Today is my little brother, Shaun’s, 40th birthday. He passed away 10 years ago.
The pain never really leaves. It just changes and evolves.
He was one of the most important people in my life, and as a person w/ autism, he taught me more about life than I could ever explain in one X post. He taught me compassion, patience, and how to truly SEE people. He showed me that being different is not a flaw. It can be something beautiful.
If you have kids, and they have peers w/ disabilities at school or in their social circles, PLEASE talk to them about not just being kind, but to try to be a real friend. For many, being included, defended & truly SEEN can mean more than most people EVER could begin to realize.
So much of who I am today is because of him. Happy birthday bro.