Self-advocacy is important. It is important because I'm able to say to myself how much I'm able to do (or not do) and live it out fully. I'm able to stand up for myself when things aren't right, and I'm able to create a safe space when something is bothering me. More importantly, I'm able to share what's on my mind too- and that is often genuine and strong in the right mind of myself, though not always coinciding with society and not what is popular, there are things that I self-advocate for myself and choose to do based on votes and also opposition that is there to try to stretch it. Occasionally I am seen as kind of opinionated, but it's on things that matter. In a broader sense, I am fighting for justice. I am fighting for the community of differing abilities and the LGBTQIA community to have the rights that they have always dreamed of and still fighting and sitting in on workshops and helping the legislature and going to meetings. I am not only advocating for myself, I am advocating for a community that often times doesn't have a voice. And the community at large that doesn't have a voice needs one that is fairly unusual. Anything that can happen originally happens with an individual that has been there before or is closely linked and there is a resiliency factor to it. Being resilient is one of the biggest keys in good advocacy and the main items to where it is structured at an ideal of where it can be continuing to make an imprint as a leader in a crossfire of intersecting identities- it is a different kind of leadership than before. Tiring it is of course, but is it strengthening my life in how I live? Am I making friends from it? Am I fulfilling my calling as a leader? In all of these, the answer is a resounding "yes" and as someone who can advocate for myself, this structure of self-determination helps me keep strength and carrying on with my life forward and change thousands of lives in the area and then go big. Moving stones is an important step- I just have to be willing to strengthen it. Stay tuned for next weeks blog: advice for parents with autism.