Truth be told…I suffer a little from FOMO….Fear of Missing Out. That’s what drives me to check my social media too many times a day. That’s what keeps me tuned in to what’s going on so I don’t miss anything. FOMO is an extension of the dreaded C-word…Control. If I can see what’s happening, I can rehearse a hundred ways to respond. I can plan out conversations in my head so I’m not caught flat footed. If you find yourself doing that too, you could be sitting somewhere on the autism spectrum, like me.

I used to look at autism with a bit of a jaded eye. A sort of us versus them mentality that didn’t actually degrade those on the spectrum so I wouldn’t have to feel too bad. But that kind of thinking certainly diminishes others and it’s not a cool thing. Now that my chickens have come home to roost, so to speak, I see the autism spectrum as something akin to hyper-technicolor. Super powers with a jolt of juice.

Years of therapy taught me to re-evaluate things when new information comes in. That introspection has helped me get a better handle on my fear of missing out and has directed my attention more on the positive aspects of not being so plugged in all the %@&# time! 

I’m discovering JOMO…the JOY of Missing Out!

Now when I find myself overstimulated, overwhelmed, and just plain OVER everything, I unplug and go to my happy place. Currently that’s one of two places…Grace, the Camper or The Farm. Either place brings me so much peace and joy.  I can kick back at either place and happily let the world pass me by. It’s refreshing. Life affirming. 

Mr. FixIt drove over to the grandkids’ farm and borrowed their big utility trailer and went to Lowe’s yesterday to get the first load of shingles for the roof. Our WV Daughter and her husband came out to help unload the trailer while I finished cooking supper. I prepared a large pot roast with gravy, some of my home canned half runner beans, and a batch of biscuits. We sat at the little bistro table in the yard and enjoyed our meal together, which was quite a treat.

After dinner was finished, I cleaned up the kitchen while Mr. FixIt took the trailer back over to the kids. We’ll have to borrow it at least a time or two to get the rest of the shingles over to the house. But we have thirty days to get that done. The boys will start on the roof over the family room in the next couple of weeks. That part isn’t all that big so it shouldn’t take too long to complete.

I’m going to practice JOMO a lot this winter! It makes me a happier camper!

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV