How do you feel about being on the spectrum?

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I am with Acacia on page one on this... They said it all

at first ashamed, second, uniquely priverledged

I'm very proud to be on the spectrum. Although it has its definite downsides, I think having Asperger's is something to be prized. It definitely gives me all of the positive things about my character/personality. And I couldn't imagine life without the joy provided by my special interests. That is something that I think neurotypicals are really missing out on.
-OddDuckNash99-

I feel guiltless now that I know what it is and less resentment towards n/t's.


Whether I feel that I would have been better off not being a spectrumite would be vacuously true as this is how life acualtized and who is to say what would have happened in another way.

As a Taoist, I have a rather unique view of being autistic as a gift. Taoists believe that people are (?almost?) always naturally good, and that it's social rules and others teaching us what is/isn't right that makes us turn from our natural good.

Being autistic, we do not become indoctrinated into society as easily as others. As I type this, I sit alone in the TMCC student center. Others working on their laptops gather together, and in between keystrokes, discuss various things. I am alone with my nature, alone with my keystrokes. I do not rely on social rules and rituals to go about my day, and thus I am alone.

It follows, then, that autistics can more easily discard these things that make us turn from our natural affinity for that which is good.

I believe, also, that autistic have a natural advantage when it comes to Taoism because of its rejection of a necessity for social rules and rituals. As autistics are not as attached to social rules and rituals as neurotypicals are, we can more easily discard them.

Edit: I thought I should share this with you: Today, a friend of mine asked me how I was doing. I replied with "I don't know." The conversation eventually turned where it would be useful of me to explain why I don't know. I told him why I don't know how I am (and, for that record, why I don't know any particular thing): I don't care. I honestly don't care how I am feeling at any particular time. For the advantages, I love autism. For everything else, I don't care.

To me, it's a blessing in disguise.

It almost seems like in a world of smoke and mirrors where the majority just stare at the glitz and glamour all the time, we can see the machine that's shooting out all the pretty images, putting us in a very powerful position should we choose to take advantage of it.

For myself, I've come to not only understand that AS, is merely a different way of which people learn but, operate under an alternate set of rules regarding behavior on all levels, I've actually come to simply accept who I am as a person and try not to be something that I can't or necessarily become through attempting to pretend to illustrate various emotions or hide my quirks and all.. Yes, I realise because of the many difficulties that go along with AS it has had a definative impact on being able to create & maintain friendships over a long period of time as well, it has notice outcomes in areas of occupation for, over the many years I've found myself doing things that would probably be seen as menial or trivial. Throughout all of this, I've managed to remain a sincere,honest person not lying to myself or other about the way I am or anything of that nature..

Well, I hope this helps in some way?