(Repost) Taking Time out for You..

For someone on the Spectrum, being overwhelmed can be jarring, disarming and just chaotic, especially when people want so much from you in a short amount of time or when they ask you to hear about their problems.

Sometimes, I like to hear it but there are times where I just need to be alone. I’m sure the same can be said for all of us at one time in our lives. The most prominent example of someone (or in this case, somepony) whom I relate to so much is My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic‘s Starlight Glimmer, especially in light of a recent incident.

(Warning for those who haven’t seen Season 9, spoilers ahead!)

In the recent episode “Student Counsel”, Starlight, in her role as Twilight Sparkle’s Friendship School, relishes her job as guidance counselor, but being so gung ho at her job divides her time between that and spending time with her friends, particularly the Great and Powerful Trixie.

This becomes evident as the Great and Powerful Duo (my name for Trixie and Starlight) prepare for a party hosted, not by Pinkie Pie, but her sister Maud and her boyfriend Mudbriar, two other ponies I can relate to, but more on that later.) Starlight, during a picnic with Trixie, explains that she enchanted a bracelet to go off when somepony knocks on her door.

It starts happening throughout the episode and the conundrum becomes evident when she misses time with Trixie to devote herself to her student’s problems. It’s this part where I relate to her the most, with people asking me all the time for advice, also known as the Bartenders Conundrum.

It’s never easy to be the person that people can unload all of thier problems on, but it’s something to be proud of. That said, neglecting friends, as Starlight did before (and she learned in this episode) can make one feel like they aren’t important enough.

It was the same for Starlight as it is for all of us, we need to find a balance between work and pleasure; to set boundaries when they are needed (or wanted) for ourselves if nothing else. Only then can we function, contribute in our communities and in the long term, really…

Shine On!!