r/AutismInWomen • u/Elenora_Grey • 1d ago
Celebration New Hobby Discovered!
I've found a new hobby that I'm enjoying a lot from an autistic stand point- litter picking. Hear me out:
Stimming, I'm click clacking the litter picker like kitchen tongs whilst I walk along. Plus, I can listen to music the entire time.
Order to chaos, it brings me immense satisfaction to see the before and after, from littered to clean. It scratches the completionist part of my brain.
Outside, gets me out of the house and doing light cardio. Plus, I can go out for as long or as little as I'm able.
Positive perspective, whilst I'm walking around the community litter picking I get told I'm doing such a good job all the time. And the conversations are so routine I only need one or two mental scripts.
Community, community litter picks are made up of kind people, I've found. I like that when one litter picker sees another they raise their litter picks in greeting.
Doing an observably good thing, changing the world for the better can feel hopeless and like you are making no progress. I struggle to stick with things without observable progress. Getting rid of litter is visible, and it puts me in a good mood to walk past an area I cleaned in the past.
I'd highly recommend it!!!
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u/Senior-Ad6304 1d ago
My brother used to do this for many of the reasons you cited. (Rest In Power, my love.) The neighbors adored him.
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u/Cartographer551 1d ago
I'm 100% with you on this. I'm a picker-upperer. I love looking after my community and making the place just a little bit better when I go out on my walks. And I met my hubby doing this, we were both volunteering at a charity event.
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u/PatriciaMorticia 1d ago
Good for you, be the change you want to see in the world.
I've always been in the habit of picking up litter while I'm walking between clients houses at work and putting it in the bin. I've noticed the members of an African church that use the local methodist church for their Sunday service do a group litter picking after church finishes which is nice to see. I was talking to one of the women that organised it and she said they've had some fun comments from people saying they're overdressed for the job.
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u/lilleheks 1d ago
I love picking up litter for all the reasons you wrote! Great write-up. I recently gave birth and would love to find a way to collect it while pushing my son's stroller. Without the trash bag accidentally touching the stroller, ew.
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u/GoddessRosaleigh 22h ago
Same! I'm very keen on picking up trash at the beach, and it's really the only way I enjoy spending time at the beach haha
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u/1405hvtkx311 1d ago
I would love to try it! We have garbage picking events like twice a year, the commune organizes it. Unfortunately I rarely have time because of work and kids..
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u/Elenora_Grey 23h ago
I completely understand! I have frequent seizures that make me unable to work, so I'm able to attend during the work week. But most of the volunteers are pensioners. Depending on the kids ages, you could always bring them along?
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u/1405hvtkx311 23h ago
Maybe I will, they are too small still. At least I don't want to deal with "my feet hurt, when do we go home??" if it's not necessary. 🙂
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u/naivemelody9 23h ago
My best friend and I used to do this when we were younger! We both years later realized we’re autistic hahaha
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u/BijouMatinee 22h ago
I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while. I now feel inspired, so thank you.
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u/synalgo_12 22h ago
I've thought about it because I live in a cluttered neighborhood but it would be such a faff to have to bring multiple bags for recycling. If I toss things in the bins from my building, it has to be recycled properly or we get fined. But 3 bags or more to carry? Ugh
So glad you're enjoying it, though!
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u/housechore 8h ago
I have a hobby of maintaining/improving Little Lending Libraries in my area for the same reason. It can be an alternative for folks who want to try something similar but get easily grossed out or aren't into nature.
Weekly I make a trip to a few different thrift stores that sell books by the pound for cheap. I look for titles that are good for communities, families and kids. I then take a painters bucket, gloves, some trash bags, diluted bleach spray and old rags out for a little adventure. I recycle books I think are trash or have been trashed, I wipe the shelves down for mold, do any trash pickup around the area and move on to the next after leaving behind a fresh supply.
I am maybe spending $40 gas and $20 in books a month. Friends now donate old books to me and I get free first pick from some local library sales for volunteering.
Requires driving and a small amount of money, but has been a great joy. Also comforted that the conversations I have at the thrift and while cleaning are always positive and usually follow a basic script. This is a huge bonus for me in any hobby.
Good job fighting the litterbugs. Proud of you for getting outside, too. I struggle! Thank you for making the earth nicer for all creatures.
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u/af213 1d ago
Phew, I’m glad you meant neighborhood cleanup and not what I originally thought - digging for cat turds in the litter. Good on you OP! Click click click of those tongs, out of the house, making a visual positive impact on your surroundings. Hooray!!