On being (ahem) "detail-oriented"

[indigo_rose99]

It's a gift. ...And a curse.

I listened last night to an NPR show about autism. Evidently there are varying degrees, and they are all trying to live in this world. And -- good for them -- they seem to not want a cure, but rather want the world to accept them as they are. The show interviewed one guy and asked, "So if there was a pill in my hand that would get rid of your autism, would you take it?" He said no. He said, "I like the way my brain works, the way I think about numbers. I would never want to give that up."

That is the way I feel about being so detail-oriented. Like autism, it is not socially acceptable. It means that at times I do things that make other people uncomfortable. But you know? I wouldn't give it up. I like the way my brain works. And with my life? Being prepared, having all of the nitpicky details looked up and thought about in advance... has saved my bacon more times than I can count.

Comments

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

I've heard that about deaf people and deaf culture, but I never would have guessed that about people with autism. I'm guessing only people with mild autism? The cases I've heard about don't seem to allow for much interacting with people or going out into the world.

And I never thought to apply that idea to myself. I've often noted that not agreeing with the crowd opens me up to certain advantages. For example, because everyone else was too lazy to walk across a bridge, I got to park for free, and everyone else had to pay $12-20. Since everyone else is afraid of used cars even if they are reliable, I get to buy reliable used cars cheaply.

The only time I've felt like "No, I wouldn't want that change because I like the way my brain works" is when I hear about meditating, especially in relation to insomnia. Too much insomnia is the only time I'm ever tempted to try anything remotely like emptying my mind out. I prefer it full, thank-you.