Hello Steemit! I'm Angela

“A lifetime is about fulfilling unnamed tasks. No one tells you what that task is. But somehow you grow in understanding what that task might be as your life experience offers clues and opportunities of understanding of its nature. You only start with an inkling and then it grows by hunches, intuitions, dreams and visions. And if you get it, you just might accomplish the task.” (Mark Cloudfoot Gershon)

Hello Steemians,

My name is Angela Robey. I have seen the Earth orbit the Sun fifty-four times, and I am autistic.

I'm excited to have found Steemit! I love how it works, and I am grateful for having the good fortune to become a part of it so early in its development. I especially appreciate the opportunity to get paid for doing something I really enjoy – writing and sharing my experiences and what I've learned from the perspective of one who incarnated on the “wrong planet”.

I say that because, since autism wasn't very well understood, and support for the autistic was practically non-existent for my generation, I had a difficult time struggling to survive and navigate through this “neurotypical” social construct which most call reality.

Through sheer luck and perhaps unseen help from beyond the third dimension, along with a strong will and genetic resilience, I didn't do too horribly bad the first four decades. I had a roof over my head most of the time and plenty of food ...clothing.

I also had some pretty great experiences which helped to balance out the bad. For example, getting to see AC/DC live in Frankfurt, Germany in 1982 during their “For Those About To Rock” tour. AC/DC was never my favorite band, but those guys knew how to put on a show which I'll never forget.

But the stress from trying to hold jobs incompatible with my particular autistic challenges, poor diet – the autistic are typically not into health food – we think we're invincible ...or at least I did – failed dysfunctional relationships, often not having enough money – I was once homeless for 30 days after packing a few clothes, my boom box and music, and walking out on my ex-husband in the middle of the night without a plan – we don't always think things through, either – and no real support or guidance from parents and family who assumed I was intentionally choosing to throw my life away - - finally took its toll on my mental and physical health ...which I believe are more connected than most people realize.

By 2007, I found myself driven into a very narrow place in which I nearly died multiple times before I began to receive the help I needed to escape and propel myself into a better place. It wasn't until 2014 that I was finally diagnosed with “autistic spectrum disorder”.

This blog is not going to be about autism per se, but more about what I learned and experienced as a result of it, which I think might be helpful, educational and/or interesting to others – autistic and not.

I will talk about the raw diet which saved my life, various healing techniques I have learned and still practice regularly, my artwork – I paint with oils and soft pastels -- my favorite books, mentors, and my life off-grid in the Arizona high desert wilderness, where I currently live and work towards self-sufficiency and sustainability on my 40 acre ranch.

I don't believe my autism is a “disorder”, or a genetic mistake. I believe I am here for a reason, and that, like everyone else, I have my own unique gifts and talents – a purpose. And right now...

...I feel really inspired by Steemit! Thank you for reading!

My websites:

https://silver-moon-ranch.weebly.com/

https://angelarobeyart.weebly.com/

My Facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/WitchWellsAZ/

https://www.facebook.com/angela.robey.art/

My personal Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/angelarrobey