My Personal Advocacy

 For children and adults in the autism spectrum, language is significantly impaired together with social and learning skills. For some they develop full language, for others, it is more challenging, to say the least.  April is Autism awareness month. Today, April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. As I am my two boys' best advocate for autism awareness, I am not only advocating for awareness and acceptance, but more importantly, I am advocating to family and friends for a deeper appreciation of the daily miracles of life, your own lives. Language for instance. The fact that you can communicate to your loved ones and they to you with words is such a beautiful gift. Talk to each other. Have meaningful conversations. And don't take even a single nuance of expression for granted. Language is such a precious gift. Realize this.

Everyday we live with this challenge. Everyday we do our best to understand and communicate with our boys and teach them the language of the world, of life, one that they deserve to know of. You, whoever you are reading this,  are part of their world. By heeding our advocacy, my personal advocacy, to be more grateful for the miracles that is your life, you are making this world a better place for my boys and the rest of the children having autism.

I wrote this poem back in June of 2011 when Garret still had no functional language. A few months after, Morgan was diagnosed to also be in the autism spectrum. In the many things they cannot express, I try as best as I can to fill in the blanks. I do not claim to know exactly what it is in the hearts and minds of my little prince and feisty king. I only know that through them, I am learning everyday to live my life the way the Universe has intended me to.

And so here I am with my propensity and love for words, imploring you, with a lot of words, to take a moment to read this and perhaps share this advocacy which is two-fold: One which is Autism Awareness and Acceptance and two, A more heightened awareness and a deeper sense of appreciation of the daily miracles of your own life.

 June 2011

If I Could Speak

If I could speak, I would tell you how the light shining through giant acacia trees is like heaven kissing my tender cheeks.

If I could speak, I would tell you how birds soaring, landing and once again taking flight stupefy my mind.

If I could speak, I would tell you how the leaves floating in the wind is like me dancing to the trumpets of cherubim

If I could speak, I would tell you how the feel of the grass, the morning dew and its dry roughness in the afternoon sun comfort my restless feet.

If I could speak, I would tell you how the wind blowing on our faces is the Universe breathing, telling the truth of our stories.

If I could speak, I would tell you how water calms my soul, soothes the chaos in my mind and that is why I play with it, sprinkle it, splash in it, taste it, feel it running through my fingers, because it purifies my spirit.

If I could speak, I would tell you the waves talk to me like an old friend, that the sound it makes crashing to the shores is sweet, sweet music to my ears.

If I could speak, I would tell you that God loves me and you so much, that he gives us the sun, the moon, the stars, the wind, the skies and all of the earth. So how can we not marvel at this beautiful miracle called life?

If I could speak, I would tell you how much I love you, Mama and Papa. And I would tell you every single day that you did good.  And all that you have given me, all that you are to me is more than enough.

And if I could speak, I would tell you, in not so many words but in a language that is strong, simple, loud and clear, how much I love you, in the most gentle of kisses, in an embrace so tight as I serenade you with the most beautiful songs borne out of my heart, all the days of our lives...