By Martine Mussies 音の洪水 心は溺れる 静寂求む A flood of loud sounds My heart is drowning deeply I long for silence ** 一つの道 深く掘り進む 宝を得る On one path I dig Deeply to find my treasures Passion in my hands ** 人の海に 波の間に立ち 孤独感じ In a sea of crowds Standing strong between the waves Loneliness sets in Martine Mussies …

By Martine Mussies It was a bright, sunny day, just after yet another lockdown had lifted during the COVID era. I was cycling along the bustling terraces that lined the canals of Utrecht, soaking in the lively atmosphere that had returned to the city. As I passed through the crowds, my eyes caught s…

By Martine Mussies In the muggy classroom, even the most recalcitrant boys now seemed too lame to argue. It was a scorching hot day, a few days before the summer holidays. The textbook for Dutch language was finished and the textbook for calculation was far from it, but I believe the teacher had giv…

By Martine Mussies 7 Types of Rest for Neurodivergent People Rest is essential for everyone, but it is especially important for neurodiverse people. Non-neurotypicals are simply more likely to experience sensory overload, autistic burnout, and other challenges that can be exacerbated by a feeling of…

I feel tired, numb and tense. My head hurts and everything seems too much. By now I recognise these symptoms: I have stress! But what exactly is stress, how does it differ from healthy excitement and how can you make yourself resilient to stress? In this blog, I explain what I think stress is. I als…

The Art of Autism’s 2nd post for our 6th Annual Art and Poems for Peace. See first compilation here. Header image: April Tobin “Bird in Flight” Art and Poems for Peace is compiled by The Art of Autism and includes this message from the Youth Assembly, which will meet for an annual…

It’s not weird that I’m not so good at letting go, because holding on is what I’ve always done. Letting go is new. And growing hurts. By Martine Mussies Let it Go! Let it Go! People with autism are notorious for their inability to let go – and I am no exception to this. Last…

By Martine Mussies A while ago, I received a postcard of a beautiful Japanese art print. On the backside, someone had written a joke about “fighting like a girl” and concluded with the words “Thank you for being a strong woman in our dojo.” I was happy and touched by this act of kindness. But…