Belief Makers

I was recently reflecting on my thoughts and feelings the week our beautiful, amazing, sensitive, baby boy David was diagnosed with autism. Having been a psychology major in school, I knew what the books said about autism and I was scared. Upon reflection, I realized that I wasn't even sure I knew why I was scared, but fear replaced all my emotions. I remember sitting on my neatly made bed surrounded with pillows crying about the friends I imagined David would never have, the experiences he would miss, the teasing he would endure, and the family memories we would never create. As I think about it now, tears roll softly down my cheeks. They flow in a trickle of kindness and love that I never knew I had inside me for a life I never knew I needed. A flow far different than the wild and jagged stream of water rushing down my face three long years ago. Captured in these tears is a reflection of my journey. A journey that has not only transformed me and my family but one I believe will transform the world.

What if........ What if instead of autism needing a cure, autism IS the cure. The cure for world hunger, war, poverty, global warming, and every other world issue that seems so incredibly challenging to us today. I began to contemplate this possibility the day David started eating again. After seven days of not eating a single bite of food David looked up at me with those big beautiful brown eyes and said "waffle". After the waffle he asked for a hot dog, and then a cookie, and then two apples. Completely oblivious to the fear and concern we had as a result of his 20% bodyweight loss, David ate everything he wanted to, asked for his binkey and blanket, and slept peacefully for the night. The next morning, he was back to his playful, giggly, happy self. He was playing, talking, looking at us, and smiling more than ever, common challenges for a child with autism. After this experience, I thought about the group of parents from around the world that I web chat with who also have children with autism. I remembered that when Robin, another little boy about David's age stopped eating, the webposts were full of love and encouragement from other parents who had similar experiences. I began to imagine that all these well nourished children in the world were trying to show us that they have more than they need and that they would love to share to their nourishment with the world. Finally, the cure for world hunger!

For anyone who has spent quality time with a child with autism, you know the many gifts they bring to this world. Those of you familiar with Son -Rise understand the idea of joining these special children in their unique worlds to lead them back to ours. Here is a new thought to consider... "Join the world of a special child, learn all that they have to teach you from their world, and then together, come back to our world and apply your learnings." Through my journey, I have decided to believe that autism was specially designed by the universe to save us from destroying our world in the ways we have been for decades. If we really learn from children with autism and apply those learnings, we would very quickly change the world! Here is what I have learned so far from David:

1. Expectations created for someone are useless if they have not created them for themselves.
2. The more you try to control, the less control you have.
3. Differences foster learning, sameness stops it.
4. We have infinite potential when we do what we love.
5. If I only take what I need, there is plenty for everyone else.
6. What you judge in others is what you fear in yourself.
7. There is no collective reality.
8. What you do today impacts tomorrow but it doesn't define it.

If you haven't been blessed with the gift of a special child in your life, find one and learn from them. Our world depends on it! All my love, Kathy

Labels: all blogs, autism, kathy decastro, philosophy, son-rise