Dustin's Dynasty

This week for my adulting post, I am going to write about grooming an autistic self. For autistics, we can either excel or lack in this regard. Sometimes it is a sensory issue, however if one lacks the willingness to clean one self, then they are pictured as lazy or unwilling to do so. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/04/19/adulting-grooming/

Everyone gets angry. Without a doubt. But for autistics, we are prone to eruptions of anger. This is because we have a light switch and we see no “gray areas”.  We see it as an “all or nothing” approach where compromise isn’t was easily seen by autistic brains as clearly as it is in the neurotypical brain. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/04/15/...

If anyone has been following my Wellness Wednesday posts, they have realized that I have begun the health train again.  It had seemed that by not combining eating healthier and being active are detriments of getting the fires burning and keeping the momentum going.. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/04/14/wellness-wednesday-keep-the-fires-burning...

In the meantime, be cautious, wear a mask, practice social or physical distancing and balance your virtual time with some rest and relaxation. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/04/13/concentrating-on-covid-too-soon-to-let-our-guard-down/

Being independent has proved to me that there’s times of boredom, loneliness and isolation as many are experiencing right now due to the ongoing pandemic. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/04/12/adulting-boredom-loneliness-and-isolation/

Having received my second dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine and while I am not completely certain that the end is in sight, although there is a glimpse in the eyes of many of an end being there. As being independent again for almost six months, mostly under a heightened state of staying at home and remaining idle. While it is recommended to wait the two weeks to assure Immunity, I need to gradually wor...

This past week I worked hard at getting all the weight off by portion control, more water, tracking food and personal weigh ins each morning consistently with the Fitbit on my phone and not staying idle too much. Even with Easter, it wasn't nothing that I couldn't handle. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/04/07/wellness-wednesday-small-goals-matter/

Writing this on Easter Sunday because I am bored really puts things into perspective how fortunate I am. We are over a year into the pandemic, when work and my day program shut their doors for almost three months. While some of the activity during that initial time was completed virtually and I along with the majority of the world was introduced to virtual platforms like Zoom, Nothing replaces the...

Independence. The dream of many autistics. Yes, that is a goal for many as many still live with their family, some by choice, some because they need care that cannot otherwise not be provided without support. But what if you could get support, would you move out on your own. For a moment last year, I wondered if I needed support and this has caught my eye again as I seen a Facebook post of where a...

Each April, we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month to spread awareness, promote acceptance, and ignite change. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/04/01/today-begins-autism-acceptance-month/

This week has been a tough spot in the wellness journey. I had performed exceptionally well over the past week by exercising regularly and trying my best to cook at home yet within an hour of attending the weekly weigh-in, I sabotage the work I invested. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/31/wellness-wednesday-when-its-so-hard-to-give-up-but-you-kno...

We have been in a national pandemic for over a year now. Of anything I have experienced in the year and that has been a lot, it has taught me to be resilient. I have continually been retooling myself as far as mind, body and spirit to be well physically and mentally. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/30/concentrating-on-covid-a-lesson-in-resiliency...

Growing up, I have had too many experiences to count about being disapppointed. Back then I was never one to "take it like a man" and accept was handed down to me. It has taken many years of tolerance, acceptance, adaption and accommodation to get where I am today, especially when handling disappointment This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/29/adultin...

We have to sometimes have the encouragement that we have to set our own standards of what that needs to be and ourselves have the inner confidence that it is indeed what can be acceptable and what you can accomplish. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/25/building-confidence/

So as a continuum of yesterday’s post on having the inertia to activate we are gradually beginning to do things pre-COVID. Although we did things like walk during COVID, we have experienced the winter blues and have been stuck at times under the frigid northeast winters by being at home in Zoom and other meetings throughout the day. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdyna...

The spring weather has come out in full swing recently. It’s Daylight longer (the Pennsylvania General Assembly is considering extending Daylight Saving Time the entire year (I’m crossing my fingers this happens!) The temperature is getting pretty seasonable. Yet, I have experienced inertia of becoming active and stepping back safe into the community. For over a year, I have secluded myself mostly...

Oftentimes, in the modes of social media the journey of autistics. We see their milestones and their downfalls. We also oftentimes want to compare their struggles to our own. We wonder why we are continuing to do the things that we are doing, yet they have since moved on and out of our sight leaving us in the dust. This is when we as autistics and neurotypicals alike must remember that one’s life...

Having friends outside of family in the past few years has taught me to set my own boundaries in what I share, how I respond to others, standing up for my personal needs and values along with respecting myself. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/18/mental-health-and-friends/

As we are hitting the point in of the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 Pandemic, those that have had a wide variety of changes from what is normal must realize the need for self-care. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/17/wellness-wednesday-we-must-continue-to-take-care-of-ourselves/

Today marks one year since many, including myself entered a world of unknown. However, as we hit the one-year anniversary as the world we live in change dramatically, mental health in everyone is declining, This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/16/concentrating-on-covid-one-year/

While being an autistic can have its talents like being organized and ritual, we have to remember that this being autistic is of spectrum manner and as such not everyone operates that way. Sometimes we can be the complete opposite. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://dustinsdynastyusa.com/2021/03/15/adulting-we-dont-see-it/

As I shared on the majority of my social media channels the other day, I received my first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine. While many who are in desiring to be back to normal life long for a vaccine, they are often the ones to judge, “why do they get to get a vaccine compared to me?” The truth is, we all want to be on the race to herd immunity and yes like many things of life that may seem unfair, w...

On March 10, 2010 I started a new endeavor as a Consumer Satisfaction Team Member. Although I didn’t know it, this job would require me to oftentimes interact with complete strangers. For several years, my work schedule was sporadic at best. I struggled with the days that I had to go to work because anxiety built up continually. Eventually I would become comfortable with my work, it would provide...

When evening comes, I realize that it is time to take my pills because I consciously look at that clock because that certain hour is nearing and I know it. A lot of times I think “What if I just skip this one time?” I am ashamed to admit that I’ve done it and while I spend the majority of the evening on a manic high because of my inability to sleep. I am often reminded how others see the ways I ac...

So, this week partly I have been focusing on self-regulation. This topic has sparked an interest in me because I have been hearing about it from other advocates and their autistics have been doing this. I, being diagnosed over twenty years ago and now learning things on my own am discovering these terms as we go along. I had an epiphany of when and why I need to recognize when to self-regulate on...