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Have you ever been told you're too obsessed with something, that you talk about your interests too much, or that you need to find a more “normal” hobby? Maybe you could talk about penguins all day long, or you stay up until 2 AM researching the history of the American Revolution.

Maybe you've been told your love of fashion and makeup artistry is silly or not productive, and yet you long to play with clothes and experiment with makeup.

For many autistic women, special interests are a source of joy, comfort, creativity, and deep personal fulfillment!

They may also be something we've learned to hide.

In this episode, I talk about autistic special interests and why they deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged. I'll share stories of some of my own special interests and how I have been able to integrate them into my career paths, how I have been able to use them to better understand myself, and how I have been able to find connections with others who share my passions.

I will also talk about why late-diagnosed autistic women may have learned to hide their passions to fit in and how to make more room in your life for the things that genuinely excite you in a balanced way.

Your special interests don't have to become a career or serve a practical purpose to be worthwhile. Sometimes, it's more than enough that they bring you joy.

If you're a late-diagnosed autistic woman learning to embrace who you are, this episode is an invitation to stop dismissing or hiding what you love and start celebrating the things that make you feel most like yourself.

You don't have to justify your joy. You deserve to make room for it.

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