The end of a year is always a good time to think about where you have been, how far you have come and what you want in your life.
Where have I been? That’s a tough one. I’ve been stressed and angry to the point of tears. I’ve been so tired I can’t function. I’ve been stretched financially.
I’ve also been incredibly blessed. Blue came to live with us. Casey and Rob are making huge strides every day. I have a supportive, laughing, loving family. I have a best friend who more like a sister to me. This blog and our Facebook page are growing.
How far have we come? Farther than I could have ever imagined. Autism no longer defines me. It does shape us in many ways, but it’s not defining. (if that makes sense! ☺)
What do I want in my life? More chances to spread our story. To write a book. To be completely organized. To work out every day. To yoga more. More time with my brother. More time to craft and read. Less stress and tears. A plan to figure out how to do all of this without quitting my job. ☺
Casey and Rob always have such awesome perceptions that I don’t always think about, so I decided to ask them what they would like in 2019. (asking where they had been or how far they have come aren’t questions they would understand easily.)
When I asked Casey what she wanted from 2019, she said turkey and stuffing, to go to Grandma Rose and Grandpa Mack’s house, see Uncle Jeff and buy coloring books.
Rob wants to buy signs, go to McDonald’s, go swimming with Bob and Erin (aquatic therapy) and go to Salt Fork with Mandy and Cory.
He went to his room and came back. He wants to go hiking with Tracie and Casey added find a railroad tunnel with Tracie. (One of the state parks we hike at has a railroad tunnel we didn’t find last summer. ☺)
They didn’t worry about money, a better home or a better version of themselves. They wanted simple things that make them happy. A lesson we could all learn.
Every year, we seem to make resolutions to make ourselves better – lose weight, make more money, be this, be that. How many announce their resolution is to find simple joys? Let’s face it, sometimes, a life with autism is tough! Why add more stress trying to make improvements on you?
My resolutions this year are to find more laughs every day. To forgive people, if only to help me feel less stress. To hug more. To read on my porch swing. To praise more and critcize less. To find simple joys every day, write them down and put in a jar so at the end of 2019, I’ll have 365 amazing moments to remember.
My wish for you is the same. Find time for you – you can’t care for your child when you are burned out. Remember the things that bring you joy and look for them every day. Autism is hard. I know that. There are still joys to look for. Maybe it’s only 90 seconds to run to the bathroom by yourself – enjoy every second! ☺
Make this your resolution. Don’t think you have to lose weight – think that a few minutes of exercise will relieve stress. Change your resolutions into something easier to think about. Don’t think about major changes. Think about small steps – maybe clean out one closet as a step towards organization. With autism, you don’t have a lot of extra time – so maybe just plan to find those precious few minutes every day just for you. Minutes are there – you just have to be really creative to find them. You need to do this – for your child, for your family, for you!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy New year!