I joined today

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Hi all.....

My name is Scott, aka JazzofLife. Joined today, after someone told me about Wrong Planet. Was officially diagnosed with both AS and AD/HD in the fall of 2007. Adjusted to AS on my own without help of any support group. Adjusted to AD/HD with help of support group. Not any AS resources available in southeast Tennessee.

However, when I was diagnosed with both things, I felt as if I had been slammed against the wall or thrown against the floor violently. I asked my then girlfriend, "You're kidding me, right?" Took me two years before I came to accept, like, and love myself fully for whom I am. Then, I saw these as labels which I couldn't handle. Now, there are labels, sure, but I don't let them affect my life.

I used to be someone who enjoyed being "in the backdrop," making others look good in the limelight. Soon, I'm going into the limelight, and I won't care the least bit what others think Looking forward to letting others know about AS and AD/HD.

congrats and welcome. youll get your first day chip at the end of the night

Can you elaborate on meaning? I had a couple friends during my life, I felt were soul-mates. One loved being the center of attention, and I would babysit, and stayed on the sidelines as her friend, while she pursued her ambitions/interests. I made a second friend and helped him get his book republished, even built him a website for his articles, and did everything to help him, and to promote his book.

I didn't really want limelight on myself.

So what are you planning to do with the limelight when it arrives your way?

Welcome and Greetings from Coastal NC beaches! Not quite, but close to this neck of the woods

abandon hope all ye enter here

Welcome, fellow-traveler Scott, to the Wrong Planet community.

Welcome!

I'm not "officially" diagnosed yet, but it's so obvious now that I know about it. I'm having a bit of a tough time accepting it myself. Glad to know that someone has come around!

Thanks.. glad to know I'll be getting some chips.

unlike AA chips aspie chips can be cashed in for liquor

Thank you, AspieForty. Yeah, coastal NC must be an awesome place. Never been there, but have heard great things from people who have visited that area.

Many folks with AS prefer to be "in the backdrop" working by themselves, or working for someone else. They don't want anything focused on them. That's how I was for many, many years, always helping, always doing whatever to make sure others looked good. At times, I enjoyed having no one around me for long periods of time.

That is about to change. I see the saxophone as my "horse whisperer." Anyone who is familiar with horses understand the impact a horse can have on a child. Many times, the horse can help a child in many ways. In my case, I see the sax playing the same role with me. Late last year, I asked myself, "What is my passion in life? What drives me? What would I do for nothing, if I had an opportunity to share my passion with others?"

Then, as I brainstormed, one thing became increasingly clear to me. I had been listening to smooth/cool/contemporary jazz (think Kenny G and Dave Koz here), ever since I was in high school, many moons ago. I continue to listen to smooth jazz ever so passionately to this day. Sharing my love for smooth jazz with others has been a latent passion for mine for years and years. A few friends of mine said to me, "You know, Scott, you should pick up a sax and play it. You could probably make a sax sing."

As I got to reflecting upon all this, I thought about my official diagnosis with AS and AD/HD. I feel very fortunate to be diagnosed with those, because I realized, "This is perfect. I can go into the limelight, and use both AS and AD/HD as platforms to educate people at concerts and elsewhere." I am playing the sax, not for the fame or for the money. But to anyplace and anywhere anyone will listen to me. I am very humble about all this, and am appreciative to all my future fans who support me.

Thanks, JetLag. Glad to see that Snoopy's about ready to type another masterpiece. "It was a dark and stormy night."

When I think of soul-mates, I think of two people who are bonded spiritually, mentally, and emotionally in a way that transcends a typical relationship between two people. Soul-mates can be between a parent and child, friends, a man and woman in a romantic/SO/marital relationship. Not defined by distance, and are cosmically connected. I had a soul-mate friendship for a couple of years with someone in Europe. A soul-mate can be someone who will mirror you, show you everything that is holding you back...a person who will bring you to your own attention so you can change your life. Often the most important person you'll ever meet, as they learn from each other.

People are fortunate, if they have had one soul-mate connection in their lives. Even more fortunate, if this happens at least a few times. That's my take.

One of my obsessions is paleontology/marine biology/gastropods/mollusks/etc living fossils...

I can drive about 3 miles (give or take) and I'm at the beach and collecting beautiful Eastern Augers (Terebra dislocata) or Lettered Olives (Oliva Sayana) by the handfuls. Soon the tourists will pour in. I usually avoid the beaches when the tourists show up. I photograph my findings, and locate scientists who can identify the species. Here's a couple photos I've made of local species.


Lettered Olive


Eastern Auger, or Atlantic Auger

Field guides can be most useful... amazon is an excellent source for books. I've obtained a book on North Carolina birds, and thinking about trying to track down each type of bird, make my own photos and then add it into my Zoology Quest wiki... one of my dreams is one day to publish a book on *something* nature related... yes, this area for the beauty of the wildlife / scenery is wonderful.



I relate to that. It sounds as though you understand something about organizing and coordinating publicity relations.



You're doing the right thing with your life. Excellent route to take with your life, choosing something positive with your talents and doing something constructive that will help others. I wish you the very best with everything.

Hi Athena....

Thank you! As I shared earlier from my first post in this thread, I felt like "Me? How could someone like me, who has accomplished so much and has been very successful in his life - all of a sudden be told he has both Asperger's and AD/HD at the same time? I didn't want to believe it. I denied it time and time again. I was like, "Maybe someone else, but not me. I didn't move to Tennessee to be told this."

It's funny how life has a way of letting people know that things aren't always going to be the same. I can remember journaling shortly after the diagnoses, thinking to myself, "Woe is me, woe is me, because now my life will never be the same." As you can imagine, I couldn't live with myself being like this. Took me two years. Yes, two years, before I finally accepted, liked, and love myself. At first, I could have been like the screaming kid throwing a temper tantrum and keeping it up so much. However, no one attended my pity party. Misery often loves company, so one one was about to listen to me either.

Also, I remember thinking, "How in the world do I make it through this tunnel? There's no way I am going to make it through this. Even recovering from my divorce was easier." But one thing I learned over time. It's all about one day at a time, and going forward. First, it's learning to accept who you are. Grieving (as I did) about the past, and thinking I would rather live as I did in the past compared to where I am now. If people would have told me, "Scott, two or three years from now, your life will be much better than what it is now," I would laughed in their faces and probably thought they were all nuts - literally. I would have never, in my wildest of dreams, thought that my life would be like it is today. Never. But, until I came to terms with accepting myself as being AS and AD/HD, I would never move forward in my life.

After accepting yourself, comes liking yourself. You found you can accept what you have. But comes the challenge of actually liking yourself. To realize, "You know what? I like myself. I like how far I have come in my life with having AS. I realize now it is a label that does not define me." Because, you see, we can choose to do one of two things. We can choose to let a label like AS, AD/HD, MS, CP (cerebral palsy), or anything else define who we are. Or, we can choose to transcend beyond that label and remind ourselves, "You know what? I like myself, because this label does not define me. It might suggest that I have this, but having this label does not dictate my life." And having AS or anything else should not dictate a person's life. Might present challenges in life, sure. But in living life, no way.

Then after a person has accepted and liked himself, comes the challenge of loving one's self. To love yourself, and not giving a hoot what others think. I would venture to guess that at the start of this year is when I loved myself truly. So much so that I don't care what other people think of me. If they want to look at me weird, because I might be a little quirky in my actions, let them. What's normal anyway, right? In loving myself, I have pushed my "comfort zone" so far out it's not funny. I thought I did a great job of pushing out my "comfort zone" in 2003. But that time in my life pales in comparison to what I have done in the past year.

What have I done? I've established a support base, by going out and networking with others when I could have chosen the easy route and feel withdrawn from everyone. That's easy for me to do, but I refuse to do so. Instead, I'm part of many groups in the city and the state. I am a volunteer for the local Therapeutic Recreation program, in which we integrate indivudals with various types of differences, uniquenesses, and disabilities, socially into the community. We plan various kinds of events, so they will have various opportunities to be involved.

Also, I lead a Law of Attraction group (for anyone who's into LOA, you'll know what I am referring to here). I am the treasurer for the state chapter of a prominent national grassroots organization. I volunteer time at a local food pantry. I am on the Board of Directors of the local CHADD chapter. My job situation could always be better. However, I am thankful and grateful for my current situation because of the economy. But my point is this.. I could have chosen to live to this day as I did when I was diagnosed.. and guess what? All these other things I am doing now would have never have happened. Totally.

What helped me was saying "My best years are in front of me," each and every day - even when I doubted some days. I kept saying it, and eventually, I believed it and knew it. That is what kept me going when I had some not so good days. Because I chose to develop and maintain a positive attitude throughout all this, I can look back on those two years and realize nothing can kill me. If being diagnosed with AS and AD/HD cannot stop me or kill me, nothing will stop or kill me. Period. Closed and shut case.

Good one LOL... but make mine ice water..

But, possibly your many accomplishments are thanks to Aspergers, instead of being "in spite" of Aspergers. Many talented/gifted individuals have sprang from the Aspergers community, because, in contrast to socializing, partying... mingling... we're the ones who spend time in isolation... thinking, and focusing on topics / activities of peculiar interest, and become good at what we do.

Ever been on a dolphin? I have heard of people who have, and they thought it was an incredible experience. From what I understand, dolphins are intelligently beautiful creatures. Would be interested to read your views about pollution in the South China Sea and in other oceans and bodies of water worldwide. I am very much pro-environment, and hate to see what corporations and other entities are doing to destroy the future of society.


Awesome. Three miles in any direction. I can remember growing up, chapters earlier in my life and thinking, "I could imagine living in a hut on the beach and such." LOL.. I don't blame you for avoiding the beaches when the tourists are there. Although, I'm sure it's good for the economy around Wilmington, Cape Hatteras, etc. Thank you for sharing the photos of local species. I am a lifelong learner and enjoy learning from others.


That's great, AF! You should publish your own book. Out here in SE Tennessee, I live at the bottom of Lookout Mountain. It's a great view to see the mountain in the mornings on the way to work and then in the evenings. Although I have never lived near an ocean, I'll take being right up near Lookout Mountain (with the beautiful downtown waterfront of Chattanooga).


How'd you know that coordinating and organizing stuff happened to be one of my strengths?


Thanks, AF. I happen to think so myself. Wishing you the best with everything, too.