Time Travel Through October 18ths
Reflecting on October 18th across various years, it’s wild to see both the changes and constants in my life. These snapshots help piece together my evolution, showing what has shaped who I am today.
Early Career Focus and Social Life:
- In 2004, I was preparing to launch a website for prospective employers, displaying my classic monotropic focus. Even then, there was a pull toward the outdoors, I remember noticing the winter snow in the mountains and planning to get into biking once the website was done.
- In 2005, I struggled with work-life balance, facing workplace conflicts and time clock issues that threatened a raise. I tried organizing “Friends and Family” events to stay connected, but when attendance dropped, I let them go. It highlighted my desire for social connections and the challenges of maintaining them as an autistic individual.
Passion for Mountain Biking and the Outdoors:
- By 2007-2008, mountain biking had cemented itself as my special interest. I was also expanding my outdoor activities, hiking Jumbo Saddle and helping friends with everyday tasks like “cat litter duty.”
- In 2012, I completed the RMVQ in 4 days, 8 hours, and 47 minutes—showcasing my deep immersion in the sport.
- By 2018, I was exploring the Crazy Mountains, discovering “zen-like” trails that reminded me of Star Wars scenes. My unique way of experiencing nature reflected the perspective many neurodivergent individuals bring to their adventures.
Health-Conscious Lifestyle:
- In 2013, I shifted towards a health-conscious lifestyle. My neurodivergent trait of information seeking led me to extensively research the “primal” lifestyle, collecting resources from experts. I wasn’t just passively consuming information—I challenged others to engage with these ideas too.
Content and Relationship Evolution:
- From 2020 to 2022, my content evolved from writing to vlogging, capturing adventures like Yellowstone and the Three Larch Trail with Mo. The “green goggle night” experience marked a significant point in our relationship.
- Collaborating with Mo (“MoBill”) represented growth in how I approached relationships and content creation, showing a deepening connection over time.
A Key Discovery:
- Watching Rob Warner on a podcast led me to discover neurodivergence. His experiences made me reflect on my own patterns, helping me realize that what I thought was just “me” was part of something larger, something shared that explained so much of my life. This was when I began to truly understand and embrace my neurodivergent identity.
This journey highlights how my interests, relationships, and self-understanding have evolved while certain core aspects have remained. Each October 18th adds another piece to the puzzle of who I am. Today, I don’t know, burnout and the possibility of going camping is all I got.
Boneshakerbike 