If you were on my blog at the beginning of 2025, you remember my choice. I chose the word honesty for the ‘word of the year’. This year has been a lot of things. It has taught me that being honest matters. Honesty not only makes you a better person. Avoiding honesty is a sin, something that I do not want to do.

The answer truthfully is that over time I had been adhering to my word of the year. I became closer to God this year. It got better as I grew closer. Even when people questioned if I was doing what I had said, I remained steadfast. I knew that it was something that I had to honor. A big part of that dealt with my adherence to my mental health medication. Over time, I proved that all the flawed theories and fears were not true. I had to fight for a long time to show that taking the medication was not a mistake. They were indeed flawed thoughts. This inspired me to put those theories to rest. I overcame those fears. I was patient and let my medication work. This proved that I can do what I need to be well. I no longer lie about it.

Another thing that I do is that I am honest about when I need help or need to do something. I know that I can trust those individuals deeply. I can tell them when I am struggling. I let them know if I need help or maybe a break. If it prolongs, they can see it too. Telling others what I need or if I need help is not a shame. I do not fear asking for help. I can be honest and do what is right. I know I can act honestly. It is best that I do so.

It had taken me some time to get there. Eventually, I had to learn that it is not about being perfect. Making progress by doing what is right and being honest will make things stick. They will be what they are meant to be because they have been proven to work for a long time. It also takes having other things. Be honest about what works for you and what doesn’t. This understanding helps me close out all the negativity of the past. I can now move on with my life in the here and now.

But most of all, I understand that there is more of a direct relief by being honest. You get what you need without worry, whatever that is. Don’t be anxious if you did it wrong. Just express what you need to have taken care of. Everyone is human and makes mistakes. We as autistic people can fear something bad happening when we did have a mishap or something. Yet, it is just as important to be honest and do what is right for everyone. This is more important than just making things better for everyone.

So did I honor my word? Over time, yes. It helped me see that not honoring my honesty was a sin. I did not want to be accused of that. I closed the door on the flawed thoughts that I had. I had started to get well. I focused on my mental health once and for all in an honest way. That also made its own difference.