Perception and Perseverance Is What Defines Our Story

Hey, What's Up! It's Tommy. In this episode of Spectrum in Camouflage, I open up about two powerful words that have been on my heart lately: perception and perseverance. I reflect on how these ideas play out in our journey raising an autistic child, and how they shape the way we see ourselves, others, and the hard stuff we go through.

I talk about how being outside helps me reset, how faith keeps me going, and why giving grace to others—even when they don’t fully understand what we’re facing—is so important. I also share real, raw moments from our life, especially the challenges we’ve been facing with Wyatt recently.

And then there’s perseverance. Man, it’s hard. But it’s also where growth and hope live. I talk about how perseverance and failing forward go hand in hand, and why failure isn’t really failure if you keep going. Whether you're raising a special needs child, dealing with grief, or just trying to make sense of your day, I hope this episode brings you a little light.

Key Takeaways

• Being outside is medicine — even 15 minutes in the sun can make a huge difference.
• Perception isn’t reality — don’t let assumptions keep you from showing up for people.
• Grace matters — silence and presence can be more powerful than words.
• You’re not alone — there’s a whole community here, even if we don’t all struggle the same way.
• Perseverance = progress — pushing through hardship helps you grow, not just survive.
• Failure is part of forward motion — as long as you're learning, you're moving.
• Give yourself credit — parenting, especially in our world, is hard and sacred work.
• Peace is possible — even in chaos, we can find moments of peace through faith and connection.

Resources

• Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell
• 90-Day Fire Program with Steve Krebs

If this episode meant something to you, please share it with a friend or on your social media. It helps more than you know.

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Email me anytime at [e-mail]. I’d love to hear your story or just encourage you if you're going through something tough.

Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families.

Let’s learn, grow, and make a difference—one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.

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