To "I Wish I Didn't have Aspergers" from gallian #AutismPositivity2012
I am not here to tell you that it never sucks to have Aspergers. Sometimes it does. I know, I've been bulled most of my life because of it. I won't say I wouldn't prefer to be able to communicate the same way as my coworkers, because if I could it would certainly make my working life a whole lot easier. However, Aspergers is an intrinsic part of who I am and I have no desire to change it.
I value direct communication. Missing all the social baggage associated with nonverbal cues means I never had to deal with the awkwardness of the high school social scene, or worse, dating. I found someone who was of like mind, and we simply skipped that step.
Combine my social oblivion with my sensory issues around taste and smell and I never had any interest in smoking or drinking, but I never felt any peer pressure to engage in those behaviors either, even when I was around people who wanted to pressure me. Tactile defensiveness means I'm incredibly picky about the feel of the clothes I wear, but deficits in pragmatic language mean I'm not influenced by any need to look "trendy" so I wear what I want. Occasionally, I even get compliments on my outfit, which never fail to confuse me.
Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. You will find yours. I won't tell you it is going to be easy: the world was built for neurotypicals and we are not. However, it's well worth the effort. Besides, confusing the NTs can be fun. :)