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Why I Forgave the People Who Bullied Me Because of My Autism

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Living with autism has been a positive journey for me. I feel as though my autism is a gift that I can share with the world.

However, not everyone understands it, and they can turn to the last resort that nobody should go through: bullying.

Being bullied for being autistic can really do damage. I know when I went through it, I would just cry and cry, and I would feel severe pain throughout my body.

As I’ve gotten older, though, I realized I’m not the problem. It’s those who feel the need to bully me for something that’s a part of me.

But then I also got to thinking how sad those people must feel if they have to be so mean to me and others with autism. So guess what I did to those who bullied me? I forgave. I noticed when I decided to forgive those who were cruel to me, I felt free. It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Even though what they did to me was awful and, at times, damaged my confidence, I forgave them because I needed to be free. One of my challenges with being autistic is I get really upset when I feel threatened, and it takes time for me to bounce back from it.

But as I found forgiveness in my autism journey, it has made me a stronger person. To those who may be getting bullied because of your autism, my advice is to forgive and never blame yourself. You’re not the problem. It’s the person who is bullying you who is the problem. They’re going through something and are taking it out on you.

Never be ashamed for being autistic. It’s a puzzle piece of your life, and it can teach the world how amazing you are.

And forgive the bullies because it will set you free.

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Lead photo source: Think stock Images

Originally published: October 24, 2016
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