Just a quick aside before I get back to the bigger topics...
I was watching something just now and the following occurred to me: "This should be required viewing before dealing with me for literally everyone." It would make my life soooooo much easier. If they can grasp this, then they can grasp me, and all of the things that take soooo long to make them grok (and most never do) would just be understood. *le sigh*
For me, it has to do with invisible neurodiversities. For others it may be much lighter material, like something super important to you, or a fandom that is just intergal to who you are, or something related to your sense of humor.
So if you had a "Must see/read" before interacting with you, what would it be?
For me, it's The Good Doctor S5E13 when he explains that at the end of the day he is socially burned out and DONE having to follow social norms and niceties which make NO sense at all. He is happy that his partner has a friend, it's good and right. She is welcome in their home, but she has to accept that he is *off the clock* with making her feel comfortable with his neurodiversity in his home. He is allowed to tell her his rules, she is required to respect them, and he is allowed to do what's right for him; including ignoring her.
Now... what comes after it, and her insisuating he has bad manners annoys me to the end of time... but that's beside the point.
I'm neurodiverse. When I have a meltdown it looks EXACTLY like his. I've sat in a corner and cried exactly like he does. When I was a kid I made "nests" to sleep in, and I still very much LIKE to chill in a closet or small space, because the confinement makes me feel safe and comfortable. Following absolutely ridiculous social constructs and social norms which I do not understand, and I NEVER understand when I've broken them or how is exhausting. Walking on eggshells to make myself tolerable and understood by everyone else is exhausting. When I get home I'm VERY much done with everyone who can not just accept me and accept my diversity and my needs which I'm allowed to have as my inalienable right by existing on this planet.
So if folks who worked with me could just watch Sean and have a tiny bit of comprehension about what he very relatably portrays, maybe they might see what I have to work VERY hard day in and day out to make palatable for them.
So what's YOUR "required viewing/reading"?
~His slaveMikayla
