About
.
Welcome!
My name is Bruce.
.
This blog began July 17, 2010, as a quest to discover who I really am without the masks.
The first four posts dealt with the questions I was exploring.
When I realized I wasn’t getting results,
I gave up my quest July 22, 2010 after only five posts!
.
Then, in Aug 2010, I discovered blogs by people with Asperger’s Syndrome,
and I immediately recognized myself in these writings.
The answer to the puzzle of my unusual life is
Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism Spectrum!
It was such relief to finally understand at 65 years of age.
And such a joy to find this community of Aspie/autie bloggers.
So beginning Sept. 30, 2010
I began blogging about my growing understanding
that I am probably on the autism spectrum
as a person wih Asperger’s Syndrome.
My explorations have led me and others
to feel confident that I am a good fit for the diagnosis.
So I am “self-identified” or ”self-diagnosed”, and also “peer-diagnosed”.
I am still learning about autism and Asperger’s
and don’t consider myself an expert.
Therefore I will simply attempt to describe my life experiences as I lived them,
and as I am now living them.
If you connect with anything I write and find it helpful, that’s great!
We can explore the territory together.
I love comments, short or long,
and I learn from them.
Thanks.
.
.
Oct 27, 2010 @ 03:55:23
Hello…I’m looking forward to reading your blog and getting to know you.
I’m so glad you left a comment on my blog. I would never have found you otherwise.
Love and hugs. xx
Oct 27, 2010 @ 17:54:31
Hello Alienhippy, nice to see you here. Thanks for adding me to your blog roll. I have subscribed to yours. I will add you to my blog roll as soon as I can.
I really like your writing
Feb 20, 2011 @ 12:46:23
Hello Bruce,
I just popped by to say hello, haven’t seen you for a while and I was thinking about you and hoping you are ok.
Prayers for you and yours.
Love and hugs my friend.
Lisa. xx
Feb 21, 2011 @ 20:30:11
Hello Lisa my friend,
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and thank you for your kind concern and prayers.
I am afraid my participation in Bloggyland has gotten a bit hit-or-miss. I am feeling a bit burnt-out. I can’t keep up with reading and commenting on all the other blogs, and with writing posts for mine. A bit of perfectionism/anxiety may be slowing me down as well. I have been reading peoples blogs and, at times, feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of composing a comment – as if unable to write. And there may possibly be a touch of depression – I seem to have become aware of a lot of tragedy in other peoples lives lately, and that can affect me. And then there is the rest of my life off-line which still needs attention. Oh well, with time I will get things sorted out (I hope!).
I have been feeling bad that I didn’t contribute anything while you went through a down time. I think I became aware of it after the fact. I am glad Austyn, Fiona and others were there for you. I am so glad to see that you are feeling better now.
Have fun on your week off!
Blessings to you and your family.
Love and hugs to you too,
Bruce
Mar 13, 2011 @ 20:18:59
Bruce, I tagged you in the book meme. Stop by my blog for the rules!
May 02, 2011 @ 04:23:54
Hi – this is Chloe from “Writing Days-Happy Days” with my new look blog. Thanks for visiting my new blog recently!!
If I’m on your Blogroll, please can you change your link from Writing Days to Blossom Dreams? http://blossomdreams.wordpress.com/
Many thanks and have a great day!!
Chloe xx
May 21, 2011 @ 16:42:30
Hi, just to let you know, I’ve put a link to your blog on my page called “My Blogging Friends”
Have a good evening,
Chloe xx
May 23, 2011 @ 22:24:21
Thank you Chloe! Visiting your blog is such a beautiful experience, you’ve created something lovely there!
Blessings,
Bruce
May 26, 2011 @ 06:51:21
Thank you Bruce – that’s so sweet of you to say!
Have a wonderful day my friend xx
Feb 08, 2012 @ 12:19:54
Hi, Bruce: I wish you the best on your journey of self-discovery. i was diagnosed with Asperger’s at the age of 54, although I had suspected it for several years .In the late nineties, while I was doing law library research for an attorney I worked for, I came across an article on Aspergers, and I immediately knew that this referred to me. All my life, certainly since I began school, I had been wondering just what was wrong with me and why I never fit in anywhere, at any time.Back in the sixties, as you know, the diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome was unknown in the US so I was considered a gifted child with behavioral/emotional problems.Discovering the truth about myself, even late in life, even after so much that I could have had if only I had known, is irrevocably lost, was an empowering experience.It literally gave me a second life. I don’t know about yourself, but I was blamed for my own failures, for being a little savant who fell flat on her face . I was called lazy, slovenly, weird, a free-loader, a loser, blamed for not being like other people and for screw-ups that were not my fault.Its difficult to maintain any pride in yourself under such circumstances, and knowing the truth gave me new self-confidence.for the first time since childhood.
Feb 09, 2012 @ 19:52:11
Hello Charli,
Thanks for sharing your experience in a comment here. It is interesting that you “immediately knew.” This is the way I reacted when I discovered Aspie/autie blogs in 2010 at 65 years of age. Never before had anything fully accounted for my whole life. Yes, so much is irrevocably lost, but there is joy in knowing the answer and in finding a community of people who understand. I too feel as though I have a second chance in life.
Not only was I blamed for my failures, I believed the ones blaming me, and adopted that stance toward myself! Lots of guilt and shame weighed me down. Of course nobody had heard of Asperger’s back then, so I don’t fault them or myself, but I am aware of how much better my life could have been had we known. It is so much better now that the mystery is solved. And, like you, my self confidence is growing.
Hopefully, with greater awareness of Asperger’s/autism in society, young people won’t be subjected to blame, and older ones will find freedom!
I wish you much happiness in your new life, Charli!
Blessings,
Bruce