tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post3374361729583963087..comments2023-08-04T21:37:16.987-07:00Comments on (Gay) Mormon Guy: AwkwardDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552740645279057549noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-6535415272545390092016-01-03T00:10:41.253-08:002016-01-03T00:10:41.253-08:00Thanks... So happy to be considered your brother. ...Thanks... So happy to be considered your brother. Thanks for being another one of those thousand points of my own testimony, and for being an example of an amazingly faithful and strong son of God. Thanks for your sacrifice and your dedication to Father! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15755142013614007430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-2082128110155307512015-11-10T08:02:44.968-08:002015-11-10T08:02:44.968-08:00My son is also on the spectrum and I see much in h...My son is also on the spectrum and I see much in him as you describe in you. Thank you for this perspective, I think it will help me be a more understanding mom. Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14602435621710634132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-7345872352482311392015-11-09T13:56:08.909-08:002015-11-09T13:56:08.909-08:00You are cool. I identify so much with your descrip...You are cool. I identify so much with your descriptions and perception of social interaction and awkwardness. I've suspected for a few years now that I'm on the spectrum, but my reaction has been to ignore my social inabilities as much as I can. I'm married and have kids and close family relationships (though I don't necessarily understand them well either), so I tell myself that I am okay with not really having friends outside of family. And I mostly am. I honestly just can't read people's expressions/interactions well enough to even know if there are people I've hurt or helped over the years of my life. I read your post about bipolar and I don't think I have that although I definitely am prone to depression and mood swings. I haven't had much interest in having a spectrum diagnosis because a) I probably couldn't afford it and b) the thought of actually being diagnosed is overwhelming to me. I feel like I know how to deal with my life, just as me, and if I had a diagnosis I would be "me with these problems I don't know how to deal with." It's really cool that you have a genuine desire to know others and help them be happy. I tend to not take enough interest in other people because...I just don't know how to get to know them. Attempts just end in, well, awkwardness. I admire your courage to keep trying.Carolynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-39237991956078605212015-11-08T21:59:15.071-08:002015-11-08T21:59:15.071-08:00I really admire not only your self-awareness, but ...I really admire not only your self-awareness, but your insatiable desire to make everyone's world a better place! Your authentic-ness has really comforted and inspired me tonight. Thank you!!Delisa Hargrovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16857996393779855284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-9553639418917955752015-11-08T18:37:53.136-08:002015-11-08T18:37:53.136-08:00Hi, I just found your blog because of your recent ...Hi, I just found your blog because of your recent post. You have written your feelings so well! It's great!! My brother is so much like you in some ways you describe above- talking to strangers. I think the gift and the curse go together. Growing up my brother didn't understand social situations but he shared perfect honesty and truth to people because he didn't know not to. And not just because he was young or naive. It's a part of who he is. He would talk to anyone and love anyone and it was funny and endearing and embarrassing depending on the situation. He started creative writing (and being able to write) in 7th grade and had us in tears by the beautiful honesty and faith he wrote about. I think you're like that. <br /><br />PaigePost-it Notehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00097784133592469783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-42117873264394823962015-11-08T14:01:01.750-08:002015-11-08T14:01:01.750-08:00It's such a gift that in your awkwardness, yo...It's such a gift that in your awkwardness, you still reach out and have the courage to be yourself and help others. The Perky Seven!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12797033621562215415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-68680763403114760812015-11-08T08:58:03.489-08:002015-11-08T08:58:03.489-08:00I think that with all of your real life awkwardnes...I think that with all of your real life awkwardness that you claim to have....it has made up for itself on this blog. You write beautiful, touching things and seem to have such a strong testimony with such clarity that is rare. You have an incredible gift to heal people...it just may not be in the way that you like....but it is in a way that has the potential to reach many many people. You are a tool in your heavenly father's hands...and I'm grateful to read the things you have written :) annacarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07062600423763652148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-31491438871726194802015-11-08T07:58:48.104-08:002015-11-08T07:58:48.104-08:00Thank you! You've helped many to see and unde...Thank you! You've helped many to see and understand more clearly!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14237632805807703594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-31645875240864741932015-11-07T23:41:30.025-08:002015-11-07T23:41:30.025-08:00If the brethren had said half of what you said whe...If the brethren had said half of what you said when they rolled this policy out, they could have saved me and countless others from a couple sleepless nights. Thank you. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07617060790114469591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-70857260873974415622015-11-07T22:28:26.061-08:002015-11-07T22:28:26.061-08:00You are a gift to the world.You are a gift to the world.MGSKellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805362558209800925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-15760973481968483062015-11-07T21:36:33.721-08:002015-11-07T21:36:33.721-08:00If only everyone had a rock solid testimony and tr...If only everyone had a rock solid testimony and true love of the gospel of Jesus Christ, understanding that we are His disciples and it is the Church of Jesus Christ not Church of Politically Correct and Public Opinion!! :-). You are a great example and I admire how firm you hold to the Iron Rod!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-52924668697529332652015-11-07T19:27:21.771-08:002015-11-07T19:27:21.771-08:00This makes me wonder if I'm on the autism spec...This makes me wonder if I'm on the autism spectrum. So many times I've said something and not understood the strong reactions of people, laughter or anger. I've had to put a lot of thought into what people are probably thinking. Thanks for the post. Collin Simonsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11140299144889701567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-44730900541127904432015-11-06T19:05:28.981-08:002015-11-06T19:05:28.981-08:00Thank you for sharing this with the world. You hav...Thank you for sharing this with the world. You have opened my eyes and helped me gain some understanding. You have a gift for written communication and I believe the world is a better place because you have shared that gift. Thank you for helping me to better understand and love my fellow travelers in life. God bless. Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04628419680702790818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-40932144489304651352015-11-03T00:04:09.000-08:002015-11-03T00:04:09.000-08:00Well, you're my hero! You have so many things ...Well, you're my hero! You have so many things to struggle with and hearing you tell about how you deal with them has given me a lot of strenth to deal with my own hardships. I'm sure I'm not alone. We are a lot of people who find it hard to small talk, I have forced myself to do it anyway for many years, searching my head for idees when it is totally emty. I still find it hard but have to do it anyway because that's what we have to do when interacting with people, we can't always jump straight to the important things. But don't forget that we can never help everyone, we have to trust God to guide us to those that we can help, and let go of the rest. That might me extra hard for you but somehow I think you have to learn how to do that in some form, for you not to be totally exasted. Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11959969992584227334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-3223412806459915422015-10-13T20:41:06.158-07:002015-10-13T20:41:06.158-07:00You make me think of Spock from Star Trek. He doe...You make me think of Spock from Star Trek. He doesn't get sarcasm, or half the social cues that humans get, yet he's one of the most beloved characters in television and cinema history because he's taught us so much just being himself, and his values and character and selfless desires have touched people. And you probably have done the same for others. Perhaps the main difference between your social awkwardness and Spock's is that he doesn't seem to worry about his own lack of "human understanding." He just accepts it as is and works with it as is, doesn't fret over it. You might be more endearing to other people in your life than you think you are. So, the next time you worry about social cues, what to say next in a conversation, or wonder what a person's true motives/intents are when they speak to you (I do this all the time when meeting new people, by the way, or even when talking with colleagues or not-so-close friends, so you're not alone here--that's actually pretty normal with a lot of people), just remember they may not mind you being who you are as you are, just like Kirk loved Spock in spite of his idiosyncrasies (or because of them?) or like the Next Generation crew loved Data, who was pretty much clueless but strived to better understand humans. Okay, there was Dr. McCoy who was impatient with Spock but he could be that way with Kirk, too, so there's alway the ogres who will not bother to "get" you (or anyone, for that matter). But hopefully you know you can be appreciated and admired for who you are, awkwardness and all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2780506856626441160.post-3534715953070673182015-09-24T09:48:14.936-07:002015-09-24T09:48:14.936-07:00Great post. While much of what you describe is spe...Great post. While much of what you describe is specific to autism and your own experience, I do think most people feel at least a touch of what you've written here. Brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18276792411562207547noreply@blogger.com