I love reading. This much is pretty obvious early on as I read so much hence I think I’m hyperlexic. I’m a highly visual person who can recite what they read parrot fashion for some time to come later on. This is a common attribute in autistics and is demonstrated by Clare Danes playing Temple Grandin in the movie about her. However, if you stop to ask why we read so much or why we like to read so much you might not get a cohesive answer if you receive anything other than I don’t know or I just do.
Yes reading is entertaining, diverting and occupies your time in a productive manner but also gives us something to talk about. We need to spend a lot of time recovering from the outside world so we escape into the world of literature. If we got out more we could talk about what we did or who we met like everyone else but we are solitary creatures often. Books are a refuge but they are also a substitute. Since the world is so overwhelming for us we choose to enter one that is much more calm. We can decide how long to stay there and when to leave. It gives a sense of control but also of adventure. We can visit many worlds, meeting all their inhabitants from the safety of an armchair.
Our knowledge is frequently ploughed back into fan fiction, comics, short stories, novels or even creating our own languages like Tolkien. We like words, well I do which is why I have spent so much time and effort concentrating on improving my verbal ability. Talking will never be easy for me so my conversational ability will forever be a struggle. I rely on my reading ability to provide me with something to talk about but it often doesn’t find a warm reception.
There is a lot of reading I have had to learn in addition to the book kind. The “reading between the lines” in social behaviour or documents. The forever unsaid, implied or just briefly referenced in some way by a gesture. There is also a new kind kind of reading as I’m learning.
In drag culture to ‘read’ a person is to notice their flaws. If ‘the library is open’ as Ru Paul says in every series of Drag Race; then you reveal what you really think about the person. This is often harsh but truthful yet comedic. It helps to be honest as then you can move on having aired your grievances without resorting to violence. Since they all spend so much time together it’s not wonder that problems crop up. There separation from the outside world creates an environment where everything is focused towards the end goal but not everyone plays ball. Willam is most famous for breaking out of his self imposed prison but nobody else has.
I am looking forward to breaking out of myself imposed prison due to the corona virus lockdown. Only about 6 weeks before I may be able to fly to Greece because they have announced their timetable. Here’s hoping that July really is my independence!
I hope you can fly to Greece soon. ❤
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I have never been diagnosed with autism nor I thought about myself as autistic but I have so many of those characteristics you talk about. I love to read and I don’t know why. I am fascinating by words. I love languages – I can speak a dozen of them but only in my head or when I am alone, in reality sometimes I struggle in my native language. All the best!
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Thanks for the praise. If you identify with these things maybe you should see someone about it?
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I am already a quinquagenarian so I (and everybody else) got used to this by now. 🙂 But thanks for the advice.
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I love reading, it takes me into a different world and helps me recharge batteries a bit
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Time spent in quiet contemplation is good for us.
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Great post!
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Thankyou
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I learned after diagnosis at age 68 that I have almost no video or audio processing ability. I can’t understand things done in motion or the spoken word without huge struggles and I miss so much!!!!!!!. No wonder I always loved to read! sending best wishes!
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Thankyou.I think I have learnt today that just listening to the radio tires me out. No people involved!
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I can certainly relate on what you’ve written.I have been a book worm since I was a child. I Am also an introvert and I am very shy.
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There is a surprising amount of us out there as I’m finding.
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Reblogged this on The Tao of James.
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Are you ready with open mind to understand Autism from a totally different angle?
#Autism – From Understanding to Solution Action
https://www.udemy.com/course/autism-solution/?referralCode=1372486DFF71D12E7797
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