I started birding in the last year (once you turn 50, it's required), and to my surprise, I discovered that Blue Jays are quite common in my neighborhood. I've seen 5 or 6 in the past month, and I hear their calls almost every time I go out on a walk.

They have a rather loud, piercing call that you can hear from some distance, and once you know it, locating a Blue Jay is quite simple. I told my students that once you know what to look for, seeing a Blue Jay or anything else is easy.

I teach a class called Psychology of Relationships, and I teach them that spotting toxic vs healthy dating partners is quite simple once you know what to look for. If you are interested, you can check out these videos I made on that: 

Many other things are easier to see once you know what to look for. I can see the burdens that most of my students are carrying.

Recently, I've learned to spot something else.

Since I've been diagnosed Autistic and ADHD, I've learned that we are actually quite common in my world. Critics say that it's being made up, but just like my student who saw the Blue Jay, but once you know what to look for, I find that we are all around the neighborhood.

One thing that most of us have in common is that we are tired and exhausted from trying to blend into a world that was built for neurotypicals. Most of us have been told or have told ourselves that there is something wrong with us. I disagree. I believe that we can make a better world for Neurodivergent people. I also believe that doing this will make a better world for everyone.

Blue Jays are beautiful birds. Being able to spot them has made the world more beautiful for me. The funny thing is that they have been there all along, but I never bothered to see.

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