Autism Chrysalis

Category: Acceptance

Blue solid foreground with text "Is it rude for Autistics to spend holidays in their room?"

Is it rude for Autistics to spend holidays in their room?

Is it rude for Autistics to spend holiday gatherings in their room, or opt out, instead of with the family? Is it promoting bad behavior? And how do you explain it to family members?

Close-up on someone painting blue lines.

When Fixing Mistakes Makes Things Worse: Art Lessons 2

I’ve been re-examining some life lessons since I’ve been doing art again. This time, I’m exploring when mistakes can’t be fixed and leave a lasting echo.

Paint brushes tipped with paint on an orange canvas.

Getting Free From Mistakes: Art Lessons 1

I’ve been re-examining some life lessons since I’ve been doing art again. This time, I’m exploring how some mistakes can be fixed, reduced, or made so that their effects don’t echo.

Blue solid foreground with text "You Don't Need To Be Farther Along Than You Are"

You Don’t Need To Be Farther Along Than You Are

In our society, we get a lot of messages that once you figure out something, you need to go put it into practice. But that’s skipping a critical step.

Blue solid foreground with text "Unmasking Strategies for Safety"

Unmasking Strategies for Safety

If you want to unmask, how do you do that safely? And how can you tell when it’s safe to unmask, and to what extent? Here are some principles to tweak things in your favor.

Blue solid foreground with text "The Problem with To-Do Lists" and to the side a picture of a pale skinned woman in a checkered shirt.

The Problem With To-Do Lists

I am a huge fan of lists, but there’s an important problem with to-do lists that I want to talk about.

Small rocks and pebbles scattered on the ground. One larger rock has a question mark written on it in black marker.

The Most Common Questions People Ask Me

People often ask me how to make their life better without changing things. The answer might be unsatisfying, but it’s simple.

A portal with a grey rim, out in a sparse snowy forest.

Why Personal Growth Work Feels So Scary

Personal growth can feel intimidating and frightening, and it can be hard to tell why that is. Here are some of my thoughts on it.

Blue solid foreground with text "How to Hate Yourself in 8 Easy Steps"

How to Hate Yourself in 8 Easy Steps

Eight easy and predictable steps to ensure a lifetime of self-hatred.

A green chrysalis attached to a long leaf.

The Chrysalis of Autism Discovery

A personal reflection on the interior process (confusion, discomfort, and transformation) of accepting my autistic identity.