My wife discovered that reading was her special interest after I pointed out that reading 600 books in a year wasn't normal.
this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2023
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Women with Autism
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That's my parters special interest too! They mentioned a few times that they weren't the type of autistic that had a special interest and/or was good at any one thing. And I was like, you really dont know do you? I've heard them giggle about people 'bragging' they had read 65-100 novels that year. Which to the average person I agree is a ton, but I am sure 600 isn't even an exaggeration about your wife because I wouldn't put it past my partner for doing so!
Animals and art! Occasionally I get super hyper focused on one kind of creature or technique, but my fav changes constantly. Except for my cats, they are top bois 100% of the time
My main special interests are art and plants/nature. Those come in many varieties. I like painting & drawing, crafts, sculpting, sewing, embroidery, and beyond! I go through spurts of each and cycle back, never knowing how long I will be hyperfocused on anyone thing. Plants has been a big one for atleast 5-6 years now. The problem with plants though is that when the hyperfocus ends you still need to care for them and sometimes it burns me out, but I always come back to it. Music use to be a huge one for me growing up. I've been told I know a lot about music history and remember so many songs and lyrics but it doesn't feel like it because I have heard so many more songs than I do remember so in comparison it doesn't seem like a lot. I use to play a variety of musical instruments too. Started with a keyboard went to bass then guitar then ukelele and mandolin, dabbled in harmonica and the spoons even! But Ive moved so many times in the last 15 years that hauling instruments that I played less and less became a chore. I also love my two Shiba inus, and animals in general. I use to bring home stray cats growing up and at one point had five cats. I have one of them tattooed on me too. It was distressing attempting to condense my interests.
Don't condense, give us that novel. That's what this thread is for!
We are a stray cat family too!
I think if I talk to much I can become overbearing or appear self-centered. I worry too much about what others think and perceive me as which in itself could be a special interest I imagine.
Stray cats are the best! My partner's cat after two years is now finally fond of me. I am usually good with cats so I just gave her space, would give 1-2 pets here and there when about to give her food or water when she seemed open to it but not that often because she would try and bite and swat. But now she honestly won't leave me alone some days and is very needy. My partner even seems jealous sometimes I think because all the animals now love me best. Which I don't feel sorry for, being their #1 rocks.
I feel that way too but we want a safe space where people can be themselves. If you want to post a book then do it!
We also have 2 foster fails and the first one bonded with my husband so much it's crazy. I've never seen a cat act like that. She's the only one he really likes because he doesn't bond with anyone, but me I guess, and now her. I will admit I am jealous but it's of the bond itself because it's so interesting to watch. She does this weird backward dance when he comes to pet her. She would spend the day on his shoulders if he let her. She's always getting up there even if he's busy. Of course she's always in his face when he sits down, and has to be on him all the time. She even gets mad at me when I get hugs and kisses. That's her affection not mine!
My special interest at the moment is racing. As a family, my brother dad and I built a racecar with a lot of help from other family and friends. It's so much fun. We come from a long line of racers.
My mini special interest has been making a photo wall in the car hauler of all the old legacy pics of my grandparents and my uncle's and stuff.
When I was growing up our neighbors were a racing family. It was interesting!
The photo wall sounds neat!
Yeah, we just lost my uncle Saturday to cancer. The last thing he got to see was my brother racing his car. He went to sleep after very happy and never woke up. Bitter sweet
Knitting has been a special interest for years. I tend to find a specific thing, and make lots of them, before moving on to the next thing. The last one was hats. All different kinds, different types of knitting, and fancy patterns after I started learning fair isle. Now, it's socks. I'd never knit a sock before until the one I finished yesterday, but there will soon be so very many socks. I don't even like wearing knitted socks because I hate the texture under my feet. Strange thing for me to fixate on!
Learning languages! I’ve dabbled in many, gotten proficient in a few, and fluent in one so far.
I used to like public policy and poverty reduction, but it’s much harder for mental health - so I’m trying to focus on other interest.
It opens up you mind unlike almost anything else and feels like a superpower once you start to get a grasp of a new language.