Feeling Appreciated for Preferring Difficulty

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The most prominent memory I have of feeling appreciated for my aspie tendencies was from about two years ago. I was making a flute out of bamboo randomly without any idea of how to make a flute out of bamboo when my friend called and asked what I was doing. I told him that I was randomly making a flute out of bamboo, and he said that I was the most hardcore person ever because he knew that I had no idea how to make a flute out of bamboo. Within the context it made me feel good because I felt like he was acknowledging the fact that I live my life in a way where I pursue personal ideas even if they're difficult and even if I have to do it all by myself against unlikely odds. And it felt like he was also acknowledging the fact that I often persevere in these difficult situations because I'm willing to stim my way through them.

Another time, maybe four years ago, I jumped off of some stairs as I was leaving a house with another friend because I thought it was more interesting than walking down the stairs, and he gave me props for doing it. I said doing that kind of thing was no big deal, and he said: "yeah, but you actually do that kind of thing!" That was the first time it really sank in that most other people aren't as eccentric as I am.

There is a certain appreciation or slant on the world around us that I admire in people like yourself. Not too many people are original, 'can-do', and do not seem to put much stock into what others may think about it. There are maybe four people I've met in my lifetime (and another couple I'd like to meet) who fit this description. It is this type of personality that can positively influence the lives of others and the world around them. Just keep doing what you're doing, man.

By the way, how did the flute turn out?

The flute ended up producing two tones. Both of them had beautiful, deep timbres. I think the interval was something like a major 6th.

Black bamboo in backyard... fine grained saw... power drill... long bit for hollowing it out... I don't remember much of the details but I know that within the context for a bunch of reasons I was able to come to terms with big important life issues.