Making Connections Around the World as Someone on the Autism Spectrum

As someone on the autism spectrum, I find that activities such as traveling and making friends can be challenging. Making my way through an uncharted airport is stressful, if I can even afford to go on a trip in the first place. I’m getting better at making friends, but I still struggle with social situations. I get very lonely, and sometimes I just want to feel more connected with people. Mail is one thing that helps to accomplish this for me.

I love to receive mail of all kinds, from postcards to packages! I’ve always looked forward to times such as my birthday or Christmas. As a kid, I knew I’d get at least a card or two from my family. However, as I grew older, the amount of mail in my mailbox died down a bit.

One day, I came across a link to a website called Postcrossing. This is a project where you can send a postcard to a random person in the world, and you will receive a postcard from another random person in return. I got some postcards and stamps, and decided to try it.

I wasn’t disappointed. The more postcards I sent, the more I found in my own mailbox! I don’t have to worry about how to act socially, or if I will get a response from people. I get to see views on the cards from all over the world. Finally, I feel included and connected.

Being on the autism spectrum can make some aspects of life difficult. I may never travel around the world in person. But thanks to Postcrossing, I can still explore different places. And now I never have to feel alone.