Sometimes having an autistic loved one can feel like you’re out on uncharted waters. I sometimes feel lost or unsure or I start to wonder what I should do next and where I should go. There isn’t a GPS or a compass that will help me get around, so it’s a bit like traveling without a map.
To be honest, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. I know that life is overwhelming for everyone at times, but when something as simple as leaving the house turns into a struggle, it feels very tough.
But then I remember that there are also brilliant moments of love and gratitude and genuine joy as well. They’re so incredible that my heart feels like it might burst from joy. Those are moments that sustain me through all the rough waters.
These moments aren’t always big or groundbreaking. Sometimes they’re little quiet moments that don’t seem meaningful to anyone else. But they’re meaningful to us. They’re moments of connection and appreciation and love. They’re real and honest and filled with joy.
It’s important to recognize and enjoy these moments when you experience them, no matter how busy you are. You should try to take in what’s happening around you.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in daily activities or even to feel discouraged by the negatives sometimes. But this brings the risk of missing out on the truly beautiful.
Sometimes, when you’re trying to make your way across unknown waters, you just need to stop and hear the ocean waves for a moment. It’s important to take in everything around you and have gratitude for where you are and how far you’ve come.
Saltwater is a vital component of our planet and a magnificent source of life and healing.
The oceans are filled with an incredible diversity, so vast that we aren’t even quite certain how many species live there. From the smallest plankton to the largest whales, saltwater sustains and nurtures the intricate ecosystems that live there.
You may not think of it when you look at an ocean, especially if you’re traveling across it in search of a destination, but there is so much life happening under the surface that it’s stunning to think about sometimes.
The same is true with autistic family members, especially those who are artists with autism. Communication can be difficult sometimes, but that means connection needs to happen beneath the surface.
For us, this connection happens through art. Autistic art lets us see beneath the surface and appreciate the water, even when it’s rougher than we expected.
Art transcends words, and autism artwork offers a shared space where creativity flows freely. It gives me an opportunity to see and experience what is happening beneath the surface. It lets me appreciate everything that is occuring, all the feelings that are being felt, and all the brilliance that exists even if it can’t be seen or heard.
You can’t always see it by looking at a person, just like you can’t always see everything happening in the ocean just by looking at the water’s surface, but it’s there and it’s incredible.
If you pause for a moment and take the time to fully experience your situation, you can feel it.
There’s a gentle, non-verbal communication that occurs when you are sharing an autism painting. It is powerful and magical and it fosters a greater connection. You’re able to see their unique perspective. This brings your hearts closer together in a profound, meaningful way.
This connection is vital. It sustains us. It helps us grow stronger together.
In the water, there is an intricate web of life that contributes to the overall health of our planet and everything around us. Our lives wouldn’t be possible without what’s happening beneath the surface.
The same is true for any relationship, especially a relationship with someone who has autism.
Autism art reminds us to look deeper and to appreciate the magic of what’s happening below the surface.
Sometimes you need those little moments of contemplation and beauty. They can help you heal and find peace and give you the motivation and love you need to keep exploring and searching and advancing. This is what autistic art brings to us. It gives us the gift of time and quiet reflection. It lets us connect without saying a word.
Visit Ally’s art gallery today and take a moment to appreciate and shop Ally’s Artwork! You’ll find her take on Saltwater in the shop.
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