Autism HWB

Hawthorn Speaks

By Helen Carmichael

Many autistic people have intense and highly-focused interests, often from a fairly young age. These can change over time or be lifelong. It can be art, music, trains, computers, car registration numbers, bus or train timetables, postcodes, table tennis…An interest in collecting is also quite common.

Autistic people often report that the pursuit of such interests is fundamental to their wellbeing and happiness.

(National Autistic Society)

I have a dawning realization that I can communicate with plants.

This makes me either deluded or a shaman. Or perhaps a typical human who is just remembering things, things that we all used to know.

Balance

I’m an analytical sort, so writing about what makes me healthy and balanced needed some consideration. What is health? What is balance? What is it that I actually want out of life? Who am I? Where do I want to be? Where have I come from? Why did I start asking these questions? Is anyone eating that cake?

Continue reading “Balance”

Nourish

Image is of a wooden bowl containing 8 ripe plums

I have been fascinated by nutrition since I was a child. I remember looking at primary school classmates with grey skin and circles under their eyes and wondering if spending time in the countryside eating ‘real’ bread, butter and fresh vegetables would give them rosy cheeks and add sparkle to their eyes. Maybe this was a side effect of devouring books like Heidi, Milly Molly Mandy and the Famous Five.