical lists, stories, photos and even a couple of videos!
It was wonderful to see so many coming together over a shared idea. A moment when the common goal was to rejoice. A tiny moment when it wasn’t about anything other than what was AUSOME about a neurology we have come to call autism. And it reminded me of something. It reminded me of a time in my marriage when a therapist suggested Richard and I make a note every night, not of all that was wrong, or a list of our grievances, but a list of all the other had done right. A list of all that was ‘good’. These are subjective words, but we understood the goal was to look for the positive in the other. And guess what? It was the single best advice anyone ever gave us! When we concentrated on that which the other was doing that was kind, took notice of the little gesture made, the loving glance, the dish that was put away, the trip to the store for the milk that no one had remembered to buy, all those little acts each person did, when those were noticed, they added up to something bigger. They added up to an expression of love neither of us could have voiced.
That’s what yesterday’s Flashblog was about… love. Self love, love of another, hundreds of voices expressing love.
This image was created by the very talented Lori Miller Degtiarev of the blog A Quiet Week
Emma's Hope Book 
Love. ❤ 🙂
😀
Thank you so much for your daily messages. I stumbled on your website as I was researching looking for answers for my grandson who was diagnosed just this past November. He is very high-functioning but I find myself looking for ways to make things work more smoothly when he does have his meltdowns. Your notes are a blessing and give me a place to relate. Again, thanks for all you are doing and I wish you and your daughter the best of everything. You are really touching a lot of lives with your blog.
Rita! Thank you so much for leaving such a lovely message here for me! I hope you are finding information that is helping. Judy Endow writes a great deal about meltdowns and what to do in those situations. I have found her perspective particularly helpful. Ibby’s blog Tiny Grace Notes is also wonderful and she happily answers questions people have.
We should all be so lucky to have such an attentive, caring Grandmother as you obviously are!
^^^^^^what Andrew said^^^^^^
💕💕💕
It’s all good…. it really, really is.
Yes it IS!
Such lovely thoughts. Thank you for sharing. I will float off to sleep with a huge smile on my face! 🙂
Oh I am so, so glad. I just love it!!
Glad Autism Positivity Day 2013 went well and you’re right gratitude makes even the most ordinary acts extraordinary.
Grateful for YOU, Nisha! 🙂