As over four years ago we endured a never-before-seen event in our life as most of the world was limited to our own homes and there was an ever-pressing use of technology, including the use of virtual meeting platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Indeed, for many with neurodivergence it has provided us with the ability to connect to others in an element that makes us feel more at ease. However, as the pandemic ended and fears began to cease, I increasingly realized that it is better to do more things in person.

The pandemic regardless of how your belief is in it had fearmongered much of the world especially those such as me that have anxiety. I had allowed myself to spend the duration of the pandemic living in fear of doing things in environments that I felt would contract sickness. While it kept me and others from congregating in places that I had done prior to the pandemic, like church, routine appointments and even at times work and day services, eventually I came to terms with the fact that indeed I did need that in-person interaction more than anything else in the world.

The deeper the relationship I had with those that I connected prior to the pandemic, I got back together with my therapist and others. There was as soon as the stay-at-home orders were lifted by my state that I was expected to return to work, though with social distancing and masking requirements. Granted, many autistic people may have had struggles with universally masking, but I was able to withstand it perfectly fine and indeed, I felt much safer in a personal manner being masked because my actions were not being judged with my face covered.

There were many times in the past years because of stressful factors with the ways that I had to be transported to and from work along with other dynamics that I had felt stressed and anxious about having to work. The reality is that I have an exceptionally excellent job and there is a reality that I need to supplement my disability benefits to life the life I desire. There has always been a reality to work but there was many times that I felt that I felt that I needed to look for alternatives especially when I felt that I would have conflict with day services staff that resulted in really bad meltdowns and now that that element has  been taken away from me and I have had to learn to transport myself independently, I now understand,  realize and accept that by all means possible that things are much better when they are done in person as to being done virtually.

Granted being able to connect with others or events virtually does provide a great convenience, but it also allows one to become more comfortable with things and doesn’t allow people to experience things in ways that are more beneficial and can allow them to succeed compared to an environment where there is more of a struggle. There is a time and place for everything and as a community college student that did some of my schooling online, I can say it is more beneficial when you are able to connect to others face-to-face.

 Looking forward to the future I am sure that technology will indeed advance but it is ever more important to be more grounded in the reality of what works best for myself and not allowing myself to become more lazy and not allow myself to fall into the trap of allowing myself to do things in ways that do not allow me to connect with others in person.