Belonging in a space, especially when neurodivergent, can seem a mountainous expedition. Every person’s idea of belonging is inextricably woven from their internal interpretation of external influence. But our interior perspectives are unknowingly viewed through tinted glass. Our past experiences codify our interpretation, staining them in such a way that it can seem counter to the norm. Our memories are overlaid with additional hues, composing the space into what we are told to expect, rather than what we have lived. 

 

The realization that this restrictive palette has muddled our perception may feel demoralizing. And indeed, it can be. But with that recognition comes the ability to unearth and utilize our own, unique hues and tones. We become artists in our own right. We paint through the sharing of experiences, sculpt out masterpieces carved from perspectives that are wholly our own. We become galleries of memories and in doing so, we find belonging in one another neurodivergent and neurotypical alike.