Finding Balance: A Writer’s Reflection on Grace, Growth, and Identity

Balance has never come easily to me. My mind tends to race, thoughts competing for attention, often all at once. As a writer, this can be a gift—there’s always something to explore, some idea to chase. But as a person, it can be overwhelming. I’ve spent years swinging between extremes, either giving too much of myself or shutting down completely. Learning to find steadiness has taken time and intention. More importantly, I’ve had to learn how to give myself grace.

For much of my life, I let myself be defined by how others saw me. Too intense. Too sensitive. Too different. Like many autistic people, I was boxed in by assumptions before I was ever seen as an individual. The world often treats autism as a singular, uniform experience. But my friends and I, all of us autistic, are living proof that’s not true. We are as varied as any other group of people. What we share doesn’t erase who we are. If anything, it deepens our individuality.

I’ve come to find strength in that. Not because I’ve forced myself to be more like the world expects me to be, but because I’ve learned to see my own life with more compassion. My friends inspire me constantly. Just by being themselves, they show me what authenticity really looks like. They remind me that we don’t have to conform to be worthy of respect or love.

We are not broken. We are not burdens. The problem has never been our neurodivergence. The real issue lies in a society that resists understanding us. Dismantling ableism doesn’t only help autistic people—it helps everyone. A more inclusive world is a better world.

I’m still learning how to live in a way that feels balanced. Some days are easier than others. But each time I catch myself slipping into old patterns or harsh judgments, I try to meet that moment with grace. I remind myself that balance isn’t a perfect state. It’s a practice. It’s about showing up as you are and believing that’s enough.

And when I forget, I begin again.