156 [S11 E11] Coming home to myself: feeling 'good enough', unmasking and moving towards self love

Abs Lee is a carer, gardener and cleaner from Suffolk in the UK. Now 54, she was formally identified as autistic early in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic and lockdown. She's a parent to an AuDHD, queer adult human, and cares for her elderly mother.

Abs has moved between multiple jobs throughout her life so far, full of potential but often finding it difficult to stay in roles due to sensory issues and lack of the right support. Now self employed, working part time due to health issues and caring responsibilities, she says that her life "has been shaped by persistence, lived experience and learning how to stay." These days, she "measures success quietly: staying well, staying sober, keeping my home tidy, moving my body - and choosing life, again and again."

Abs has a Bachelor's degree in Art and is a Buddhist, currently training towards Ordination. After often feeling like a failure, her Buddhist practice and prioritising self care are helping her reframe her life and move towards self acceptance.

Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they've learned along the way.

I'm Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I've been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020.

I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they'll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.

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