What motivates us?
I’m sure the answer is different for everyone.
Praise. Power. People. Passion. Puzzles.
Possessions. Prestige. Punishment.
Pleasure. Position. Politics. Possibilities.
I know what my motivation is to eat Benedict Cumberbatch, that is, the life-size chocolate statute of Benedict Cumberbatch. Seriously, there’s now a 40kg Belgian chocolate replica of most everyone’s favourite Aspergian detective, because he was chosen as #1 dishiest UK actor in a survey. David Tennant was the runner-up. Oh I don’t know, that would be a tough call. Can I have both? Er, in chocolate?
Today is Autism Awareness Day worldwide, and those on the Autism Spectrum have often been called, differently motivated. Too many people don’t (or choose not to) understand this. Their theory seems to be if you aren’t motivated by something they can understand then you must be: stupid, lazy, defective, foolish, or a loser. Intolerance shows itself in varied ugly forms.
We’re still in the beginning stages of a long journey to try to get people to understand Autism. It’s a neurological difference. Things changed, doesn’t mean it’s terrible or catastrophic.
Some things we used to believe:
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Some thought the Earth was flat (those are called pancakes).
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If an elevator is falling, jump up (you’ll just hit the ceiling).
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Putting sugar in a gas tank ruins the car (still not a good idea).
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Spontaneous generation from inanimate objects (er, no, just no).
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The human body is made up of four humors – black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood (some days I wonder).
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A duck’s quack doesn’t echo (it does, it does, it does).
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Dropping a penny off a high building could kill someone (how about a quarter?).
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Quicksand sucks you under (only in the movies).
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Earth revolves around the Sun (you’re not our only friend, Sun).
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we’re the center of the Universe (actually, a lot of people still believe that they’re the center of the Universe).
Important and important blog. Thank you. Hugs, Barbara
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Thank you. 🙂
Nice to have you back. Hope your time away was everything you wanted it to be. 🙂
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Reblogged this on IdealisticRebel's Daily View of Favorites.
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Thank you so much for the reblog, Barbara. 🙂
Hope this day is being good to you. 🙂
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VIVA!!! 🙂
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🙂
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Very viva, Donna, to, being different. We don’t revolve around the sun?
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No, sorry, Earth, Sun and all the planets orbit around the center of mass of the solar system. But we still love the Sun, he’s a warm and fuzzy guy. 😉
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Your son sounds like an amazing guy and the Einstein quote is perfect.
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He is astonishing, although I might be biased 😉
Yes, I love that quote, so true. 🙂
Hope this day is good to you, Jan and Hoppy Easter! 😉
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Great and important post. Sometimes a different perspective can highlight important things that need changing, I believe that some people are afraid of that change so make life difficult for those with the different perspective.
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That is an excellent thought and fear is a big motivator. Thank you for dropping by and sharing your insight. 🙂
Hope this day is good to you and Hoppy Easter! 😉
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Well, wait, does dropping a penny off a high building echo? There’s still things to be discovered.
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There is always, always more to be discovered…isn’t it magnificent? 🙂
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I had no idea today was a special day. I would have baked a cake. Nice to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day with you. ❤ ❤ ❤
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I made cookies so that works. Hope you like chocolate chip, extra emphasis on the chip. 😉
Thank you for dropping by, always lovely to ‘see’ you. 🙂
Hope this day is good to you, Tess. 🙂
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You are so welcome. Another blog friend has two children with Autism and she mentioned the day as well. ❤
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Yes, they do it every year, it’s the whole month really, but yesterday was the biggest part of it. 🙂
I hope your friend is doing well with her lovelies. 🙂
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I hope so as well. A boy and a girl. ❤
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Double trouble and double delight. 🙂
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They are the light of her life.
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I understand completely. 🙂
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I’m sure of t.h.a.t. ❤
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🙂
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Myth Busters dropped a penny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRU_ccCsj4M
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That show is interesting, they get easily side-tracked and so of it is obviously done more for show and than science, but so interesting. 🙂
Thanks for sharing and hope this day treats you kindly. 🙂
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Such an important message.
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It really is. If people would be more tolerant we could all get along. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by, hope this day treats you kindly. 🙂
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xxx Humongous Hugs for this post and I hope you and your son have a wonderful Easter xxx
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Thank you, David, I hope that you and yours have an egg-cellent time this week. 🙂
Hoppy Easter and massive hugs. 🙂
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Viva (and I love that chocolate bunny picture)!
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Me too and hey, it’s chocolate so I’m there. 😉
Thanks for dropping by and I hope this day treats you kindly. 🙂
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Love this, love this, love this! I had always heard a ducks quack didn’t echo, so it’s good to know it does! And yes, the Universe does revolve around me 🙂 But, I love all you do to bring awareness to the issue, bc I don’t have any one in my nuclear family, it’s helped me understand so much more!
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Thank you, Kate. You’re always so sweet. 🙂
Hope you and Mr T have an egg-cellent weekend! 🙂
Hoppy Easter, dear Kate! 🙂
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An egg-celent weekend to you too Donna. Chocolate-bunny hugs! 😀
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I can’t think of anything past chocolate… 😉
Hope your weekend is as awesome as you, Teagan, if that’s at all possible. 🙂
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Thank you for posting – my boyfriend’s son is on the spectrum and we are doing a local walk for autism here in a few weeks. Thanks again for bringing awareness to the issue 🙂 I thought your comment about consumerism was particularly interesting…
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I’m so glad you’re understanding and doing positive things to help, Joy. Best of luck on the walk, I hope it goes well. 🙂
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I love how you describe your son and the positives that can come from AS and what makes him “him”. 🙂
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It’s so easy to find good stuff about those people that have our hearts. 🙂
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For you, and for me, but sadly not everyone. So it’s good when we share so others can remember to reflect on it too 🙂
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Sadly, you’re right, I can’t really understand it, but…It is a good idea to share. 🙂
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Love this! I like how you describe the Asperger’s as just being differently motivated. I see way too many people who look at Autism as if it were a terminable disease or something.
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Yes, you’re right, too many people act like it’s catastrophic…some parents even have mock funerals when their child is diagnosed. It’s weird and wrong.
My son is amazing, there’s nothing to mourn. 🙂
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Our youngest (son) has Asperger’s. He’s fifteen and his differences make him unique, but not in a negative way. He is a musician who can play three instruments. Unfortunately yesterday he broke one arm, may have possibly broke the other as well. Tough for a jazz pianist. Yet he sat making jokes in the ER about how it happened on April Fools. He knew his mother and I were worried, not to mention his brothers and sisters, and yet despite his pain he was thinking about all of us.Different? Perhaps at times he is, but he saw the humor in the situation and thought to diffuse the worry. Different… not much.
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I’m sorry to hear about your son’s injuries. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery. 🙂
Yes, Autism not the end of the world, in fact, the world would be a better place if we just accepted Neurodiversity. 🙂
They are different, not less. 🙂
I know your son will be back playing music soon, until then, like my son (who broke his arm bowling), he’s keeping his sense of humour and that will go a long way. 🙂
All the best to you and yours and have a Hoppy Easter! 🙂
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Thanks Donna and likewise. :O)
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🙂
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Thank you so much for sharing this, Angie. 🙂
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Thank you D.parker because I have a son with autism and I didn’t even know that they have a special day to celebrate for kids with autism. Now I know for next time I’ll check out! Do they make a parade for it?
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You’re welcome, it’s great to connect with others who understand about Autism. 🙂
I’m sure they have parades somewhere, but I’ve never been to one, but all of April is Autism Awareness month so it’s a good time to help others try to understand. 🙂
Hope this day is good to you. 🙂
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Thank so much blessings to you and your family!
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🙂
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Very well said 🙂
I know two brothers, one is very well off, lives in a big house with beautiful things, assessed as “genius” ‘academically’, yet who struggles to change a tyre on his car. The other, same parents, lives in a caravan, has only a few low grade quaifications yet was able to take car engines apart and put them back together when he was about 12, with no guidance or tuition. So, who is really the genius?
My daughter has dyspraxia, which is (or was) on the autistic spectrum, and I have worked with young people with autism, and many times I have thought that it isn’t them that has ‘problems’ – it’s the expectations of society that is the real problem!!
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Well said. Yes, cookie cutter ideas of how people should be certainly don’t add to tolerance. Excellent examples. 🙂
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Love, love, love this post! You are so right and I hope that we can move our society further in supporting and respecting those on the autism spectrum. I also loved the Einstein quote. It’s so true! Thanks for linking up to #Fridayfrivolity! Xx
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So glad you enjoyed it. I hope to have more time next week to spend enjoying all the wonder-filled posts. 🙂
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Such a great post to be shared and discussed.
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Thank you kindly. 🙂
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Oh I love the idea of coffee filter suncatchers, I want to try it! Thank you, Amethyst, not only for the cool project, but for featuring my post, you are so kind. You’ve inspired me, to write and to create! Thank you so much. Hope this weekend is good to you in every way. 🙂 Off to share and visit….got to get me some #FridayFrivolity 😉
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