June 20, 2025 • 45 mins
Liz Michels shares her powerful journey as an adult woman with autism, challenging misconceptions and advocating for understanding that people develop "in their own time." Her story from early diagnosis to becoming a workplace advocate demonstrates how proper support and acceptance can lead to thriving despite challenges.
• Diagnosed with autism at age three despite doctors' limited expectations for her future
• Parents chose to "take her home and treat her like everybody else" rather than viewing her through a deficit lens
• Found inspiration in the Japanese concept of autism meaning "in their own time" rather than just a disorder
• Credits dedicated teachers including her music teacher Mrs. Bernstein and occupational therapist Mrs. Snyder with helping her reach milestones
• Now works as an EVS technician at a hospital where she advocates for inclusive hiring practices
• Was featured in a "Coast Life" segment for National Disability Awareness Month to showcase workplace capabilities
• Lives by the motto "If you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine" which reflects her positive approach to challenges
• Emphasizes that everyone deserves patience and understanding regardless of neurological differences
• Recommends that counselors and mental health professionals listen fully to autistic clients and educate themselves through available resources
• Finds joy in being an aunt and spending time by the ocean near her Delaware home
Connect with Liz on Instagram @Lizzy_Sunshine_Strutter_98 or on Facebook as Liz Michels to share your story or connect with her autism advocacy work.
Thanks for listening to Soul SiStories. We hope you follow us on your favorite podcast platform. Five-star ratings and reviews always help to spread our message of hope.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Welcome back to Soul Sisteries.
We just had a greatconversation with Liz Michaels,
an advocate in the autismcommunity.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It was so great to talk with her, one that she
reached out to us to have aconnection, and we thought, yes,
yes, yes, we want to hear thestories we want to hear from so
many.
And it was so, just so great tohear from Liz we didn't know
her before and getting to knowher story, her message, and it
(00:36):
is just a very simple andstraightforward one that is so
important for all of us, right,yeah, yeah, perfect, good stuff.
Enjoy everyone, hey, everyone.
So this is so exciting.
We have a new guest with ustoday.
(00:56):
Her name is Liz Michaels.
You know, the internet is awondrous thing because this is
where we make connections, right, and we discovered each other
there.
So Liz is joining us to reallytalk about her advocacy and
(01:17):
bringing awareness to autism andliving with autism and her own
hope through story.
So welcome, liz.
We're so, so glad to have youhere with us.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Again thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
So I'm going to jump in just because this is the
first time we've talked, liz,and I would love for you to
maybe just share a little bitwith us and everybody listening
kind of your story and what gotyou kind of to here with us
today.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Um, so I I discovered you guys on Instagram and I
listened to an episode and Ijumped on to to apply to be on
the show.
And the reason is is because,you know, um, I am an adult
woman with autism and I reallywanted to share my story because
, as as the years go on, youknow, autism is coming out more
and more, um, and the diagnosisare going up, and I really so.
I was diagnosed at the age ofthree, around, uh, late, early
nineties, I would say, and youknow, um, you know connecting
with others and you knowspeaking and speaking and also
(02:26):
comprehending things were verydifficult for me, but with the
help of occupational therapists,school psychologists you know I
was and just overall teacherswho didn't give up on me, was,
you know, able to overcome, like, get those milestones.
(02:48):
Just, I hit them a little, umlater than my other peers and
that's one of the things on myautism journey that I've been
teaching people is you know,everyone goes at their own pace,
um, I know in Hawaii and Japanthey have like I forget the word
, but it means in their own timeand so I've been doing a lot of
(03:11):
research like how, like othercountries deal with autism and
when I saw, like Hawaii you knowa US state and Japan have a
word that means like in theirown time.
Autism to them just doesn'tmean a neurological disorder, it
means for them, it just meansin their own time.
So it just kind of bringscomfort for me, it brings a well
(03:34):
, it brings a lot of comfort forme because to to for that, to
see that it's just, it's morethan a diagnosis, it's just okay
, this person just than adiagnosis, it's just okay, this
person just hits milestones intheir own time.
And so as I, you know, as I wentthrough school, you know, I
dealt with bullying and I dealtwith, you know, again, just
(03:55):
being a little bit behind frommy peers and feel feeling like I
was playing catch up.
And from time to time, as anadult, I that way too.
Yeah, I still feel that way,but again, in my own time, like
I will understand and eventually, you know, understand, you know
the what is around me and thepeople around me, um, so you
(04:18):
know, um, and uh, doctors didtell my parents, you know, I
wasn't going to graduate highschool or, like you know, be be
able to go to college or, likeyou know, elementary school.
But you know, um, my mom beinga 30 year, uh, art teacher, um,
and um, my dad, you know, beinga football coach.
You know, they both just saidyou know, we're just gonna take
(04:41):
her home and, you know, treather like everybody else.
And that's exactly what theydid.
Again, you know, challenges didrise but at the same time, uh,
you know, again, I was able tohit those milestones.
Just, it may have just been alittle bit later in life, which,
and that's okay, um, and youknow, I did go on to graduating
(05:02):
high school and I went on tocollege.
I was a daycare teacher on andoff for 15 years and I had like
jobs in between, but the jobthat I'm really enjoying right
now is I work at a hospital.
I help, you know, keep theenvironment clean.
It's called an EVS technician.
(05:22):
It's called an EVS technicianand it's, um, it it's somebody
who helps keep the environmentclean for both, you know, the
employees and the patients, andkeeping it safe, um, I feel like
for me, I do take it one stepabove.
Like you know, if I go into,like a patient's room and they
just want somebody to talk to,you know, I sit there and talk
(05:42):
with them for a little bit, justbecause I know hospitals are a
little stressful and they're not, yeah, they're not fun and I
know, especially like some of myelderly patients that come in,
they're like I just don't wantto be here and I'm, I, I commend
, I tell them like it's okay tofeel that way, like nobody wants
to be here, Um, but uh, youknow, and I also have brought
(06:08):
you know um autism acceptanceand awareness at my workplace,
um, I, I was on um, a newsegment called coast life, and
they, um, they showed me, uh, aday in the life of me for
National Disability AwarenessMonth, which is in October, and
(06:31):
they pretty much, you know,shared, you know, just, like
people with autism can do things.
You know, you, just, it's allabout patience and you know,
giving them a chance because,you know, unfortunately, there
are people who you know who do,who are in workplaces, they
don't have the time and patiencefor somebody who may have a
(06:51):
different learning style, um, orwho may have a disability, and
you know they don't have thatpatience.
And, um, the one thing I'mtrying to teach at my, at my job
is, um, you know, at my, at myjob is, you know, give people a
chance, whether they haveanxiety, depression, autism,
cerebral palsy, you knowanything.
(07:11):
Just you know these people dodeserve to work.
You know you just be patientand work with them.
And so I also joined my women'sresource, women in leadership
resource group and at first Ithought, you know, I told them I
was like, oh, I'm sorry, likeI'm not leadership in EBS.
(07:31):
And they were like, oh, you'rea leader, you know, it may not
be, it may not be like, causeyou know where I work we don't
really have a.
We have a manager, but we don'treally have like a lead, like
we're kind of like independent.
But they were like, oh, you'rea leader, all right, you know
you, just you're a leader inwith your autism advocacy and
(07:54):
representing our, our, ourhospital and teaching people to
give other people a chance.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
So I appreciate you sharing all of that with us and
kind of just your journey andwhere you've gone.
I want to go back a little bitbecause I know you talked about,
like your parents, getting thatdiagnosis when you were three
and then the struggle you had.
I'm curious what you foundalong the way, and I don't know
(08:22):
if you remember this because ofcourse you were only three, but
at what point did you feel likethere was somebody there to kind
of help you in the way that youneeded to be helped?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
So when I was three, I remember I remember teachers
going in and out and helping me.
But this the one actually, Iwant to say to teachers first
off, music is something that'svery important to me.
So elementary school, mrsBernstein, who was my music
teacher, she had, she had a lotof patience with me and she knew
(08:57):
I loved music.
Like she could tell, like, oh,this, this girl really likes her
music.
And um, uh, my occupationaltherapist, mrs snyder, um, I
still tie my shoes the same way.
She has taught me to this day.
I was in elementary school andI'm 30, I just turned 36, and I
still tie my shoes the same wayto this day.
(09:19):
Um, so, shout out to both ofthem.
Um, yeah, they, well, both ofthem.
Like with miss bernstein, like,even though she what to me, she
just wasn't a music teacher,she was somebody who, like,
really listened to what I had tosay and really noticed, you
know, whether I was having agood day or a bad day.
She noticed just I, I know whatto do to help liz and you.
(09:43):
I remember this was back in the90s where the Macarena was
really popular and she knew Iliked doing it and she was just
like, okay, we're going to getthrough this lesson and then
we're going to do this Macarena,I mean and.
I was just so pumped.
And then when Titanic came out,she knew all the girls loved
(10:04):
the celine dion song.
My heart will go on.
And again she would be like,okay, like we get through this,
I'll play it.
And it was just like, yay, yeah,it's beautiful yeah, yeah and
um, she, she, um, she also uhagain, like she knew I loved to
sing.
And the other thing that Ireally appreciated about her was
(10:25):
my love for music.
Because now I teach otherpeople, especially children, who
are like, oh yeah, I like thisrapper and like this person,
like, oh, composers, how boring.
Well then I, when I was adaycare teacher, I would teach.
I would say to them you know,you wouldn't have your music if
it wasn't for that.
And then they would look at melike, oh, you know, I just
(10:49):
thought our musicians did theirown thing.
They did.
But if you and I told them, ifyou watch interviews or if you
watch, hear them speak, some ofthem, a lot of them, listen to
classical music, which is whatstarted music, you know, like.
So she was a very good rolemodel and I still talk to her to
(11:10):
this day.
One positive thing aboutFacebook is just, you know, I
still talk to her and she's agreat lady.
The other so, my occupationaltherapist, mrs Snyder.
She really stuck up for me,like, if you know, I would show
her a class assignment.
I wasn't understanding Like andI was having like.
(11:32):
There were times where I wouldhave a hard time cutting.
So she would like go to myteacher.
Go, can we blow this up?
Like there was one time I hadlike a mat project and she was
like, oh my gosh, like thelittle little bits.
So she would say, I'm gonnablow this up.
So then yeah, and she taught me.
She taught me how, even in thehardest ways like you know, the
(11:54):
hardest um uh projects wherethere was a lot of cutting, like
she really helped me, you knowum uh, for cutting, she would
help me with that.
And then one of the obstacles,you know, my mom was telling her
was, like she really needs,she's really struggling how to
tie her shoes.
So Mrs Snyder figured out, ifshe did it consistently, meaning
(12:21):
like, like during our there wasone session I remember she
dedicated me just tying my shoeover and, over and, over and
over again, and I think, withsome people on the spectrum, I
think that's what you just needto do.
Like, again, patience, and bothteachers, ms Snyder and Ms
Bernstein, both were verypatient and Ms Snyder, though,
(12:46):
especially, was patient.
And she just said that day, she, she used to call me Elizabeth
and I mean, you know, back thenthat was fine, um, because even
though I go by Liz, um, I alwaysrespected, you know, if
teachers wanted to call meElizabeth.
That was fine, she would say.
And she was like our session'sgoing to be very different.
And I looked at her and said,okay, like you know she was, she
(13:08):
was telling me the entire timewe're just going to tie your
shoes.
And, and that's that's what wedid is just because she knew.
She said your mom told me youneed to learn how to tie your
shoes.
So I took my shoes off and she,just she said we're going to
keep doing it, like over andover again.
And it makes perfect sense.
(13:34):
Like because she realized, likeokay, liz's brain, you know her
thinking she'll remember thisif it's just done over and over
and over and it'll stick.
It'll stick.
So I mean for our hour, likethat's all I did.
And to the, you know it, itstuck.
And I'm again 36 years old, I'mstill tying the way she taught
me.
So those, those, those twothings, I, I, those two teachers
(13:57):
, like is, when I realized, likeI was just like okay, like I
have a challenge.
And you know, again, teenageyears, you know, are, are, and
again, like I, I don't get saltywith anybody because man, being
a teenager, even to this day,is is.
Back then, is is tough, likeyou're hitting you're, you're
getting hit with puberty, you'regetting hit with you know.
(14:19):
And and back then, like when Iwent to school, I remember girls
like like the period talk, likeI remember some people would be
like oh shh, don't talk aboutthat, but now, because, like
some girls, would be in a lot ofpain like I mean going to
school, you know, and I mean youknow people back then they
(14:41):
could only do so much, but now Ilike, you know, you see these
teachers like, have you know?
like uh, like a, um, a pan, likea, almost like a pantry, and I
think saying if you needproducts, like they're there.
Yeah, and I really like that.
That is becoming morecomfortable to talk about,
because I know for me beingautistic and then getting up
here getting a menstrual cycle,it was really tough on my body
(15:04):
and like the sensory the.
You know the pain and then I'mlike what is going on?
Why am I so tired?
Why am I?
Why am I?
Why am I so hungry?
I just ate my lunch.
You know the pain and then I'mlike what is going on, why?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
am I so tired?
Why am I?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
craving.
Why am I?
Why am I so hungry?
I just ate my lunch, you know,yeah, um, and and then, like you
know, learning how to you knowthe shaving, and then it was
just so, it was just a lot, it'sa lot, yeah, yeah, and then and
then, um again, as I've gottenyou, you know, older, I'm
realizing I'm like no wonderteenagers are like, so, like
salt can be very salty isbecause I don't think, I don't
(15:37):
think like I think you know, now, today, with the technology, I
just think you know teenagersneed somebody like to just sit
down and just talk to them faceto face, no phones, no nothing,
and just saying how are youfeeling?
Why are you feeling like this,you know?
and if they go, I think, um,with less technology, like I
(15:58):
will say this, with lesstechnology, like back when I
went to school, there was moreface-to-face talking, um, and
that and me and my brothers, weall say like we're glad we
graduated when we did, becauseyou know, I do think school is
getting a lot harder and a lotmore challenging just with the
testing and kids Like kids.
(16:20):
I even talk to my nieces andnephews and I'm just like that
is like the workload of an adultand you guys are in fourth and
fifth grade, yikes.
But yeah, um, so, but I meanagain, you know, teenage years
were a little challenging for me, um, but you know, as I
graduated high school and wenton to college, um, you know, I,
(16:43):
you know more and more I, that'swhen I really my my love of
music.
Like I really and my dad is theone who really introduced me to
all kinds of music he had hislike thousand CD collection and
like it would, it would goaround like click, click, click,
and then it would go pick a CDand it would play, and so I'd be
like, oh well, who's this?
(17:04):
And he would say this is theartist Like this is who you know
you're listening to.
So, and I mean, music justbrought me a lot of comfort and
to this day it still brings me alot of comfort and it's been a,
it's been very important in myjourney.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Liz, let me ask you a question, because you just
mentioned your dad there and I'mthinking all along the way you
had mentioned earlier, your dadis coach and your mom was an
educator, and what do you thinkthat role I mean, it kind of
feels obvious what do you thinkthose roles did in terms of your
support and getting you startedin the way you needed to be
started and getting yousupported in the way you needed
(17:42):
to be supported?
Speaker 3 (17:44):
So my dad is not like a babyer, he's not like, and
that, in a way, with thissituation, it's good, because he
he would always say, like shedoesn't need to be coddled, like
she's not broken, she just hasautism.
Like you know, I love thatshe's not broken.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
She just has autism.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
That's beautiful, yes and I think that you know when
people do get that, you knowdiagnosis.
They're like, oh, my god, likewe have to, you know, keep on on
guard at all times.
And it's just like he just waskind of like no, I'm not doing
this babying.
Like, oh, it's okay, you'reautistic.
He's like, no, you're gonnaface check.
(18:21):
And there were times for, like,where I didn't want to go to
school because I'd be like thisperson's being mean to me.
He was like that's the realworld, goodbye.
Like I mean and and back.
Looking back, I'm like, well,I'm kind of glad he did.
Like that's the real world,goodbye.
Like I mean and and back.
Looking back, I'm like, well,I'm kind of glad he did that
because it's prepared me to be,you know, even in my adult, my
adult life.
You know I do meet, you know,not so nice people and you know
(18:44):
I do get that feeling like, oh,this, this kind of stinks being
around that.
But I handle it a lot better,like if it wasn't for him and my
mom going like you need to goby, like you're going to meet me
, meet me, just, you know andI'm still learning to the state
with my counselor Like sometimesyou're going to be in a space
with people you don'tnecessarily enjoy being around,
(19:05):
but you need to just respectthem and just you know you don't
have to say anything.
Just you know, just say, okay,they're in the same space as me.
You know, like it is what it is.
You know we don't need to bebest friends, um, uh, with my
mom though, um, being a teacher,though you know she's had all
(19:26):
kinds of students, um, you know,and, and art being again, she
knows, she knows, she knows likeart with her kids with
disabilities was, and thedrawing, like you know, it was
very it was something theyenjoyed.
It was, you know, it was kind ofa break from the workload and
my mom was also veryunderstanding with her students,
(19:48):
like you know, she, she told methis one time this little kid
it was kindergartner's first dayof school and he fell asleep in
her class and she was like it'shis, it's his first day, like,
and you know, she knows, noteveryone gets access to
preschool and stuff, so she'slike I just let him sleep like
the last 10 minutes.
She's like it was, it's anexhausting day.
(20:09):
She was very she was veryunderstanding and she also had
students, you know, who wouldyou know, say some not nice
words and get like all like what, what?
And she just was like no, I'mnot going to run to the
principal, no, like I can dealwith it.
And so like, um, she would tellme, like you know, all these
two boys, they like to talk toeach other and they wouldn't get
(20:30):
work done.
So she said, I made the plan.
I had one boy on this side, oneboy on that side, and I stood
right in the middle and I wouldtell them, oh, you don't need to
get up, mrs Michaels will getit for you.
You know, she was verystrategic and like knew, like
what to do if she saw a problem.
Like would come up withsolutions if she saw a problem,
(20:51):
like would come up withsolutions.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Oh, go ahead.
No, I just want to ask because,because you mentioned, you've
mentioned your work, kind of inadvocating for the population
with autism.
You also, just kind of inpassing, real quick, mentioned
your work with your owncounselor, and I don't know if
you're aware, but but I workwith counseling students.
I'm in education and I workwith counseling students who are
getting ready to be working inthe field, and one of the
(21:14):
classes that I'm teaching rightnow is all about advocacy and
how to advocate for variouspopulations that they might work
with.
And so I'm curious what youmight want counseling students
who are future counselors thatare going to be working with all
sorts of individuals, butincluding individuals with
autism.
What would you want them toknow about advocacy and how to
(21:38):
get involved and like, kind ofwhat should they know to
advocate for that population?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
So, for starters, I know with my counselor, like she
really like, if I have a lot tosay, she will go.
Okay, I'm going to sit here,I'm going to listen, and then
you let me know when you want meto intervene.
So, um, and I know, um, youknow there are times where I'm
just like I, I need to getsomething off my chest.
She says go ahead, um, soanother thing is, if there's
(22:06):
like workshops like I knowthere's a lot of free ones
online, like, take advantage ofit.
And um, you know, if there'slike a town hall meeting, you
know where, I know they're notpolice officers, but I know
there's like some where they'relike how to, how to um interact
with people on the spectrum orother disabilities, like, really
take advantage of yourresources, because I know some
(22:27):
people are like, oh, I don'thave time for it.
Yeah, it's like you, I think alot of people do have the time,
it's just they don't want to usetheir time for that.
But really, what's an hourgonna do?
You know, um, really take.
And if like um, you know, countwith counseling, like if
there's workshops being offered,you know, again, take advantage
(22:47):
, even read books about peopleon the spectrum, you know and
how.
Because I think one thing I'velearned is people on the
spectrum, they want to be talkedto, they want to have even
those with profound autism, theydon't want to.
Just because they can't talkdoesn't mean they don't want to
communicate with you.
(23:08):
They want, yeah, they want tocommunicate.
It's just they communicate in away that people aren't used to.
You know, whether it's blinking, whether it's like hand
gestures, you know you, just alot of a little patience goes a
long way, right, so, andspending time with them too, and
(23:30):
I know, with, again, mycounselor, she again really
takes the time to listen andthen and after that she'll put,
like, her hand up or go like,can I just say like we've been
doing, and I go absolutely, she,you know, again, she's the one
that reminds me.
You know, like.
You know there are people whoaren't going to like you and
(23:52):
it's not.
You know, again, she's the onethat reminds me.
You know, like, you know thereare people who aren't going to
like you and it's not.
You know, she even tells melike it's.
Because that's one thing Istruggle with.
Like when someone doesn't likeit, it makes you feel, it makes
you feel crappy and um, or youfind people you know who you
think are your friend and thenyou realize, like they're not
the person you think they are.
Yeah, and you know it's um, andshe tells me she's just like,
(24:13):
if um expressing feelings, likeshe's like if you feel don't
feel comfortable with thatperson, just simply, like you
know, say hello, good morning,and then move on and um, you
know who safe people are and shesays safe people are the ones
who were like are asking you,how are you, are you doing, okay
, like do you need anything,that kind of thing?
yeah.
Are the ones who were like areasking you, how are you, are you
doing, okay, like do you needanything, that kind of thing?
(24:34):
Yeah, um, the ones whocelebrate you and I I do have
those people who do celebrate me.
So, like again with count, youknow counselors as they go into
the field, all you know, again,a little patience goes a long
way and comfort too.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah , liz, one of the things that
you said earlier that reallystruck me and it was just a
super goes a long way, andcomfort, too.
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, liz, oneof the things that you said
earlier that really struck meand it was just a super quick
comment, but you talked aboutwhen we were talking about in my
own time as the awareness ofautism, and you said that you
use that to this day as an adult.
When there's something that'schallenging for you in the world
(25:10):
or that you're trying to unpackor discover, you will remind
yourself in your own time andcarry on and what do you think
it is in you?
What's that resource in you, orthat part of your personality
or that you've learned along theway that's kind of helped you
get to that point where you canjust have that self-awareness
(25:32):
and that self-love and thatgentleness for yourself, like in
my own time.
It's all good, I'm good andwhat?
Speaker 3 (25:40):
do you think, um, I think for me, um, I definitely
think it's um, the team ofpeople, um, that that have
worked with me and that havenecessarily not given up on me.
I mean, there are people whoyou know I can tell, and they,
even with with these, with my,my P, I call them my like tribe,
(26:00):
my people.
Even if they're in a bad mood,they let me know, like, hey, I'm
not in the greatest mood todayCause they know I'm sensitive.
Um, you know, I just want youto know I'm dealing with
something it's not fun.
And even I go, what can I do tohelp?
Like, and I even say it likefor me.
I go, I tell them like, oh well, since you helped me, maybe I
(26:21):
can help you, like what's goingon?
And some of them do open up tome and go well, this is what's
going on, and you know I don'twant to.
You know, and you know I don'twant to.
You know, either it could evenbe like a death or just the
day's not going right, that kindof thing.
So I really take the time tolisten to them, like they do for
me.
(26:42):
Another thing is again my, youknow, doing research.
I really like to read quotestoo, like, and that's where I
found the one that was sayingautism.
Um, in Japan they use the wordautism, as in my own time.
(27:03):
Um, I also um, like, remind,like I have a.
I am Matra.
Um, so I had a health coachnamed share Mac.
She unfortunately passed awaythis past January from from
chance, yeah, cancer.
Yeah, from breast cancer, but Imean she's still very special to
me.
You know she's a guardian angelnow, but she taught me the I am
mantra.
So like when I feel myself likegetting upset or, you know,
(27:24):
stressed, I go, I am and I'll golike I am awesome, like I work
hard.
I am not going to be like nastyto people, like I am not going
to stoop to people's levels,like that.
You know people.
You know, because she alwaystaught me never stoop to anyone
you know below, never belowyourself.
(27:46):
Or like you know um to someonewho isn't being kind, level,
lift yourself up.
Yeah, yes, yeah, she alwaystaught me you know to someone
who isn't being kind?
level.
Yeah, lift yourself up.
Yeah, yes, she always taught me, you know, keep being a person
like people can go to if they'rein trouble or they need help.
Because, you know again, Idon't mind listening because
people have helped me, like Ican pay it forward to this world
(28:08):
by listening to other peoplewho may be struggling, and not
necessarily with autism, butlike anxiety, depression.
You know that kind of thing.
But another thing you know againjust listening to stories,
people's stories, and not justlistening to see they have
autism on levels now, like levelone, two and three.
(28:30):
So I'm like a level one and youknow.
But there are other levels youknow I feel like I need to learn
um about.
So I've, I've been listening todifferent stories, like some
people on level three that's the, that's the lowest you know
that need a lot of support, um,so listening to these stories
and then you know lot of support.
(28:52):
So listening to these storiesand then you know reaching out
to parents and going like youknow, how are they doing today?
Or like just even acknowledgingtheir child, because that's all
a parent wants is for a childto be acknowledged Like every,
every child and every personshould be acknowledged in some
way.
I mean because it's not, it'snot the easiest thing, and you
know the with the autismcommunity, like you know, there
(29:16):
is a couple things where theyyou know they talk about like
autism being a superpower andand or autism the symbol of
autism, and I think, again, whatI always say is like I think we
all just need to like not worryabout symbols and stuff like
that, but just come together andgive everybody a chance.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Let me ask you, liz, going back to kind of your
younger self, like junior high,early high school, maybe, when
you're 13 years old, oh God,right, right.
I think we all have that kindof reaction.
But, yeah, think about yourselfand what was going on in your
life at 13.
(29:59):
What would your 13 year oldself say about you today?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
wow, we've come a long way.
Yeah, yes, 13 was a rough, Iremember.
I remember telling my parents Iwas y'all are going to laugh.
(30:25):
I was like I'm not wearing bad,you need to Um and um.
It was because, like I just, Ithink part of me just like, was
like dang, like like I'mbecoming a young lady and she's
like and that's what she told meshe's like you're becoming a
young lady, you need to wearthis.
(30:49):
But yeah, my 13 year old selfwould be like whoa, we came a
long way.
I thought, yeah, I thought fora while, for some time, there we
were like am I going to make itout alive?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah, and here you are.
Here you are, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
And thriving, yes, which you can tell in just
talking with you, liz, that yoursense of humor, your brightness
, your self possession, all ofthese things are, you know,
hallmarks of somebody who reallyis in their own skin, and
happily so, which is what we allare striving to be no matter
where we are.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
So I mean, that's definitely a model for for us
all is truth to self, and all ofus in our own time what a, what
a great model for everything onthis planet.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love that.
So do you have, like um, Ithink you've already said it,
but do you have like a lifemotto, a life philosophy,
something that you kind of liveby, that that holds you up each
day, that you go back to againand again?
Speaker 3 (32:01):
So, they call me Sunshine and I am a fan of the
band called the Shruts.
I am a fan of the band calledthe struts and they the lead
singer gave me the name Lizziesunshine.
So I always go by.
If you can't find the sunshine,be the sunshine.
So even in my, even in my, like, kind of like, if I'm not
(32:24):
having the greatest day, youknow, again trying to find the
sunshine, be the sunshine, thatkind of thing.
So that's one that I love, thatyeah, and again, you know I
also go with that saying in yourown time, yeah, and just again,
like that's one that I use,like they're just learning there
(32:46):
in their own time and it'stheir own way of learning.
And I also remind people to saylike, say we all?
I tell people, even you knowones who have very don't, have a
whole lot of patience.
I'm like you need to remember,not everyone is the same, Right,
and I feel like if we were thesame, it would be very boring,
Like nobody would learn anything, Nobody would have a job,
(33:11):
Nobody, you know.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Yeah, yeah, boring world for sure.
Yes, yes, liz, who is it thatinspires you?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
So definitely I have a couple, so definitely my
parents you know, of course, momand dad, I live with them still
, but again, like you know, theygive me my own space and like,
let me do my thing, um, and uh,then I again the, the band, the
struts, um, uh, they um, youknow they follow me on Instagram
(33:43):
and, like you know, I cheerthem on, they cheer me on, like
it's it's just uh, uh, it's not,it's even gone beyond from
music, it's just supporting oneanother and being proud of each
other.
Um, another band um that I grewup with is they're called 98
degrees.
Um, they, they helped methrough my teenage years, like
you know, whether it was a goodtime, a sad time, like they were
(34:06):
always there for me, theirmusic was always there.
And then, um, I also um haveanother band called Kelsey
Carter and the Heroines, anotheranother um female rock star who
, um, and her band, who supportme in my journey with autism.
Like, they all enter, they allinterconnect, um, they all
(34:26):
support me in my own way.
Um, and just you know again,this stuff it's, it's gone
beyond like being like music,and you know, we, we, just you
know it's just supporting oneanother, which everyone should,
everyone should do for peoplelike whether, you know, because
I know, for me, like I reallylike to cheer people on, you
know, even like depression, likeif you got out of bed and took
(34:50):
a shower and, like you know,because I don't think people
realize, like everyone's, again,you don't know what they're
you're fighting for.
So, and my other biggest thingis, you know you need to watch
your words and watch how youspeak to people, because you
don't, you don't know what youcould be adding fuel to the fire
(35:11):
, right?
Yeah, you know, and being kind,for me being kind, whether,
even if you don't like somebody,like even be, just be decent.
It's not hard to be decent,right?
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Amen to that, Just just be decent.
Yeah, so we, we like to gothrough kind of at this point
some rapid fire questions and sowe're just going to ask
something and you kind of justshare the first thing that comes
to mind.
You don't have to think aboutit a whole lot.
But you like music, so I thinkthis is a good question for you.
(35:42):
So you know, like, ifsomebody's like walking out to
the pitcher's mound orsomebody's walking up to the
stage there's like music playing, what they call their walk-in
music, so what would be yourwalk-in song if you were walking
up to the stage or a podium?
Here Comes the Sun by theBeatles.
Oh, great song.
Great song too Great band.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Love that, love that.
What book that you've readchanged you?
Speaker 3 (36:11):
The Diary of Anne Frank.
Oh, that's such a powerful book.
So I was a teenager when I readthat and when it said this is
where the diary ends, I lost itbecause I was like it's not fair
and like I taught.
That's where I really learnedabout judging people.
Like you know, you should neverjudge somebody Beautiful but
(36:33):
also.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
I mean, it's such a powerful book, and one of the
reasons it's so powerful is herinimitable spirit, which we also
see reflected in you.
That's exactly what you chooseis to live life in that way,
with that same type of framework.
So that makes perfect sense tome that Anne would speak so
strongly.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Yeah, yeah, what?
What is a movie that you couldwatch again and again, and again
?
Speaker 3 (36:59):
I'm trying to, I'm trying to.
Well, there's a couple.
Um, I really like the help.
Yeah, that's a good one.
(37:21):
That is a very powerful movie,because I think performances I,
I think I would be cele Footeand be nice and be like let's be
friends, because I would not.
And I really liked the scenewhere she's like you're supposed
to sit at this table and shegrabs her plate and goes I am
fine where I am, minnie, and thetwo women, octavia Spencer and
(37:48):
the other actress, I think,jessica Chastain.
You know the, the interaction,and I also really liked Viola
Davis.
But like I really like that,that scene where she's like I am
fine, right where I am, like Iwould be the same way and I've
told people time and time againI would probably, you know, back
in those days, you know, evenyou know whether it was the
(38:09):
Holocaust, or like I would bethe one that would get arrested
or you know, because I would belike no, I'm not, I'm not
putting up with this, like we'reall human beings, like stop,
right, right.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Wonderful, wonderful.
So what did you love doing as akid that you love doing to this
day?
Speaker 3 (38:32):
you love doing as a kid that you love doing to this
day, Probably taking walks innature and oh, being by the
ocean.
I live at the beach.
I live in Delaware, I'm rightoutside Bethany Beach, being by
the ocean.
It's not the sand that I like,it's just, and my mom even said
when you were young you wentflying to that water and yeah,
(38:59):
so definitely being by the oceanand just, you know, taking
walks in nature and likelistening to the sounds and, you
know, just being at peace withit.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Yeah yeah, beautiful Sounds like a beautiful place to
live too.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Yes, oh yeah, I really enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Yeah, yeah, beautiful Sounds like a beautiful place
to live too.
Yes, oh yeah, I really enjoy it.
Yeah, what in your world islighting you up right now?
What is giving you happinessand joy in your world?
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Being an aunt, definitely my nieces and nephew,
I actually, so two of them.
Their names are Nyla and Nolan.
They're Nyla is four and nolanis one, and let me tell you that
they are some.
They are some funny girls, ohI'm sure so much fun.
Yes, the one is just obsessedwith me.
(39:41):
I call her my number one fan.
She's just like lizzie, lizzie,lizzie and I'm like what, so
she likes to follow me aroundand then the other one, the
other one, um, nyla, she is,she's close to me, but she
really loves her grandma.
Um she, you know, um, hergrandma is a big comfort for her
(40:02):
and you know, um she, you knowshe's.
Nolan is talker, nyla is thequiet one.
But but when you do get, whenyou do get Nyla cranking, you
know, you know cause, sometimesI'll go.
Oh, hey, nyla should go.
I am not talking to you, I'mtalking to my grandma.
I'm like okay, well, well, I'mtalking to you.
(40:26):
Yeah, she goes.
Don't talk to me right now, I'mtalking to my grandma, so
definitely.
And my older nieces and nephew.
I have another niece named Emmawho lives a couple hours away
from me, and then I have sixother five nieces and nephews
(40:48):
and you know, the oldest onejust goes.
I just can't stand these kidsright now.
I said I go Kara, and her nameis Kara, she's my oldest niece.
I go, kara.
What do you think you are?
She's like oh honey, I'm 14.
I'm considered an adult.
I'm like, oh, crank it back anotch.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
They all say something, so they definitely
bring me a lot of joy, as I'msure you do to them as well.
Yeah, yeah.
And I mean, and as you'vealready shared, it just goes
such a long way too, when adultscan just hold space for kids to
be who they are, develop intheir own way and time.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
And for me, like, like my, my oldest niece is
getting ready to go to highschool, like again, and this and
also my other, my um otherniece, uh nyla, she's turning
five in october.
You know for both of them, likethey're both about to hit, like
she's not going to kindergartenuntil the following year, 2027,
(41:55):
2026, 27,.
But still like carving, even ifit's a bit busy, like carving
out that little time to be therefor them as well.
I hope simple words go a longway, just saying like I'm, you
know, you don't even have totell them you're busy with life,
but you can just say I love you.
Yeah, you're going to do great,you know, send them, sending
(42:16):
them off and if they are havinga tough time, you know, sit
there and listen to them andtalk to them.
You know, because, again,listening goes.
Listening to people even notthat aren't family, goes a long
way.
Like you could be helping themRight right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
So okay, we'll go back to our little questions
here.
If hope were a color, whatcolor is hope?
Speaker 3 (42:44):
I would.
For me, I would choose yellowYellow.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Sunshine yes, yep, yep, yes.
And what does hope sound likeif it's?
Speaker 3 (42:56):
a sound sound I would .
For me, it would be the sunshining and just like the birds
chirping yeah, beautiful soundof nature yes, like when you
know how, like when you wake upand you hear, like I know winter
time you don't hear it as muchlike cause you know winter's
cold, but like hearing thosebirds like the chirping, just
(43:19):
you know and just reminding youokay, brand new day, let's do
this Like yep.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
So, liz, finish this statement Music is Life.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
Perfect, there you go .
So another fill in the blank.
Then Joy is.
Speaker 3 (43:41):
Unconditional.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
Gorgeous and hope is.
Speaker 3 (43:47):
A ray of sunshine, there we go, bring it on back to
that sunshine.
Speaker 1 (43:54):
So, Liz, we are just so grateful that you joined us
for this passage of time, andclearly your message is a
beautiful one Everyone needs tohear.
Where can they learn more aboutyou?
Where can people find you?
Speaker 3 (44:07):
So I do have an Instagram.
It's Lizzy Sunshine Strutter 98.
And then I also have a FacebookLiz Michaels.
Again, it's just my nameL-I-Z-M-I-C-H-E-L-S.
And again, if anyone wants toshare their story or you know,
needs you know somebody just tolisten to them, like I'm.
(44:28):
That's what I'm here for.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
Wonderful that's awesome.
And yeah, and we will linkthose, so people will see those
Absolutely.
Absolutely Great.
Thank you so much, liz.
It was wonderful to spend sometime with you today, and I wish
you all sorts of sunshine.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
Oh, thank you so much .
It's been great, great beinghere.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Wonderful.
Thank you, liz, take care.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
Thank you, bye-bye, bye-bye.
Thanks for joining us today onSoul Sisteries.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
And thanks for sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
(45:19):
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to SoulSisteries.
Welcome to Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Welcome back to Soul Sisteries.
We just had a greatconversation with Liz Michaels,
an advocate in the autismcommunity.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It was so great to talk with her, one that she
reached out to us to have aconnection, and we thought, yes,
yes, yes, we want to hear thestories we want to hear from so
many.
And it was so, just so great tohear from Liz we didn't know
her before and getting to knowher story, her message, and it
(00:36):
is just a very simple andstraightforward one that is so
important for all of us, right,yeah, yeah, perfect, good stuff.
Enjoy everyone, hey, everyone.
So this is so exciting.
We have a new guest with ustoday.
(00:56):
Her name is Liz Michaels.
You know, the internet is awondrous thing because this is
where we make connections, right, and we discovered each other
there.
So Liz is joining us to reallytalk about her advocacy and
(01:17):
bringing awareness to autism andliving with autism and her own
hope through story.
So welcome, liz.
We're so, so glad to have youhere with us.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Again thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
So I'm going to jump in just because this is the
first time we've talked, liz,and I would love for you to
maybe just share a little bitwith us and everybody listening
kind of your story and what gotyou kind of to here with us
today.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Um, so I I discovered you guys on Instagram and I
listened to an episode and Ijumped on to to apply to be on
the show.
And the reason is is because,you know, um, I am an adult
woman with autism and I reallywanted to share my story because
, as as the years go on, youknow, autism is coming out more
and more, um, and the diagnosisare going up, and I really so.
I was diagnosed at the age ofthree, around, uh, late, early
nineties, I would say, and youknow, um, you know connecting
with others and you knowspeaking and speaking and also
(02:26):
comprehending things were verydifficult for me, but with the
help of occupational therapists,school psychologists you know I
was and just overall teacherswho didn't give up on me, was,
you know, able to overcome, like, get those milestones.
(02:48):
Just, I hit them a little, umlater than my other peers and
that's one of the things on myautism journey that I've been
teaching people is you know,everyone goes at their own pace,
um, I know in Hawaii and Japanthey have like I forget the word
, but it means in their own timeand so I've been doing a lot of
(03:11):
research like how, like othercountries deal with autism and
when I saw, like Hawaii you knowa US state and Japan have a
word that means like in theirown time.
Autism to them just doesn'tmean a neurological disorder, it
means for them, it just meansin their own time.
So it just kind of bringscomfort for me, it brings a well
(03:34):
, it brings a lot of comfort forme because to to for that, to
see that it's just, it's morethan a diagnosis, it's just okay
, this person just than adiagnosis, it's just okay, this
person just hits milestones intheir own time.
And so as I, you know, as I wentthrough school, you know, I
dealt with bullying and I dealtwith, you know, again, just
(03:55):
being a little bit behind frommy peers and feel feeling like I
was playing catch up.
And from time to time, as anadult, I that way too.
Yeah, I still feel that way,but again, in my own time, like
I will understand and eventually, you know, understand, you know
the what is around me and thepeople around me, um, so you
(04:18):
know, um, and uh, doctors didtell my parents, you know, I
wasn't going to graduate highschool or, like you know, be be
able to go to college or, likeyou know, elementary school.
But you know, um, my mom beinga 30 year, uh, art teacher, um,
and um, my dad, you know, beinga football coach.
You know, they both just saidyou know, we're just gonna take
(04:41):
her home and, you know, treather like everybody else.
And that's exactly what theydid.
Again, you know, challenges didrise but at the same time, uh,
you know, again, I was able tohit those milestones.
Just, it may have just been alittle bit later in life, which,
and that's okay, um, and youknow, I did go on to graduating
(05:02):
high school and I went on tocollege.
I was a daycare teacher on andoff for 15 years and I had like
jobs in between, but the jobthat I'm really enjoying right
now is I work at a hospital.
I help, you know, keep theenvironment clean.
It's called an EVS technician.
(05:22):
It's called an EVS technicianand it's, um, it it's somebody
who helps keep the environmentclean for both, you know, the
employees and the patients, andkeeping it safe, um, I feel like
for me, I do take it one stepabove.
Like you know, if I go into,like a patient's room and they
just want somebody to talk to,you know, I sit there and talk
(05:42):
with them for a little bit, justbecause I know hospitals are a
little stressful and they're not, yeah, they're not fun and I
know, especially like some of myelderly patients that come in,
they're like I just don't wantto be here and I'm, I, I commend
, I tell them like it's okay tofeel that way, like nobody wants
to be here, Um, but uh, youknow, and I also have brought
(06:08):
you know um autism acceptanceand awareness at my workplace,
um, I, I was on um, a newsegment called coast life, and
they, um, they showed me, uh, aday in the life of me for
National Disability AwarenessMonth, which is in October, and
(06:31):
they pretty much, you know,shared, you know, just, like
people with autism can do things.
You know, you, just, it's allabout patience and you know,
giving them a chance because,you know, unfortunately, there
are people who you know who do,who are in workplaces, they
don't have the time and patiencefor somebody who may have a
(06:51):
different learning style, um, orwho may have a disability, and
you know they don't have thatpatience.
And, um, the one thing I'mtrying to teach at my, at my job
is, um, you know, at my, at myjob is, you know, give people a
chance, whether they haveanxiety, depression, autism,
cerebral palsy, you knowanything.
(07:11):
Just you know these people dodeserve to work.
You know you just be patientand work with them.
And so I also joined my women'sresource, women in leadership
resource group and at first Ithought, you know, I told them I
was like, oh, I'm sorry, likeI'm not leadership in EBS.
(07:31):
And they were like, oh, you'rea leader, you know, it may not
be, it may not be like, causeyou know where I work we don't
really have a.
We have a manager, but we don'treally have like a lead, like
we're kind of like independent.
But they were like, oh, you'rea leader, all right, you know
you, just you're a leader inwith your autism advocacy and
(07:54):
representing our, our, ourhospital and teaching people to
give other people a chance.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
So I appreciate you sharing all of that with us and
kind of just your journey andwhere you've gone.
I want to go back a little bitbecause I know you talked about,
like your parents, getting thatdiagnosis when you were three
and then the struggle you had.
I'm curious what you foundalong the way, and I don't know
(08:22):
if you remember this because ofcourse you were only three, but
at what point did you feel likethere was somebody there to kind
of help you in the way that youneeded to be helped?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
So when I was three, I remember I remember teachers
going in and out and helping me.
But this the one actually, Iwant to say to teachers first
off, music is something that'svery important to me.
So elementary school, mrsBernstein, who was my music
teacher, she had, she had a lotof patience with me and she knew
(08:57):
I loved music.
Like she could tell, like, oh,this, this girl really likes her
music.
And um, uh, my occupationaltherapist, mrs snyder, um, I
still tie my shoes the same way.
She has taught me to this day.
I was in elementary school andI'm 30, I just turned 36, and I
still tie my shoes the same wayto this day.
(09:19):
Um, so, shout out to both ofthem.
Um, yeah, they, well, both ofthem.
Like with miss bernstein, like,even though she what to me, she
just wasn't a music teacher,she was somebody who, like,
really listened to what I had tosay and really noticed, you
know, whether I was having agood day or a bad day.
She noticed just I, I know whatto do to help liz and you.
(09:43):
I remember this was back in the90s where the Macarena was
really popular and she knew Iliked doing it and she was just
like, okay, we're going to getthrough this lesson and then
we're going to do this Macarena,I mean and.
I was just so pumped.
And then when Titanic came out,she knew all the girls loved
(10:04):
the celine dion song.
My heart will go on.
And again she would be like,okay, like we get through this,
I'll play it.
And it was just like, yay, yeah,it's beautiful yeah, yeah and
um, she, she, um, she also uhagain, like she knew I loved to
sing.
And the other thing that Ireally appreciated about her was
(10:25):
my love for music.
Because now I teach otherpeople, especially children, who
are like, oh yeah, I like thisrapper and like this person,
like, oh, composers, how boring.
Well then I, when I was adaycare teacher, I would teach.
I would say to them you know,you wouldn't have your music if
it wasn't for that.
And then they would look at melike, oh, you know, I just
(10:49):
thought our musicians did theirown thing.
They did.
But if you and I told them, ifyou watch interviews or if you
watch, hear them speak, some ofthem, a lot of them, listen to
classical music, which is whatstarted music, you know, like.
So she was a very good rolemodel and I still talk to her to
(11:10):
this day.
One positive thing aboutFacebook is just, you know, I
still talk to her and she's agreat lady.
The other so, my occupationaltherapist, mrs Snyder.
She really stuck up for me,like, if you know, I would show
her a class assignment.
I wasn't understanding Like andI was having like.
(11:32):
There were times where I wouldhave a hard time cutting.
So she would like go to myteacher.
Go, can we blow this up?
Like there was one time I hadlike a mat project and she was
like, oh my gosh, like thelittle little bits.
So she would say, I'm gonnablow this up.
So then yeah, and she taught me.
She taught me how, even in thehardest ways like you know, the
(11:54):
hardest um uh projects wherethere was a lot of cutting, like
she really helped me, you knowum uh, for cutting, she would
help me with that.
And then one of the obstacles,you know, my mom was telling her
was, like she really needs,she's really struggling how to
tie her shoes.
So Mrs Snyder figured out, ifshe did it consistently, meaning
(12:21):
like, like during our there wasone session I remember she
dedicated me just tying my shoeover and, over and, over and
over again, and I think, withsome people on the spectrum, I
think that's what you just needto do.
Like, again, patience, and bothteachers, ms Snyder and Ms
Bernstein, both were verypatient and Ms Snyder, though,
(12:46):
especially, was patient.
And she just said that day, she, she used to call me Elizabeth
and I mean, you know, back thenthat was fine, um, because even
though I go by Liz, um, I alwaysrespected, you know, if
teachers wanted to call meElizabeth.
That was fine, she would say.
And she was like our session'sgoing to be very different.
And I looked at her and said,okay, like you know she was, she
(13:08):
was telling me the entire timewe're just going to tie your
shoes.
And, and that's that's what wedid is just because she knew.
She said your mom told me youneed to learn how to tie your
shoes.
So I took my shoes off and she,just she said we're going to
keep doing it, like over andover again.
And it makes perfect sense.
(13:34):
Like because she realized, likeokay, liz's brain, you know her
thinking she'll remember thisif it's just done over and over
and over and it'll stick.
It'll stick.
So I mean for our hour, likethat's all I did.
And to the, you know it, itstuck.
And I'm again 36 years old, I'mstill tying the way she taught
me.
So those, those, those twothings, I, I, those two teachers
(13:57):
, like is, when I realized, likeI was just like okay, like I
have a challenge.
And you know, again, teenageyears, you know, are, are, and
again, like I, I don't get saltywith anybody because man, being
a teenager, even to this day,is is.
Back then, is is tough, likeyou're hitting you're, you're
getting hit with puberty, you'regetting hit with you know.
(14:19):
And and back then, like when Iwent to school, I remember girls
like like the period talk, likeI remember some people would be
like oh shh, don't talk aboutthat, but now, because, like
some girls, would be in a lot ofpain like I mean going to
school, you know, and I mean youknow people back then they
(14:41):
could only do so much, but now Ilike, you know, you see these
teachers like, have you know?
like uh, like a, um, a pan, likea, almost like a pantry, and I
think saying if you needproducts, like they're there.
Yeah, and I really like that.
That is becoming morecomfortable to talk about,
because I know for me beingautistic and then getting up
here getting a menstrual cycle,it was really tough on my body
(15:04):
and like the sensory the.
You know the pain and then I'mlike what is going on?
Why am I so tired?
Why am I?
Why am I?
Why am I so hungry?
I just ate my lunch.
You know the pain and then I'mlike what is going on, why?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
am I so tired?
Why am I?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
craving.
Why am I?
Why am I so hungry?
I just ate my lunch, you know,yeah, um, and and then, like you
know, learning how to you knowthe shaving, and then it was
just so, it was just a lot, it'sa lot, yeah, yeah, and then and
then, um again, as I've gottenyou, you know, older, I'm
realizing I'm like no wonderteenagers are like, so, like
salt can be very salty isbecause I don't think, I don't
(15:37):
think like I think you know, now, today, with the technology, I
just think you know teenagersneed somebody like to just sit
down and just talk to them faceto face, no phones, no nothing,
and just saying how are youfeeling?
Why are you feeling like this,you know?
and if they go, I think, um,with less technology, like I
(15:58):
will say this, with lesstechnology, like back when I
went to school, there was moreface-to-face talking, um, and
that and me and my brothers, weall say like we're glad we
graduated when we did, becauseyou know, I do think school is
getting a lot harder and a lotmore challenging just with the
testing and kids Like kids.
(16:20):
I even talk to my nieces andnephews and I'm just like that
is like the workload of an adultand you guys are in fourth and
fifth grade, yikes.
But yeah, um, so, but I meanagain, you know, teenage years
were a little challenging for me, um, but you know, as I
graduated high school and wenton to college, um, you know, I,
(16:43):
you know more and more I, that'swhen I really my my love of
music.
Like I really and my dad is theone who really introduced me to
all kinds of music he had hislike thousand CD collection and
like it would, it would goaround like click, click, click,
and then it would go pick a CDand it would play, and so I'd be
like, oh well, who's this?
(17:04):
And he would say this is theartist Like this is who you know
you're listening to.
So, and I mean, music justbrought me a lot of comfort and
to this day it still brings me alot of comfort and it's been a,
it's been very important in myjourney.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Liz, let me ask you a question, because you just
mentioned your dad there and I'mthinking all along the way you
had mentioned earlier, your dadis coach and your mom was an
educator, and what do you thinkthat role I mean, it kind of
feels obvious what do you thinkthose roles did in terms of your
support and getting you startedin the way you needed to be
started and getting yousupported in the way you needed
(17:42):
to be supported?
Speaker 3 (17:44):
So my dad is not like a babyer, he's not like, and
that, in a way, with thissituation, it's good, because he
he would always say, like shedoesn't need to be coddled, like
she's not broken, she just hasautism.
Like you know, I love thatshe's not broken.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
She just has autism.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
That's beautiful, yes and I think that you know when
people do get that, you knowdiagnosis.
They're like, oh, my god, likewe have to, you know, keep on on
guard at all times.
And it's just like he just waskind of like no, I'm not doing
this babying.
Like, oh, it's okay, you'reautistic.
He's like, no, you're gonnaface check.
(18:21):
And there were times for, like,where I didn't want to go to
school because I'd be like thisperson's being mean to me.
He was like that's the realworld, goodbye.
Like I mean and and back.
Looking back, I'm like, well,I'm kind of glad he did.
Like that's the real world,goodbye.
Like I mean and and back.
Looking back, I'm like, well,I'm kind of glad he did that
because it's prepared me to be,you know, even in my adult, my
adult life.
You know I do meet, you know,not so nice people and you know
(18:44):
I do get that feeling like, oh,this, this kind of stinks being
around that.
But I handle it a lot better,like if it wasn't for him and my
mom going like you need to goby, like you're going to meet me
, meet me, just, you know andI'm still learning to the state
with my counselor Like sometimesyou're going to be in a space
with people you don'tnecessarily enjoy being around,
(19:05):
but you need to just respectthem and just you know you don't
have to say anything.
Just you know, just say, okay,they're in the same space as me.
You know, like it is what it is.
You know we don't need to bebest friends, um, uh, with my
mom though, um, being a teacher,though you know she's had all
(19:26):
kinds of students, um, you know,and, and art being again, she
knows, she knows, she knows likeart with her kids with
disabilities was, and thedrawing, like you know, it was
very it was something theyenjoyed.
It was, you know, it was kind ofa break from the workload and
my mom was also veryunderstanding with her students,
(19:48):
like you know, she, she told methis one time this little kid
it was kindergartner's first dayof school and he fell asleep in
her class and she was like it'shis, it's his first day, like,
and you know, she knows, noteveryone gets access to
preschool and stuff, so she'slike I just let him sleep like
the last 10 minutes.
She's like it was, it's anexhausting day.
(20:09):
She was very she was veryunderstanding and she also had
students, you know, who wouldyou know, say some not nice
words and get like all like what, what?
And she just was like no, I'mnot going to run to the
principal, no, like I can dealwith it.
And so like, um, she would tellme, like you know, all these
two boys, they like to talk toeach other and they wouldn't get
(20:30):
work done.
So she said, I made the plan.
I had one boy on this side, oneboy on that side, and I stood
right in the middle and I wouldtell them, oh, you don't need to
get up, mrs Michaels will getit for you.
You know, she was verystrategic and like knew, like
what to do if she saw a problem.
Like would come up withsolutions if she saw a problem,
(20:51):
like would come up withsolutions.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Oh, go ahead.
No, I just want to ask because,because you mentioned, you've
mentioned your work, kind of inadvocating for the population
with autism.
You also, just kind of inpassing, real quick, mentioned
your work with your owncounselor, and I don't know if
you're aware, but but I workwith counseling students.
I'm in education and I workwith counseling students who are
getting ready to be working inthe field, and one of the
(21:14):
classes that I'm teaching rightnow is all about advocacy and
how to advocate for variouspopulations that they might work
with.
And so I'm curious what youmight want counseling students
who are future counselors thatare going to be working with all
sorts of individuals, butincluding individuals with
autism.
What would you want them toknow about advocacy and how to
(21:38):
get involved and like, kind ofwhat should they know to
advocate for that population?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
So, for starters, I know with my counselor, like she
really like, if I have a lot tosay, she will go.
Okay, I'm going to sit here,I'm going to listen, and then
you let me know when you want meto intervene.
So, um, and I know, um, youknow there are times where I'm
just like I, I need to getsomething off my chest.
She says go ahead, um, soanother thing is, if there's
(22:06):
like workshops like I knowthere's a lot of free ones
online, like, take advantage ofit.
And um, you know, if there'slike a town hall meeting, you
know where, I know they're notpolice officers, but I know
there's like some where they'relike how to, how to um interact
with people on the spectrum orother disabilities, like, really
take advantage of yourresources, because I know some
(22:27):
people are like, oh, I don'thave time for it.
Yeah, it's like you, I think alot of people do have the time,
it's just they don't want to usetheir time for that.
But really, what's an hourgonna do?
You know, um, really take.
And if like um, you know, countwith counseling, like if
there's workshops being offered,you know, again, take advantage
(22:47):
, even read books about peopleon the spectrum, you know and
how.
Because I think one thing I'velearned is people on the
spectrum, they want to be talkedto, they want to have even
those with profound autism, theydon't want to.
Just because they can't talkdoesn't mean they don't want to
communicate with you.
(23:08):
They want, yeah, they want tocommunicate.
It's just they communicate in away that people aren't used to.
You know, whether it's blinking, whether it's like hand
gestures, you know you, just alot of a little patience goes a
long way, right, so, andspending time with them too, and
(23:30):
I know, with, again, mycounselor, she again really
takes the time to listen andthen and after that she'll put,
like, her hand up or go like,can I just say like we've been
doing, and I go absolutely, she,you know, again, she's the one
that reminds me.
You know, like.
You know there are people whoaren't going to like you and
(23:52):
it's not.
You know, again, she's the onethat reminds me.
You know, like, you know thereare people who aren't going to
like you and it's not.
You know, she even tells melike it's.
Because that's one thing Istruggle with.
Like when someone doesn't likeit, it makes you feel, it makes
you feel crappy and um, or youfind people you know who you
think are your friend and thenyou realize, like they're not
the person you think they are.
Yeah, and you know it's um, andshe tells me she's just like,
(24:13):
if um expressing feelings, likeshe's like if you feel don't
feel comfortable with thatperson, just simply, like you
know, say hello, good morning,and then move on and um, you
know who safe people are and shesays safe people are the ones
who were like are asking you,how are you, are you doing, okay
, like do you need anything,that kind of thing?
yeah.
Are the ones who were like areasking you, how are you, are you
doing, okay, like do you needanything, that kind of thing?
(24:34):
Yeah, um, the ones whocelebrate you and I I do have
those people who do celebrate me.
So, like again with count, youknow counselors as they go into
the field, all you know, again,a little patience goes a long
way and comfort too.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah , liz, one of the things that
you said earlier that reallystruck me and it was just a
super goes a long way, andcomfort, too.
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, liz, oneof the things that you said
earlier that really struck meand it was just a super quick
comment, but you talked aboutwhen we were talking about in my
own time as the awareness ofautism, and you said that you
use that to this day as an adult.
When there's something that'schallenging for you in the world
(25:10):
or that you're trying to unpackor discover, you will remind
yourself in your own time andcarry on and what do you think
it is in you?
What's that resource in you, orthat part of your personality
or that you've learned along theway that's kind of helped you
get to that point where you canjust have that self-awareness
(25:32):
and that self-love and thatgentleness for yourself, like in
my own time.
It's all good, I'm good andwhat?
Speaker 3 (25:40):
do you think, um, I think for me, um, I definitely
think it's um, the team ofpeople, um, that that have
worked with me and that havenecessarily not given up on me.
I mean, there are people whoyou know I can tell, and they,
even with with these, with my,my P, I call them my like tribe,
(26:00):
my people.
Even if they're in a bad mood,they let me know, like, hey, I'm
not in the greatest mood todayCause they know I'm sensitive.
Um, you know, I just want youto know I'm dealing with
something it's not fun.
And even I go, what can I do tohelp?
Like, and I even say it likefor me.
I go, I tell them like, oh well, since you helped me, maybe I
(26:21):
can help you, like what's goingon?
And some of them do open up tome and go well, this is what's
going on, and you know I don'twant to.
You know, and you know I don'twant to.
You know, either it could evenbe like a death or just the
day's not going right, that kindof thing.
So I really take the time tolisten to them, like they do for
me.
(26:42):
Another thing is again my, youknow, doing research.
I really like to read quotestoo, like, and that's where I
found the one that was sayingautism.
Um, in Japan they use the wordautism, as in my own time.
(27:03):
Um, I also um, like, remind,like I have a.
I am Matra.
Um, so I had a health coachnamed share Mac.
She unfortunately passed awaythis past January from from
chance, yeah, cancer.
Yeah, from breast cancer, but Imean she's still very special to
me.
You know she's a guardian angelnow, but she taught me the I am
mantra.
So like when I feel myself likegetting upset or, you know,
(27:24):
stressed, I go, I am and I'll golike I am awesome, like I work
hard.
I am not going to be like nastyto people, like I am not going
to stoop to people's levels,like that.
You know people.
You know, because she alwaystaught me never stoop to anyone
you know below, never belowyourself.
(27:46):
Or like you know um to someonewho isn't being kind, level,
lift yourself up.
Yeah, yes, yeah, she alwaystaught me you know to someone
who isn't being kind?
level.
Yeah, lift yourself up.
Yeah, yes, she always taught me, you know, keep being a person
like people can go to if they'rein trouble or they need help.
Because, you know again, Idon't mind listening because
people have helped me, like Ican pay it forward to this world
(28:08):
by listening to other peoplewho may be struggling, and not
necessarily with autism, butlike anxiety, depression.
You know that kind of thing.
But another thing you know againjust listening to stories,
people's stories, and not justlistening to see they have
autism on levels now, like levelone, two and three.
(28:30):
So I'm like a level one and youknow.
But there are other levels youknow I feel like I need to learn
um about.
So I've, I've been listening todifferent stories, like some
people on level three that's the, that's the lowest you know
that need a lot of support, um,so listening to these stories
and then you know lot of support.
(28:52):
So listening to these storiesand then you know reaching out
to parents and going like youknow, how are they doing today?
Or like just even acknowledgingtheir child, because that's all
a parent wants is for a childto be acknowledged Like every,
every child and every personshould be acknowledged in some
way.
I mean because it's not, it'snot the easiest thing, and you
know the with the autismcommunity, like you know, there
(29:16):
is a couple things where theyyou know they talk about like
autism being a superpower andand or autism the symbol of
autism, and I think, again, whatI always say is like I think we
all just need to like not worryabout symbols and stuff like
that, but just come together andgive everybody a chance.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Let me ask you, liz, going back to kind of your
younger self, like junior high,early high school, maybe, when
you're 13 years old, oh God,right, right.
I think we all have that kindof reaction.
But, yeah, think about yourselfand what was going on in your
life at 13.
(29:59):
What would your 13 year oldself say about you today?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
wow, we've come a long way.
Yeah, yes, 13 was a rough, Iremember.
I remember telling my parents Iwas y'all are going to laugh.
(30:25):
I was like I'm not wearing bad,you need to Um and um.
It was because, like I just, Ithink part of me just like, was
like dang, like like I'mbecoming a young lady and she's
like and that's what she told meshe's like you're becoming a
young lady, you need to wearthis.
(30:49):
But yeah, my 13 year old selfwould be like whoa, we came a
long way.
I thought, yeah, I thought fora while, for some time, there we
were like am I going to make itout alive?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah, and here you are.
Here you are, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
And thriving, yes, which you can tell in just
talking with you, liz, that yoursense of humor, your brightness
, your self possession, all ofthese things are, you know,
hallmarks of somebody who reallyis in their own skin, and
happily so, which is what we allare striving to be no matter
where we are.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
So I mean, that's definitely a model for for us
all is truth to self, and all ofus in our own time what a, what
a great model for everything onthis planet.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love that.
So do you have, like um, Ithink you've already said it,
but do you have like a lifemotto, a life philosophy,
something that you kind of liveby, that that holds you up each
day, that you go back to againand again?
Speaker 3 (32:01):
So, they call me Sunshine and I am a fan of the
band called the Shruts.
I am a fan of the band calledthe struts and they the lead
singer gave me the name Lizziesunshine.
So I always go by.
If you can't find the sunshine,be the sunshine.
So even in my, even in my, like, kind of like, if I'm not
(32:24):
having the greatest day, youknow, again trying to find the
sunshine, be the sunshine, thatkind of thing.
So that's one that I love, thatyeah, and again, you know I
also go with that saying in yourown time, yeah, and just again,
like that's one that I use,like they're just learning there
(32:46):
in their own time and it'stheir own way of learning.
And I also remind people to saylike, say we all?
I tell people, even you knowones who have very don't, have a
whole lot of patience.
I'm like you need to remember,not everyone is the same, Right,
and I feel like if we were thesame, it would be very boring,
Like nobody would learn anything, Nobody would have a job,
(33:11):
Nobody, you know.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Yeah, yeah, boring world for sure.
Yes, yes, liz, who is it thatinspires you?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
So definitely I have a couple, so definitely my
parents you know, of course, momand dad, I live with them still
, but again, like you know, theygive me my own space and like,
let me do my thing, um, and uh,then I again the, the band, the
struts, um, uh, they um, youknow they follow me on Instagram
(33:43):
and, like you know, I cheerthem on, they cheer me on, like
it's it's just uh, uh, it's not,it's even gone beyond from
music, it's just supporting oneanother and being proud of each
other.
Um, another band um that I grewup with is they're called 98
degrees.
Um, they, they helped methrough my teenage years, like
you know, whether it was a goodtime, a sad time, like they were
(34:06):
always there for me, theirmusic was always there.
And then, um, I also um haveanother band called Kelsey
Carter and the Heroines, anotheranother um female rock star who
, um, and her band, who supportme in my journey with autism.
Like, they all enter, they allinterconnect, um, they all
(34:26):
support me in my own way.
Um, and just you know again,this stuff it's, it's gone
beyond like being like music,and you know, we, we, just you
know it's just supporting oneanother, which everyone should,
everyone should do for peoplelike whether, you know, because
I know, for me, like I reallylike to cheer people on, you
know, even like depression, likeif you got out of bed and took
(34:50):
a shower and, like you know,because I don't think people
realize, like everyone's, again,you don't know what they're
you're fighting for.
So, and my other biggest thingis, you know you need to watch
your words and watch how youspeak to people, because you
don't, you don't know what youcould be adding fuel to the fire
(35:11):
, right?
Yeah, you know, and being kind,for me being kind, whether,
even if you don't like somebody,like even be, just be decent.
It's not hard to be decent,right?
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Amen to that, Just just be decent.
Yeah, so we, we like to gothrough kind of at this point
some rapid fire questions and sowe're just going to ask
something and you kind of justshare the first thing that comes
to mind.
You don't have to think aboutit a whole lot.
But you like music, so I thinkthis is a good question for you.
(35:42):
So you know, like, ifsomebody's like walking out to
the pitcher's mound orsomebody's walking up to the
stage there's like music playing, what they call their walk-in
music, so what would be yourwalk-in song if you were walking
up to the stage or a podium?
Here Comes the Sun by theBeatles.
Oh, great song.
Great song too Great band.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Love that, love that.
What book that you've readchanged you?
Speaker 3 (36:11):
The Diary of Anne Frank.
Oh, that's such a powerful book.
So I was a teenager when I readthat and when it said this is
where the diary ends, I lost itbecause I was like it's not fair
and like I taught.
That's where I really learnedabout judging people.
Like you know, you should neverjudge somebody Beautiful but
(36:33):
also.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
I mean, it's such a powerful book, and one of the
reasons it's so powerful is herinimitable spirit, which we also
see reflected in you.
That's exactly what you chooseis to live life in that way,
with that same type of framework.
So that makes perfect sense tome that Anne would speak so
strongly.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Yeah, yeah, what?
What is a movie that you couldwatch again and again, and again
?
Speaker 3 (36:59):
I'm trying to, I'm trying to.
Well, there's a couple.
Um, I really like the help.
Yeah, that's a good one.
(37:21):
That is a very powerful movie,because I think performances I,
I think I would be cele Footeand be nice and be like let's be
friends, because I would not.
And I really liked the scenewhere she's like you're supposed
to sit at this table and shegrabs her plate and goes I am
fine where I am, minnie, and thetwo women, octavia Spencer and
(37:48):
the other actress, I think,jessica Chastain.
You know the, the interaction,and I also really liked Viola
Davis.
But like I really like that,that scene where she's like I am
fine, right where I am, like Iwould be the same way and I've
told people time and time againI would probably, you know, back
in those days, you know, evenyou know whether it was the
(38:09):
Holocaust, or like I would bethe one that would get arrested
or you know, because I would belike no, I'm not, I'm not
putting up with this, like we'reall human beings, like stop,
right, right.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Wonderful, wonderful.
So what did you love doing as akid that you love doing to this
day?
Speaker 3 (38:32):
you love doing as a kid that you love doing to this
day, Probably taking walks innature and oh, being by the
ocean.
I live at the beach.
I live in Delaware, I'm rightoutside Bethany Beach, being by
the ocean.
It's not the sand that I like,it's just, and my mom even said
when you were young you wentflying to that water and yeah,
(38:59):
so definitely being by the oceanand just, you know, taking
walks in nature and likelistening to the sounds and, you
know, just being at peace withit.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Yeah yeah, beautiful Sounds like a beautiful place to
live too.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Yes, oh yeah, I really enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Yeah, yeah, beautiful Sounds like a beautiful place
to live too.
Yes, oh yeah, I really enjoy it.
Yeah, what in your world islighting you up right now?
What is giving you happinessand joy in your world?
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Being an aunt, definitely my nieces and nephew,
I actually, so two of them.
Their names are Nyla and Nolan.
They're Nyla is four and nolanis one, and let me tell you that
they are some.
They are some funny girls, ohI'm sure so much fun.
Yes, the one is just obsessedwith me.
(39:41):
I call her my number one fan.
She's just like lizzie, lizzie,lizzie and I'm like what, so
she likes to follow me aroundand then the other one, the
other one, um, nyla, she is,she's close to me, but she
really loves her grandma.
Um she, you know, um, hergrandma is a big comfort for her
(40:02):
and you know, um she, you knowshe's.
Nolan is talker, nyla is thequiet one.
But but when you do get, whenyou do get Nyla cranking, you
know, you know cause, sometimesI'll go.
Oh, hey, nyla should go.
I am not talking to you, I'mtalking to my grandma.
I'm like okay, well, well, I'mtalking to you.
(40:26):
Yeah, she goes.
Don't talk to me right now, I'mtalking to my grandma, so
definitely.
And my older nieces and nephew.
I have another niece named Emmawho lives a couple hours away
from me, and then I have sixother five nieces and nephews
(40:48):
and you know, the oldest onejust goes.
I just can't stand these kidsright now.
I said I go Kara, and her nameis Kara, she's my oldest niece.
I go, kara.
What do you think you are?
She's like oh honey, I'm 14.
I'm considered an adult.
I'm like, oh, crank it back anotch.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
They all say something, so they definitely
bring me a lot of joy, as I'msure you do to them as well.
Yeah, yeah.
And I mean, and as you'vealready shared, it just goes
such a long way too, when adultscan just hold space for kids to
be who they are, develop intheir own way and time.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
And for me, like, like my, my oldest niece is
getting ready to go to highschool, like again, and this and
also my other, my um otherniece, uh nyla, she's turning
five in october.
You know for both of them, likethey're both about to hit, like
she's not going to kindergartenuntil the following year, 2027,
(41:55):
2026, 27,.
But still like carving, even ifit's a bit busy, like carving
out that little time to be therefor them as well.
I hope simple words go a longway, just saying like I'm, you
know, you don't even have totell them you're busy with life,
but you can just say I love you.
Yeah, you're going to do great,you know, send them, sending
(42:16):
them off and if they are havinga tough time, you know, sit
there and listen to them andtalk to them.
You know, because, again,listening goes.
Listening to people even notthat aren't family, goes a long
way.
Like you could be helping themRight right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
So okay, we'll go back to our little questions
here.
If hope were a color, whatcolor is hope?
Speaker 3 (42:44):
I would.
For me, I would choose yellowYellow.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Sunshine yes, yep, yep, yes.
And what does hope sound likeif it's?
Speaker 3 (42:56):
a sound sound I would .
For me, it would be the sunshining and just like the birds
chirping yeah, beautiful soundof nature yes, like when you
know how, like when you wake upand you hear, like I know winter
time you don't hear it as muchlike cause you know winter's
cold, but like hearing thosebirds like the chirping, just
(43:19):
you know and just reminding youokay, brand new day, let's do
this Like yep.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
So, liz, finish this statement Music is Life.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
Perfect, there you go .
So another fill in the blank.
Then Joy is.
Speaker 3 (43:41):
Unconditional.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
Gorgeous and hope is.
Speaker 3 (43:47):
A ray of sunshine, there we go, bring it on back to
that sunshine.
Speaker 1 (43:54):
So, Liz, we are just so grateful that you joined us
for this passage of time, andclearly your message is a
beautiful one Everyone needs tohear.
Where can they learn more aboutyou?
Where can people find you?
Speaker 3 (44:07):
So I do have an Instagram.
It's Lizzy Sunshine Strutter 98.
And then I also have a FacebookLiz Michaels.
Again, it's just my nameL-I-Z-M-I-C-H-E-L-S.
And again, if anyone wants toshare their story or you know,
needs you know somebody just tolisten to them, like I'm.
(44:28):
That's what I'm here for.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
Wonderful that's awesome.
And yeah, and we will linkthose, so people will see those
Absolutely.
Absolutely Great.
Thank you so much, liz.
It was wonderful to spend sometime with you today, and I wish
you all sorts of sunshine.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
Oh, thank you so much .
It's been great, great beinghere.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Wonderful.
Thank you, liz, take care.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
Thank you, bye-bye, bye-bye.
Thanks for joining us today onSoul Sisteries.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
And thanks for sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
(45:19):
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to SoulSisteries.
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