Hi, everyone. Kayla here, and I thought I would share with you my experience of being on the aromantic spectrum. I am also asexual. If you want to read more on that, check out my article on the Asexual club.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that I am on the aromantic spectrum. While I am asexual and sex-repulsed, I am not romance-repulsed. I like the idea of romance. I enjoy Disney movies, and most of them have romance in them. I enjoy a good love song every now and then, but that's as far as it goes.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that I really don't desire a romantic relationship. I don't feel like I need romance for myself in order to thrive. Some of my cousins claim that I'll "never get married because of being autistic". It doesn't hurt my feelings at all. That's because I know it isn't true. Yes, I am asexual and on the aromantic spectrum, but it's not related to my autism. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of people on the autism spectrum who feel sexual attraction and are married. The reason I'm not getting married is I don't have any desire, and there's nothing wrong with that.
I would be completely happy in a queer-platonic relationship. For those who don't know, a queer-platonic relationship is a platonic (not sexual), non-romantic relationship that goes beyond what most would consider friendship. I was in one once. The more I think about it, my ex wasn't much of a boyfriend. Our relationship was obviously platonic, and the more I think about it, the more I realize our relationship wasn't really romantic. Still, we didn't consider each other "just friends", neither did anyone else. At one point, I even described it as a "platonic, non-romantic, more than friends relationship." I know it's a mouthful. I just didn't know there was a name for it. Of course, there probably wasn't a name for it back then.
The relationship I had in high school was fun while it lasted, but it wasn't meant to be. I do hope that someday I'll find the ideal companion. Still, I am not lonely being on any of these spectrums. I have my friends, and I have my immediate family. I even have a German Shepherd who loves me unconditionally. I have everything I need, and I don't need a spouse to complete me. My grandmother told me that I might change my mind if I found the right person. I simply told her, "The way I see it, the 'right person' would understand my needs and desires."
I do not expect everyone here to understand my feelings, but I do ask that you please be respectful. If you can't, then bug off.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that I am on the aromantic spectrum. While I am asexual and sex-repulsed, I am not romance-repulsed. I like the idea of romance. I enjoy Disney movies, and most of them have romance in them. I enjoy a good love song every now and then, but that's as far as it goes.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that I really don't desire a romantic relationship. I don't feel like I need romance for myself in order to thrive. Some of my cousins claim that I'll "never get married because of being autistic". It doesn't hurt my feelings at all. That's because I know it isn't true. Yes, I am asexual and on the aromantic spectrum, but it's not related to my autism. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of people on the autism spectrum who feel sexual attraction and are married. The reason I'm not getting married is I don't have any desire, and there's nothing wrong with that.
I would be completely happy in a queer-platonic relationship. For those who don't know, a queer-platonic relationship is a platonic (not sexual), non-romantic relationship that goes beyond what most would consider friendship. I was in one once. The more I think about it, my ex wasn't much of a boyfriend. Our relationship was obviously platonic, and the more I think about it, the more I realize our relationship wasn't really romantic. Still, we didn't consider each other "just friends", neither did anyone else. At one point, I even described it as a "platonic, non-romantic, more than friends relationship." I know it's a mouthful. I just didn't know there was a name for it. Of course, there probably wasn't a name for it back then.
The relationship I had in high school was fun while it lasted, but it wasn't meant to be. I do hope that someday I'll find the ideal companion. Still, I am not lonely being on any of these spectrums. I have my friends, and I have my immediate family. I even have a German Shepherd who loves me unconditionally. I have everything I need, and I don't need a spouse to complete me. My grandmother told me that I might change my mind if I found the right person. I simply told her, "The way I see it, the 'right person' would understand my needs and desires."
I do not expect everyone here to understand my feelings, but I do ask that you please be respectful. If you can't, then bug off.