As 2026 started I began to realize that I had to be more factual in caring for myself. Part of this was not only accepting the new normal of adhering to my mental health medications. I began to do this later last year. Eventually, I realized that it takes hard work. It’s important to naturally recognize what you do and don’t do each day. This recognition makes the day what it is.

I never believed in things beyond what was necessary. I did not see their value equaling that of taking medication. But I was mentally well and wanted to do something better this year. I realized that I had to do more to take care of me than just medication alone. I needed to document and journal properly. I tried to do this in the past but did not have any stability in doing so. I had to see the value in myself. I understood that I had to find my own personal sense of achievement. This would help me want to do things better in 2026.

The reality is that I came from a time when there were no proven methods to teach me properly. I struggled with managing life on the autism spectrum. Over time, through my own experience and research, I am starting to discover what works. I am also discarding what no longer works for me. I had to understand what I wanted for myself this year. I realized I needed to focus on what I wanted to have a better life. I needed to do things in the ways that I handled best.

In the past I often dismissed the idea of taking better care of myself. Setting boundaries and goals seemed unnecessary. I didn’t think I was worthy of these improvements, even though I knew they were possible. I believe there was a part of me that forever wanted others and myself to be miserable. I wanted them to feel bad for me because that was all that I had known. Instead of believing that reality, I needed to see there were plenty of opportunities to grow.

I also had to see that as things had changed in my life over the past few years. I had to learn, grow, and accept them for what they were. I needed to let go of what no longer served me in the way it once did. This included what was holding me back, being a prisoner of the past that had no reason to. I had to see what there was to live for. Finding what made me happy was crucial. I focused on the things that served my life instead of what kept holding me back.

There is so many things in life that I have the potential to do. But I had to realize it was up to me to make things better. They would only improve if I took action. I needed to focus on myself by taking care of me. I understood there was value in doing so.