It has been such a long journey just to get here.
I believe I’m worth it.
I know I could have set up my blog site within a time-frame much closer to that which was suggested – but it’s actually taken two days to be ready to write my first post.
Why? Basically, because I’m autistic. Well not precisely because I’m autistic per se, but because:
- I find it difficult to follow instructions, written or verbal, and had to keep going back to see where I was supposed to be headed. I went through the online guides, printed some out (I now have a specific folder set up), and at one point had so many tabs open that I ‘couldn’t see the woods for the trees’.
- I have a short-term memory problem so that within minutes of finding out how to do something to my site I’d forgotten and had to trawl through all my options again. My long-term memory is very good (photographic, some people have commented) but that’s not much use when I’m attempting something within a short space of time.
- I’m also extremely easily distracted – by sounds, movement, smells, light, change in temperature – all of which can send me ‘off task’. Added to this I may suddenly remember something that has to be done. I may be able to make a note of it (I’ve got 3 pieces of paper and a notebook on my desk right now, all with lists or ideas) but other times I just have to do it.
So, now I’m ready to go with it. And I hope that you’ll enjoy what I share and want to follow my posts and join me as my journey continues.
You’re doing well so far. I began writing because I felt I should exercise my brain in retirement (sudoku and similar puzzles only exercise the number side of the brain, not the language side) and also because I found myself losing the word I want more frequently. (I always have, I think, but it’s certainly got worse).
I can’t say my word-memory has improved: I still fumble around in the pea-soup of my brain for the word I know is there somewhere… but now I use online thesauruses a lot (or should that be thesauri?). Maybe if I can’t find the word I think exists I should make it up?
We find strategies to get around things our brains struggle with, especially if we work at it. You will too. Good luck.