Conversation

#AutisticPrideDay: I Don't Celebrate. But I'm Here. And That Is Enough.

A conversation about Autistic Pride Day that is not about celebration, but about being. About pain that does not disappear and the value of autistic life without conditions.

#AutisticPrideDay

I don’t celebrate. But I’m here. And that is enough.

🧠 A Conversation with the Brain on Autistic Pride Day

me

Brain, today is Autistic Pride Day.

brain

Uh-huh.

A moment of silence

me

Maybe we should write something? Something... positive?

brain

Do you seriously want to write a post in this state?

(a moment of silence)

Because I am

me

You know... we're supposed to feel proud.

brain

This isn't about lack of pride. It's about the fact that you're completely worn down.

me

Because I am.

brain

Because you're doing the work of the whole system. Therapists, assistants, school, the state. Every day you rebuild the world from scratch so it makes sense for the children. And then you're also supposed to celebrate?

(a longer silence)

Nothing. We sit. We are.

me

So what do we do?

brain

Nothing. We sit. We stare at the wall. And we are who we are.

me

Even when it hurts.

brain

Exactly when it hurts.

We don’t have to prove anything to anyone

me

We don't have to prove anything to anyone.

brain

Because our lives have value. Full stop.

me

Because we are. And that really is enough.

(silence and unfocused staring at the wall)

Seriously, today is very bad

me

Seriously, today is very bad.

brain

I know. But I'm here. The whole time.

me

Hard to miss. Monologues, race-condition thoughts...

brain

I know. I'm not exactly user-friendly.

me

But you're mine.

brain

And always on your side. Even when I go wild.

me

And the children.

brain

...


Ending

🌻 🧠 ♾️

This is not a post about celebration. It is a post about being. About the fact that even when everything hurts and nothing works, simply being autistic in a world that does not understand it already means something.