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Autism and a Sense of Time

Interesting. Based on the thread title I expected a different kind of discussion. This is less about time and more about presence, awareness, focus.

I'm not sure how much validity there is in a claim that Aspies are more or less inclined to being focused on the present moment (I think its simply a different focus). In some regards it may be true... like when I see people distracted by abstract things or conversation... when the cat is being cute. "Look! Now! So cute!" I've noticed NT's don't seem to appreciate the small things like Aspies, at least in my experience. It kind of maddens me. Like they think what I care about is trivial; and I think what they care about is trivial. Whether any of that translates to Aspies actually focusing more on the now... I doubt that simply based off of anxiety and depression rates being similar between NT and ND, and the strong correlations those have to worry and regret.
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I think the best way to describe my experience with this is I'm 1) an Aspie, 2) an INTJ, and 3) very philosophical and spiritual (non-secular).

I mention those three points to give a framework: 1) I'm very sensitive in the here and now to sensory experiences and find them distracting, comforting, or abnormally uncomfortable, 2) but my personality is obsessively future pacing, so my consciousness has a tendency to become extremely detached from "the now" to the point of a sensory experience literally startling me back into awareness, 3) but also I've learned to teach myself to practice presence from philosophical and spiritual teachings, so I will practice simply "being" every day, often simply observing my environment around me for extended periods (especially animals), taking a nature walk, practicing gratitude for life "now," practicing Yoga, playing an instrument or singing, etc.

If you do have difficulty in being present, perhaps you could benefit from exploring wisdom from Eckhardt Tolle, Buddhism, Alan Watts, etc.

But the truth is this: you don't need anything to be present in the now. Now is all that ever was and ever will be.
 
Is there really anything all aspies have in common? As for me, I'm constantly thinking (worrying) about the future.
 

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