Autism newsletter 2021 December LR - Flipbook - Page 1
AUTISM LINKS
Newsletter of the Autism Association (Singapore)
DECEMBER 2021
MCI (P) 003/07/2021
GRATITUDE IN ADVERSITY
Two years ago, when COVID-19 hit us, who
would have thought that our lives would
change so drastically. There have been so
many hurdles we have had to overcome
and measures we adapted to along the way
as our lives and routines were disrupted.
Nonetheless, we have evolved and survived
countless storms as we stood together in
our battle towards creating a safe society.
and the smell of fresh pastry and coffee on
a Sunday morning. Bringing us closer to
home, families from different households
are now able to visit and hug their loved
ones, grandparents are able to bond with
their grandchildren, dining in is allowed
in limited numbers and travel bubbles
are progressively extending to various
locations.
With the new year approaching, let us
take a step back as we celebrate all our
small victories thus far. We have come a
long way from being cooped up at home
in lockdown, to being able to interact with
one another again as the restrictions were
relaxed. The pandemic has made us weary
with its ups and downs, but there is always
a light at the end of the tunnel. Here we
are two years later, fighting the battle with
tenacity and gratitude.
In the past year, our doubts and
uncertainties in fighting the pandemic
drained us of our countless dreams. We
were being constantly presented with
new challenges and we had doubts about
what lies ahead for us and our future
generations. As the world heals, let it be
a reminder for us to remain hopeful. Even
though we faced adversities, we had also
accomplished many things that we should
be proud of. The journey may be far from
over and there are road bumps to get past
along the way, but we should look back
on what we have achieved thus far with a
sense of gratitude.
What is gratitude and why is it so
important? Finding joy in the little things
and practising gratitude is often associated
with greater happiness and an overall
positive outlook in life. Like the law of
attraction which has no bounds, what you
attract and manifest will follow you and
create infinite possibilities for your future.
While we remember all the struggles
we faced and all our efforts in building a
stronger society, we must not forget those
who may not be able to fend for themselves.
People on the autism spectrum thrive on
schedules and routines. Daily activities
were forced to come to a standstill to
ensure that the clients continue to receive
adequate and long-term care in safe
settings. The reopening and closure of
schools and centres within short notices
presented special challenges for children
and adults on this spectrum. Nonetheless,
the clients remained optimistic through it
all.
There are tons of things to be grateful for
such as a warm bowl of soup on a rainy
day, a cold bath after a strenuous workout,
a gush of wind while cycling through a park,
Clients at the Eden Centre for Adults
(ECFA) received their vaccinations
through an exercise with the Ministry of
Health (MOH) and Ministry of Social and
Client at the Eden Centre for Adults (Clementi) in an
arts and craft activity.
IN FOCUS
Beautiful flowers illustrated by Chong Yong Jun
from Eden School (Ang Mo Kio).
Family Development (MSF), Children’s Day
was celebrated virtually, and physical gym
sessions at BazGym had moved online.
Even in these trying times, the clients made
the best out of a difficult situation and
continued to learn and gain independence
from the activities organised by the school
and centres.
As we proceed with our daily lives and take
cautious, well-informed steps to protect
ourselves and our loved ones through this
pandemic, we must remember to remain
compassionate and observe gratitude.
Take a moment once a day to list down
the things that keep you driven and that
you are thankful for – be it the health of
your loved ones, indulging in your comfort
food or even a stranger greeting you at the
coffeeshop.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it
is that we are stronger together and that
we all have a part to play in ensuring that
we remain safe and unwavering in these
unprecedented times. As the year draws
to an end, let us reflect on all we have
accomplished and work towards soaring to
greater heights with our tenacious hearts.
