Diversity. Survival.

Diversity is about difference.

We are all different. And that should be good.

I have a lot of thoughts in my head. I'm Adhd and Autistic but mostly my Adhd wins.

This is neither good nor bad but it does have consequences dependent on what's happening at any given time.

The thoughts in my head do not always get to come out eloquently. They are there. Just not coherent. Those thoughts wobble and smash around and sometimes they splurge out making sense. I can't rely on them though.

Radical acceptance is the removal of shame and the ability/desire to flow in a way that allows me to thrive.

Radical acceptance is also knowing I sometimes can't thrive and instead, I do my best with what's available to me.

Today, at 1pm on a snowy Sunday, that means being on my phone, watching a movie, knowing I'm very tired having been dysregulated in the early hours of the morning, rescuing a loved one from the snow.

Radical acceptance is knowing and revelling in the awesomeness of that loved one who is bouncy and vibrant and thrives on the 1am high energy, whilst I also want to mu#der them as they laugh, all joyful and very, very annoying.

That's Radical Acceptance. Knowing we aren't all good or all bad but knowing that we react and live differently dependent on what our environment offers us at any moment.

Who would I want to rely on in a crisis? I'd want that annoying loved one by my side, creating the energy needed to survive.

I'd not want them by my side when gentle, loving nurture is needed. Oh no. Nope. Definitely not. They'd be bl##dy useless.

Society at the moment expects us to be everything to everyone. Universal expectations to be an all rounder, a Jack of all Trades (good at everything).

The irony is that when we are trying to be everything, we end up being in burnout and incapable of anything.

Finding our strengths, learning who we are, discovering spaces in which we thrive, discovering what we are not great at and going with it in a flow that works to our unique rhythm, should be our goal.

The modern world doesn't support that way of being.

And so I model transparency, share what I can, do my bit for society, I rest when I need to and I give space for those that have strengths I do not have.

We share the load when we can. We admit failings and fears. We collapse and rest when needed. We apologise and reflect when we get it wrong and we give beautiful thanks and learn from those who are doing the stuff we can't do ourselves.

Diversity isn't a buzz word.

It's Life. It's survival.

Originally posted on 5th January 2025 on NeuroDiversity University Blog FaceBook page.

Pic description:

1am scene from inside my car window. Dark sky, snow dropping, red lights from the vehicle in front in the distance. The ground ahead and the sidewalks are covered in white snow.