One Man's Choice: The Therapeutic Meaning Behind A Beautiful Youtube Video About Autism

This just in: I saw a beautiful Youtube video of a man with ADHD who got his compassionate wife to help him by sorting out a lone grey bowl that didn't fit into his pile of blue and grey bowls and dishes in the cupboard, to which she responded with compassion and kindness rather than neglect and brutality like some fans feel Horrid Henry's parents treat their equally horrid son. Here, we shall break down the meanings behind each of the things featured in this beautiful video:

The man in the video represents the challenges and trials autistic people struggle with everyday. To some autistic people, the world is a challenging place, full of noise, bright lights and triggers that they can't escape from. However, there are some strategies that they can do to cope with this unfamiliar world, such as asking for help, doing some meditation or playing with a stress toy like a squeezy skull, that can help them in their day to day lives. In fact, some autistic people even carry around some comfort objects that they from an early age refuse to give up because of how sharp and scary the world seems to them. Examples include ear defenders, a soft pillow or a favourite toy they've had when they were a baby.

The man's wife represents the kindness and care we all need in the world if someone is diagnosed with autism or ADHD and is struggling to find the answers to all their questions or ask for help on a different subject, like maths homework or trying to research something for an essay. The wife's caring, gentle ways are all the ways we can help autistic people live their lives like they recommended they want to their way, whether it's by a strict schedule or involving therapy-approved techniques for staying calm and concentrated in this upsetting and irritating world we call 'Earth'.

The bowls are a major talking point of representation here. The grey bowls which the man lines up with the blue bowls represent structure, which means if the colour grey pops into his mind, he thinks about the grey bowls and sets off to do not a whole overloading list of tasks for today, but two simple tasks he can do every day to keep calm and concentrated, such as cook a new recipe, write a story or song or do some simple, stress free housework. The blue bowls on the other hand represent sweetness, which means that if the man is feeling up to it if he sees the colour blue, he could do something that's out of his rules of structure for today. Something like baking, watching a Youtube video, reading or relaxing in the bath, doesn't matter what, moments of leisure represent moments of sweetness.

Now, the grey bowl he refuses to put on either piles mean he chose his individuality for a reason. He picked something that made him unique and stand out from other people in this flock of sheep - he was a black sheep, but now he is a shining star. By picking this bowl, that man has a bright future ahead of him - being with his wife until they die, going to sensory friendly sessions together and somehow, someday, having kids. That man will have a future unlike any of the friends he made in school or at work - being one of a kind means having the brightest future out of any of the litter, like me for instance, I discovered a knack for therapy sessions after using some of my favourite cartoons, films and TV series to show emotions and daily struggles.

So next time you want to live a balanced life, do structure before sweetness. This means picking the grey before the blue. If you want your reward for the daytime, then you must learn that structure comes first, just like my Bluey & Stitch Rule: structure first, sweetness second. So, on my trip out today, I decided on one priority: magazines first, food second. That's what happened when my support worker and I got to the little seaside town.

Follow this example, and you will have a future just like this man - bright, simple, clear.

The Bugs Bunny Builders Method

Wooooaaah, it's very windy outside! But there's a big problem: if it's too windy to have a picnic, how can you add joy, health, play and kindness into your day? Enter: The Bugs Bunny Builders Method. Let's break it down into simple, manageable steps to enjoy your day despite the heavy wind.

JOY - If you're out and about, you can do something simple and gentle to fuel your love of pleasure, such as going for a walk or getting a drink of chocolate milk from the store, then sitting in the car and enjoying every sip. If you're at home, you can enjoy some light activities you love while sheltering from the wind, including writing blog entries, doing light exercise or reading.

HEALTH - At home and out and about, there's no need for those horrible Biggest Loser type workouts and diets. All that's required is gentle exercise. There are lots of workout programmes for kids on BBC iPlayer and Youtube, be it Andy's Wild Workouts or a simple Joe Wicks PE session you'd find from 2020. If you're outdoors, a gentle, short walk would do you good, mainly out in nature. You're getting enough exercise and fresh air to stimulate your brain until it's awake. However, on days which are windy, you can write a short, simple list of healthy things for your picnic with your support worker, such as Pom Bears, pork cocktail sausages or Paw Patrol, Bluey or Peppa Pig yogurt.

FUN & LAUGHTER - If the town you're visiting has a local corner shop which sells a nice snack or a magazine, take a little walk there and see if it sells your favourite tabloid or edible. Who knows, there are lots of different choices. Magazines? They're in there! Beano, CBeebies, My Little Pony, Peppa Pig...they have them all. And as for the snacks, make sure to choose something healthy and light, like carrot sticks, ready salted crisps or that yogurt that has 'Paw Patrol' written all over. Don't do it when the car is jolting, but you can read the fun stories in the magazine to your support worker, or when you're at home, slip away from screens for a while and do the activities in the magazine. You can answer the little questions sprinkled throughout, like describing your best friends or what your favourite toy is. Magazines are on a roll!

CARING - If you have an Usborne Things To Make & Do book at home, don't be shy to give all the crafts and activities in them a try! Get the help of a support worker to get all the items you need to make these simple crafts, and then give them to your Mum as a surprise. The book Things To Make & Do For People You Love is a great example, as it contains lots of things to help you care for your loved ones - friends, family, love shows them all. If you're out and about, you and your support worker can go to a small shop and get something for a friend or a loved one - a colouring book, a cake, a novel they've wanted to read for so long....you name the gift, the shop you're in has got it. And if they haven't got it, well, you can try a different shop. Don't give up! And if you want to get something for your dog or cat or beloved pet, then there's plenty of shops that sell pet treats or toys at a low price. Treat your furry friend to their own little gift!

So these are just a few of the signs you need to stay healthy, play healthy and be joyful when the wind blows on a cold September day. By obeying these four principles: JOY, HEALTH, FUN & LAUGHTER and CARING - you're taming the wind with your own way of fighting back: the kindly happiness of human nature exists within you. I believe in you.

You can do it!

The Walk In The Night Method

Imagine your anger, frustration and sadness as a storm at night shrouded with heavy rain. The storm is a brutal force that represents anger, while the rain represents sadness. If you ever feel that feeling, retreat to your warren - be it a quiet place around the house without technology and just an Amazon Echo - and meditate on a beautiful walk across the forest at night time with Brains, Alan, Tin Tin, Fiver and Hazel. Quietly make notes verbally of what you can see, hear, smell, touch and taste. When the meditation is over, you can write down all your discoveries in a notebook, and then go to the kitchen to get a 'carrot', which is of course a representation of a crunchy, healthy snack. You can pick anything that's crunchy -  celery sticks, carrot sticks, apples or Pom Bears or other crisps - and enjoy savouring every crunch, and every moment your teeth crush the surface of that crunchy food.

Once you have done this exercise, you have calmed the angry storm and sad rain, and are ready to continue the activities you love. Don't forget to do the Thunderbirds countdown from 5 to 1 and say "Thunderbirds Are Go," this time in a quiet, hushed whisper, before you head off to your warren.

Don't let General Woundwort get you!