Challenges in being in love when your body does not cooperate easily

[Co-written 29-Oct-2018 by Jordyn and Graciela Lotharius (of DaretoListen.org)}

Do you know what it is like to intend to kiss someone and only bump noses?  Having to control our bodies while also feeling excited is not easy.  Just fighting our impulses to get up and run, jump, or go crazy with excitement takes all our focus and energy.  Challenges are many but it is worth it to overcome them!

Just being together is “I love you” time.  Jordyn is so wonderful to spend time with because he is so thoughtful.  Graciela is a demonstration of love in joyful action.  I love time together because my heart is complete.

Challenging bodies can not overtake love that is real.  Joy and joined hearts are what matters.  Getting good at expressing affection physically just earns us bonus magic.  Every day that we have the chance to be together is bliss.

Jordyn and Graciela

Good can always prevail

My loving parents are always looking out for me.  We are working through the plans for the future, in case something happens to them.

Sounds morbid, I know.  But it is also hugely empowering to be included.  My opinions and choices matter to them.  I know I’m 15, but I also have a good head on my shoulders and will be responsible for my life should they leave me abruptly.  I love being given the responsibility to think 2, 5, and 10 years out into my future.

I believe that the more responsibility I am given, the more I rise to the occasion.  Others may not choose to involve their kids in this type of planning, and that is completely every family’s choice.  I just want to share that my experience with it has been empowering because my 15 year old self is being valued for my ideas and opinions, and is an equal player in the family planning game.

Now let’s all create these plans never get put in to practice.

Responsibly,
Jordyn

I am an award recipient

My community is amazing. In celebration of 25 years of three culturally significant joy-filled establishments – Theatre Orangeville, Museum of Dufferin, and In The Hills magazine – chose to honour the youth in the region.  Twenty-five under 25 were nominated to receive an award.  It recognizes the passion of the recipient and the goodness of their deeds.

Just being nominated is an achievement, but winning blows me away.  I have an amazing group of friends who saw me as worthy.

On Saturday, we were all honoured in a beautiful, fun, and moving ceremony.  Joy filled the Theatre as each recipient went up on stage to receive their award.  Just staying in my seat was tough as I was so darn happy.

I wrote part of my Thank You ahead of time for Mom to read –

Thank you ALL so much for this honour.
I have been the lucky recipient of a lot of loving attention and intention in my life in Dufferin.
My wish is that all non, minimally, and unreliably speaking autistics be recognized as the intelligent and ultra-sensitive, hilarious and loving humans we are AND have access to their full self-expression.
Everyone deserves to be heard and accepted exactly as they are, while being empowered to shoot for their dreams.

I then spelled in front of the huge Theatre –

I am lucky to live in such an accepting community.

And attempted to say – “Thank you very much” – with my voice, but was way too quiet to be heard.

I was in awe of the other 24 recipients.  You can see why here.  Full stories and portraits, by Pete Paterson, will be featured in the winter issue of In The Hills.

I was so stoked to be able to share the day with a few of my ever joyful and loving posse!  They cried and took video.

-Jordyn, the Award Winner

 

Waves of Friendship

(co-written by Elliot Sylvester and Jordyn)

The best thing in the World is spending time with friends.
Always, with friends, you can totally be yourself.
I believe that the ability to be yourself is one of the greatest gifts.
Choosing friends is easy when they are as cool as Elliot.
Imagine a friend that gets who you really are… that’s Jordyn.
Good buddies that plan on taking over the World with a wave of love – that’s us!

Great friends multiply love when we spend quality time together.
Calling us friends is almost not a sufficient word.
Perhaps a new word sandwich should be created.
Joy-sparks.  Totally appropriate.

We need friendships on a regular basis which is hard to come by.
I believe that Joysparks are what will change the tide of this World from fear to love. 
Who wants to ride the wave of Joysparks with us?
Just imagine a gathering of Joysparks and the difference we could make.
What do you think the ripple effect would be from all those quality Joysparks?
All I know is I am doing all I can to foster more Joysparks, because when you are loved and empowered just the way you are, you fire off more sparks of joy.
The World can use more Joysparks so go forth and multiply by giving some extra love to your friends.

Jordyn and BFF Elliot Sylvester 

Giving my energy a chance

This past weekend was a big test of my energy reserves.  After a completely busy week we headed to loving Auntie Sarah and Uncle Steve’s place for a big family reunion.

Now, understand that I request individual family visits because a gathering of more than about 4 other people (other than Mom and Dad) is so draining.  Now imaging a group of a dozen excited, and some nervous, gathering for lunch.  Some haven’t seen each other in years, some have never met.

Joy is hanging with family!  However, I could not get my body to stop moving long enough to have more than a couple brief talks with family members.  When I say brief I mean two short sentences.  I got my humorous licks in though.  Mom was an awesome wing woman as I flitted through the house and yard.  I lasted 2.5 hours and then was spent.

As we left Dad there to hang with his family, to go recharge in hopes of coming back in the evening, a school bus filled with the other side of Dad’s family and two more cars arrived.  I pretty much knew then that it was a slim chance I would be able to recharge enough to go back.  Lots of happy energy is just as draining as misery and upset.

Just couldn’t do it.  Made it back for brunch the next day and the bus load and some others had left, so brunch for 20 seemed doable.  I got to talk to a few more people for a little, and they all started heading for home so it was a little easier as numbers dwindled.

Just now recharged enough to write this blog because we have secluded ourselves for a day and a half.  This whole balancing output and recharge time is tricky, but I won’t let it stop me from experiencing life and people I love.

Jordyn