UNMASKED: Snippets & notes from a lifetime collection of journals (pre-diagnosis).
Advocating for autistic acceptance.
January 18, 1994,
Thank god I had a day to myself!
Kalpita Pathak
Age 18
COMMENTARY:
The regenerative powers of time to ourselves. Even one day with minimal sensory overload and social interaction can be deeply healing. I used to go for long walks with my headphones, time it so I could curl up in bed while my roommate was out, wear cozy clothes, read favorite books, eat my samefood (Subway veggie sandwich) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It wasn’t the same as being in my home-sanctuary but it gave me enough to keep going a little further, a little longer.