{"id":58971,"title":"Dressed Up, Stood Down: A Quiet Thursday","description":"An autistic woman's diary of a quiet Thursday: dressed up for a cancelled meeting, a lunchtime walk, affirmations and one small step to calm a worry.","content":"

29 Oct 2026<\/p>

Today was a fairly quiet one, and honestly, I needed it.<\/p>

A gentle start<\/h2>

The morning before work was peaceful. The cat wasn\u2019t too loud, which is always a win. I did my usual Japanese practice and yoga, then got myself properly ready for the day.<\/p>

Today's new Japanese phrase: \u30b1\u30fc\u30ad\u5c4b\u306e\u30c1\u30fc\u30ba\u30b1\u30fc\u30ad\u306f\u304a\u3044\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u3051\u3069 (pronounced K\u0113ki-ya no ch\u012bzuk\u0113ki wa oishii desu kedo). <\/span>It means \"The cake shop's cheesecake is delicious, though.\" I feel this is a very important phrase to have in my vocabulary. Priorities. \ud83c\udf70<\/p>

Back to Calm Hands Club<\/h2>

This morning was also the first time this week that I've managed to do some thinking and work on my Calm Hands Club Instagram. It's been a couple of days, so that felt good.<\/p>

I've had a bit of a rethink about some of my formats. Instagram has changed, and you can't add links to reels anymore. So I've been thinking about how to make my reels really clear, really quickly, so you know what they're about straight away.<\/p>

I'm going to treat the next few weeks as an experiment. I'll try the changes, compare them with what I was doing before, and see what works better. No pressure to get it perfect first time. Just test, notice, adjust.<\/p>

The meeting that wasn't<\/h2>

I was hyped up for a 9:30 meeting. That's quite early for me - usually they don\u2019t get pencilled in until 10 at the earliest, so I'd planned my morning around it. I\u2019d got up to speed on the recent updates and prepared for things that were likely to be raised. I'd got dressed. I'd even put makeup on. Then it got cancelled a few minutes before it was due to start. That really should\u2019ve given me an indication of what today would be like!<\/p>

If you're autistic, you might know this feeling. It's not just \"oh, never mind.\" It's all the preparation, the mental build-up, the energy you've already spent getting ready to show up, and then nowhere for it to go. It was frustrating and I could\u2019ve spent the time on other things. But I was ready, and I suppose that counts for something. <\/p>

After I got over that, work was steady and I felt on top of things. Thursdays are usually really busy for me, so it was nice to have fewer meetings, get on with some work and catch up on some training.<\/p>

A lunchtime walk in the sunshine<\/h2>

At lunchtime I went out for a walk and did a longer route than usual. I felt like I needed it. I needed the exercise, and it was such a lovely day. The air was cold, but the sky was so blue and the sun felt really warm. I couldn't believe it was nearly November. It didn't feel like it at all.<\/p>

It's dark now by the time I finish work, so there's less chance I\u2019ll feel like a walk in the evening now. So it was lovely to get out for a proper walk in the middle of the day instead. When the days get shorter, you have to grab the daylight while it's there.<\/p>

While I walked, I ran through my affirmations (in my head, I\u2019m not a complete weirdo). These are ones I've written for myself. I've collected things I've read or heard that helped me in some way: calming down when I'm anxious, boosting my confidence, or just clearing my head for a bit of a reset.<\/p>

I use them whenever I have a quiet moment to myself. On a walk, in the shower, or when I'm eating or having a drink on my own. Those are the moments when my thoughts can start running, turn negative and spiral, sometimes without me even realising it's happening.<\/p>

So I replace them. Instead of letting the spiral take over, I fill that space with these little personal, positive messages to myself. It really helps.<\/p>

One message is enough<\/h2>

I've been thinking a lot lately about people I've lost touch with, and I've started to feel a bit bad about it. I'm not very sociable these days. I do try, but I find it really hard. Keeping up with people takes a kind of energy I don't always have.<\/p>

Then last night I had a nice little surprise. Someone else from my old workplace is leaving at the end of the year, and she's having a small leaving do in December. She invited me, along with some of the people from my old team. So hopefully I'll get to catch up with a few of them there.<\/p>

I also had a couple of messages from old colleagues. I think the invite prompted them to remember me, which was lovely. And it prompted me too. Today I got in touch with some of the people I'd like to catch up with but haven't seen for a while.<\/p>

It always surprises me how quickly people come back when you haven't spoken for months. Sometimes it just takes one message to pick things back up again. I forget that they might be waiting for me to reach out, too. It's not just the other way around.<\/p>

If there's someone you've been meaning to message, this is your sign. It just takes one little message to start. \ud83d\udc99<\/p>

One small, practical step<\/h2>

There's one thing I keep thinking about, though. Last week, the government put out guidance about being prepared for three days without water or electricity. I've been trying not to worry about it, but it kept coming back into my head.<\/p>

So I did something about it. I bought a survival radio from Amazon - silly or sensible I don\u2019t know but I guess I\u2019d rather have one and not need it than the other way around. It's wind-up and solar powered, with a battery charger, an alarm, radio and a torch all in one. The guidance also suggests stocking up on tinned food and water gradually, a little at a time. I think if I start picking up a few extras each week, I'll stop worrying about it.<\/p>

Sometimes the way through a worry isn't to try to stop thinking about it. It's to take one small, practical step. Today that step came in a box with a crank handle. \ud83d\udcfb I don\u2019t have enough clear space in my house to become a prepper! Might have to clear out my hobby graveyard.<\/p>

Little things that helped today<\/h2>