Since coming to live in Melbourne I’ve been blessed with awesome people who’ve supported me. The “love reminders”.
You know that some things have been challenging lately – but my art, my comedy and my home life are just…well the only word I can muster…magic. Got to open Melbourne Fringe festival with a variety showcase about identity, diversity and pride with a bunch of local heroes, Sally Goldner, James Williams, Kath Duncan, Naomi Chainey, Larissa MacFarlane and Yvonne Fein. I was very lucky to be mentored by the awesome Nelly Thomas as part of the Melbourne Fringe Navigate mentorship. A big thank you the Fringe team (and special thanks to Carly Findlay, Patrick Hayes and Laura Milke) – you are legends.
I’ve had one amazing workplace where I was privileged to work with some of Australia’s biggest brains and expertise in the violence prevention field. Since early October it’s been bumpy with change (some of it quite nasty).
BUT! While the daily challenges still exists I’ve been lifted up and reminded of my value by fellow artists, scholars, comedians and friends (new and old). I’m shouting out to a few here, but there are lots of you and I love you all.
I was faced with a no fault eviction the day after the show (September 13) and for a while it felt like everything I had done was for nothing. The house move was hard – but made so much easier by wonderful people. Together we did it and have a new home I love. A special thank you to Nelly Thomas for her support during this period.
These challenges are made harder by the world around us as Autistic people. It’s really important we don’t have people around us who are ableist, but who believe we can get through.
*A reminder of some of this challenge is this article by Terra Vance sums up how a lot of us spectrum folk feel about the challenges of the neurotypical world present us – https://blogs.psychcentral.com/aspie/2019/05/308/
I am very fortunate people have banded around me and lifted me up.
People reminded me that speaking up when you need help is healthy. That is doesn’t mean you are weak or that you “have problems” – it means you are strong. This blog is intended as a testimony to that.
The bad old days of letting feelings fester and not being honest about situations should be over.
We know that approach – of pretending everything is okay when they are not causes mental health to decline.
I am resilient because I’m honest about my feelings.
I am resilient because I walk away from toxic people and situations. No, actually I run now.
I’m about to publish my first book. I do great comedy that I love. Yeah things are tiring – but that’s life for people like me.
My home life is fucking brilliant.
My commitment just before my 49th birthday is this – I will not tolerate hate and I won’t listen to people who sanction hate. I’m going to stick with the love reminders.
I’m queer, autistic and proud. These are good things to be.
Jacci Pillar 