On Being Human

What does it really mean to be human?

This blog is titled ‘On the Art of Being Human‘ – and not ‘On the Art of Being Neurodivergent‘.

While my neurodivergence has shaped every aspect of the person I have become, it does not define the entirety of my being. 

Our neurological wiring is what I like to call our bedding or lining – it builds the foundation for how we take in, process and resonate with ourselves and the world around us. In that, we differ from the so-called neurotypical population.

However, we do not differ in how to be human. We may – in many ways – be different and distinct from one another, and yet we share one universal truth: we are all born, we all live and we all die as human beings. 

All of us.

No exception.

All of us share the innate need to love and to be loved; 

to grow, to create, to reinvent, to transform, to express ourselves, and to cultivate curiosity.

All of us will fall, suffer, transgress, grieve, hate, despair, lose hope…

All of us.

No exception.

If we, as individuals, have the capacity to contain and integrate such a variety of emotional states within ourselves, then we – as a society – have the capacity to contain and unite the variety of human conditions, traits and behaviours. It follows the same principle, just on a larger scale.

Whatever our neurotype, gender identity, cultural background, sexual orientation, faith or beliefs – our differences are what make us such a diverse, colourful, and enriched community with the power to shape a society grounded in inclusion rather than division. Because of our differences – not in spite of them.

While I take great joy and meaning from expressing and articulating how I experience life from a neurodivergent perspective, my purpose in sharing my reflections is to contribute to a holistic understanding of what it means to be human – hopefully building bridges and cultivating compassion in doing so.

So yes, I stand by what I state in this blog: I write on the Art of Being Human. Because this is what I am.