I received an invitation from a conference organizer to participate in their upcoming conference. Ordinarily, I take my time in evaluating such requests to see if the conference aligns with who I am and where I’m going. In this case, I could easily tell that the organizer spent not a moment extra getting to know me before extending the offer.
Reread this a few times, but worth the effort, as I also heavily edited this response. It deserves it.
Alexithymia is a new concept for me. Especially as you described it in this evocative fashion. Thou I am not autistic, your words brought me back to my own experiences and struggles because of the detail, emotion, and depth. Far from tiring and necessary to aid in my understanding.
Identity was not a primary conflict for me growing up. Thou I have questioned it, and come to terms with my own. A spectrum considered more in line with traditional gender rolls. Hardly a goal but realization never the less. Your language and method of communicating your own identity helped me to understand a they/them/we identification in a much more enlightened way. I expect this will give me a fuller appreciation and respect for any future use of pronouns I observe by others. Something seemingly simple and deemed unnecessary by some, that is in every way not for people living that reality.
Reread this a few times, but worth the effort, as I also heavily edited this response. It deserves it.
Alexithymia is a new concept for me. Especially as you described it in this evocative fashion. Thou I am not autistic, your words brought me back to my own experiences and struggles because of the detail, emotion, and depth. Far from tiring and necessary to aid in my understanding.
Identity was not a primary conflict for me growing up. Thou I have questioned it, and come to terms with my own. A spectrum considered more in line with traditional gender rolls. Hardly a goal but realization never the less. Your language and method of communicating your own identity helped me to understand a they/them/we identification in a much more enlightened way. I expect this will give me a fuller appreciation and respect for any future use of pronouns I observe by others. Something seemingly simple and deemed unnecessary by some, that is in every way not for people living that reality.
It likely would have been more appropriate to comment here but I had some tech difficulty in accessing my Substack account through LinkedIn. Onward!