Hi, I'm Lise.
For the first 47 years of my life, I thought being a person was just supposed to feel this hard.
I was the one who left social gatherings completely exhausted, replayed conversations for days afterward, and wondered why everyone else seemed to navigate life without needing an instruction manual. I could spend hours researching obscure topics for fun but struggled with things that looked effortless for everyone else. I became exceptionally good at looking like I was coping while quietly falling apart.
Then I was diagnosed as autistic.
Suddenly, decades of confusion began to make sense.
This blog isn't about finding miracle solutions or pretending that autism is a superpower. It's about the ordinary, funny, frustrating, and unexpectedly beautiful moments that come with experiencing the world through an autistic brain.
Sometimes the posts are funny. Sometimes they're deeply personal. Often they're both.
If you're autistic, I hope you recognize pieces of yourself here and feel a little less alone.
If you love someone who is autistic, I hope these stories offer a window into experiences that are often invisible from the outside.
And if you simply enjoy thoughtful writing about what it means to be human, welcome. You're in the right place.
Beyond the Blog
I'm also the founder of Axolotl Autistics, a neuroaffirming online community designed specifically around autistic communication styles. As far as I'm aware, it's the only forum intentionally designed to support the ways many autistic people naturally communicate—without the expectation of masking or performing neurotypical social norms.
Outside of writing, I'm the creator behind Lise Fiola, a Canadian handmade lifestyle brand built around meaningful design and calming sensory experiences. Whether I'm writing an essay or designing a piece of jewellery, the goal is the same: to create something that helps people feel understood, connected, or simply a little more at peace.
Why "Awkward Moments"?
Because my life is full of them.
Also, the awkward moments are often where we discover who we really are. They're where expectations fall apart, assumptions get challenged, and the best stories begin.
If something I've written makes you laugh, gives you language for an experience you've never been able to explain, or simply makes you feel less alone, then this blog has done exactly what I hoped it would.
Thanks for being here.
I'm glad you found your way to this wonderfully awkward corner of the internet.
Lise Fiola