Re: Welcome New Members!

[Guest guest]

First of all... I send my condolences to 's family during this time of

loss in his life. I hope he will always remember the good times.

As an introduction, this was my first post on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 (when

I joined Aspires). It is post #319 (we have all come a long way in posting in

about the past five years in this group).

" Hi everyone....

" My name is . I was diagnosed a few months ago... I am beginning to reach

out for support with Asperger's.

" I am thankful this group exists on Yahoo and that I found it. I

consider myself very fortunate in a number of ways. I have gone

through a lot of change this year, but it has been good for me. I am

the typical Aspie - hard to make friends and if I do I don't keep the

bonds strong, the perception that I like the same things over and over

again, etc. I know the best years are ahead of my life. For me, this

chapter in my life is about getting the support and such I need to move forward.

" It's good to be with other Aspergians,

"

Yes, it has been an interesting about five year journey. I've gone through

much, and am thankful that I am where I am today. As I take time to reflect and

relax a little - before diving into homework and studying this morning - I think

of something my marketing professor mentioned yesterday that was very profound

(to me anyway).

To focus on our strengths instead of our weaknesses. I have heard that before a

few times. Yes, when people are diagnosed as an adult with Aspergers (or

anything else) or at any time before an adult... it is easy to look at ourselves

and take a negative view on life. This is why I am grateful for my MoSAIC class

that I have today. I am going over the results from the StrengthsQuest test I

took online last week and see where my strengths are.

Outside of that, if I made a guestimate what a couple of my strengths are, I'd

venture to say the following:

- Excellent with numbers, patterns, and spatial skills - have a good financial

sense with numbers and analyzes very well.

- Social skills are much better than what they have been, especially when it

comes to issues like death and other adverse events in someone's life.

- Listens (not merely hears) well to others and seeks to find consensus. Good

when it comes to groupwork and teamwork. Not hesitant to take the lead on a

project if the rest of group are followers.

>

> If you look at our archives you will find a wealth of personal accounts. Last

summer we had some really good discussions, which well worth slogging through

the 1,000+ posts to get a very comprehensive insight into the many facets (some

good, some sad) of neurodiverse partnerships. Be sure to check 's website

http://www.aspires-relationships.com/ for the newest articles and also a wealth

of archived articles, including an excellent one by returning old guard and co

founder of ASPIRES Meyer. Direct link here:

http://www.aspires-relationships.com/as_grows_up.htm is in the process of

rebuilding the website, and some of the hundreds of links no longer work and

some have been infested by spammers (drat them eh?) and if you let her know, she

will repair them.

>

> However, as CJ and I have just been discussing, the " voice " of the NT male

partner is almost absent. We hope some of you will come forward with your

stories too, as well as all of our new members, AS, NS, male or female.

>

> This summer it's been the old timers - primarily the ones on the spectrum

side, who have graciously welcomed newcomers. We hope that all newcomers, with

their fresh insights (after all, for some of us, the re-telling gets stale after

a few years, LOL) will be willing to share and be a support to one another too.

>

> WELCOME TO ASPIRES!

> - Helen, moderator of ASPIRES

> 57, self dx'd AS, dx'd ADD

>