Creativity

Creativity is about expressing yourself – creating something from your imagination. It is also about sharing that artefact and so letting others have a little of your experience. So many of the people who I know, who are living with Asperger’s, are also busy with their creative endeavours. I love it. I don’t usually go for the music of the ‘Younger Generation’, but I listen to John’s music. He will be signed and famous soon. I hope he remembers me.

I just want to celebrate the creativity that is in people – some of them have Asperger’s, some don’t, and when we make something that feels good to us, it really doesn’t matter – we are all equal. I work with people who are writing, making music, creating their own businesses, training, people who love their cats and cuddle their parents, and in all of this they are the same as all of us. In some small but specific ways they may be different, but when they sit down to write, or to improve their rhythm, they face exactly the same challenge as any of us do, and who dares to share their creativity? How many bedroom guitarists just haven’t quite round to letting it rip at a party? How many writers keep their stories – ‘not quite finished yet’? Anyone who does open themselves up like this gives us a gift.

We value quirky, individual, and odd views of the world – think of Tracey Emin, LS Lowry, Pink Floyd and in this creative field, where there are fewer rules, the chap with Asperger’s has a better chance perhaps – the playing field is more even. Also, he probably cares less about being laughed at than the rest of us do.

So the National Autistic Society says this: “Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism, a condition that affects the way a person communicates and relates to others. People with Asperger Syndrome may find difficulty in social relationships and in communicating, and limitations in social imagination and creative play.

“People with Asperger syndrome can be imaginative in the conventional use of the word. For example, many are accomplished writers, artists and musicians. But people with Asperger syndrome can have difficulty with social imagination.”

Not to argue, but it sounds as though they have a condition. I know. I know, but we have to get out of the way and listen to them as people, not examine their every act as proof of the difference.
What actually sparked this article off was a wonderful story written by Vrinda, the daughter of a friend of my daughter. She appears to have a dose of OCD, and describes her experience so wonderfully in this story that I felt compelled to share it with you. Read and admire, then let her know what your response is: join her up a little more:
http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=268027773&blogID=321618111

Then there is the blog of my friend ‘StraightEdge’, in which he is as honest and straightforward as anyone I know – he offers a view of his mind that I find moving in its honestly, though not so different from my thoughts sometimes, though he is slightly ahead on ice cream!
http://www.absolutepunk.net/journal.php?do=showjournal&j=3325

My friend Robyn Steward, the annoyingly good trainer, writes songs: they are good pop songs and I look forward to seeing her in a band, giving it some: have a listen at http://www.robynsteward.com/song1

And she makes films: this one describes her young experience: 6 minutes of insight at http://www.robynsteward.com/. (Click on either of the Film links on the front page.)

Raj is working as a trainer also, and there is a real need for first hand information – have a look at http://www.invisibledisabilitytraining.co.uk/index.html

And at http://www.wrongplanet.net/ you can get a whole picture of how it is to live with this condition. This is a rich and varied experience and some of it as is much fun as I ever had!