Social groups are something that everyone should be a part of, because for one, it gives you a chance to make friends, or find people with similar interests. I bring this particular post up, because last night, in a small town area, I went to a social group called Different Journeys, a place where people with Autism can be accepted, and find people with similar interests, or even bond over board games or card games, like Monopoly, or some of the ruder games, like 'Cards Against Humanity', and 'Joking Hazard'. It's important for people, even those on the Autism spectrum to go out and socialize because we all want to fit in somewhere, and people with Autism are...well, let's be honest here, usually more comfortable around people like them, just as you, the person reading this, are no doubt more comfortable around people like you, or who share similar interests, or ideas like you do.
Usually, whenever I go somewhere new, I'm naturally nervous, because of it being something entirely new, but, as I mentioned in my post about change, it's scary for everyone. But, we need to try and rise to the challenge sometimes, and think positively about these new experiences. I admit, when I first walked into that room, where the event was happening, my first thought was 'Will I like it here'? The reason for that, is that sometimes, some people can be, consciously, or unconsciously, very cliquey. What that means is they're like that one group in those movies about someone trying to fit into high school, or in america, Middle school, who think they're too cool for everyone else. In other words, they consider themselves to be elitists, and act like snobs. I recall a good number of years ago now, I went to a new (at the time) social group that was for people who have Aspergers, and, I hate to say it, and I mean no offence to anyone who has Asperger's syndrome, but they were ultimately rather judgy, despite the fact that people might judge them and their actions on a daily basis. I stopped going eventually, because they excluded me from a good deal of their activities, despite us being very similar in terms of...our abilities. Looking back, it felt like that one scene from 'The Emperor's New Groove' where Kuzco, upon realizing he has no friends, tries to be like the rest of the other llama's, but they just walk away from him, because they judge too hard, and they don't look like him. Here's a reference to that particular scene:
The irony there, is that it was a social club, where I tried to be social, but people just shunned me. At that point in your life, when you get shunned, you either feel like maybe you can eventually relate to them, and help break down their walls they've put themselves in, or, you feel like the equivalent of a stain on someone's shoe, or clothing. But enough about that. The important thing is I found a group of likeminded people who not only shared similar interests, and...abilities to me, but who seemed like my kind of people: A group, who (according to them) had some months before, voted to call themselves 'The Dark Sloths of (insert town name here)'. Obviously that last part in brackets, I put in because of location reasons. But let's say they called themselves the Dark Sloths of...somewhere. And you know what? They accepted me rather quickly as one of their own, a few of them even saying they liked my quick wit, and sense of humor. Someone wondered why they had the 'dark' part of their name, in their group, so thinking quickly on my feet, I responded and pointed to my cards against humanity game, 'because we have a dark sense of humor, when it comes to games like this'. They liked that answer, and another asked 'But why sloths?', so once again, after thinking for a second, I replied 'well, sloths are naturally slow, and we have a slow thinking speed sometimes'. You know what? I'd only been in that group maybe 10 minutes, and they already laughed knowingly at what I said, like I was one of their best friends.
And to be accepted like that. To be accepted as one of them so quickly, that felt like I finally had a place that I could feel welcome, well besides my work place that is. To be fair though, I do work mostly with kids, instead of people my own age, so there's that. And you know what? While we were bonding over my Cards against humanity game (Apparently, the American edition that I had purchased somewhere else in Australia), we had a few laughs over the answers, shared jokes, and it felt like that one scene in movies where you, and a bunch of your friends are just having a good laugh about what's happened during the day, or when you're trading stories. I also tried, and did okay at a quiz, coming in 9th place out of a total of 30 or so people. Suffice to say, I enjoyed myself immensely, and now, I feel like I got somewhere I can just be me. And that's important for everyone; To have somewhere where we feel like we belong, instead of feeling like an alien on another planet. Now, though, I feel like I might belong in this group, 'Different Journey's' or more specifically, 'The Dark Sloths of...Somewhere'.
How about you though? Have you ever felt like a social outcast? Have you found somewhere you feel accepted? If so, be sure to let me know in the comments below. You know I always appreciate what you say. Thanks as well to those that have followed me so far on facebook. It means a lot that you value what I have to say, just as I value what you say, and how you support me.
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