Rewiring My Brain Through Exercise

I am beginning to get more comfortable in my body. I started exercising like a baby does. I crawl on my belly. I crawl on all fours. I am hearing that I will make more brain connections my body needs to feel more regulated. I really believe it is working. I am getting stronger in my arms and legs. I can see changes in my arms. I get sore from exercising but at least I can feel my arms and legs. I am meaning to get over my fears too. When I get anxious sometimes I get paralyzed or I have fight or flight response. I get this way too much that it causes me to not be able to function well at school. I am learning that I may have retained primitive reflexes. If I can integrate them like babies naturally do when they go through developmental milestones, maybe I can be able to handle my fears and anxieties better.

Copyright 2019 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.

Resurrected Life

I am going to get a new body some day. When Jesus rose from the dead He received a brand new body. It would never decay. He showed that we would also be raised with bodies that won’t be dysfunctional. 

Lots of problems come from bodies that don’t work right. There are diseases that make our bodies sick and make us feel bad. Better medical treatment has helped us live longer but still we all must leave our earth- bound bodies some day. 

I have a body that is pretty messed up. It really has its own mind and does not do what I want it to do. It easily rebels my orders. It sometimes gets aggressive and costs me good relationships. I wish it would do what I want it to do. 

Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins and give us a new life that would glorify God. I have received Jesus’s gift of grace and eternal life by believing in Him. I very much am looking forward to being in heaven with Jesus. I want to get a body that can be good and do what I ask. 

Heaven has to wait for me because God hasn’t called me home yet. For now I have to make here my home and use the body I have to God’s glory. I am faithfully trying to do my best to get myself to be the best I can be. That means sharing my story so people can understand autism and help others learn to communicate. Some day I hope to be able to do even more to help others. I will strive to use my whole life, body and mind, to serve Jesus who gave His life for me.

Happy Easter!

Copyright 2019 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.

Philip's Song

I am getting stronger.
Freer in my soul.

I am trusting God.
Gearing up to breakthrough.

I am persevering.
Daring to succeed.

I'm not going to stop.
My preaching is bold.

Copyright 2019 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.

Dominican Republic 2019

I went to Dominican Republic for February break. I have been there once before when I was 11. I am glad we came back. I made many good memories. 

I really enjoy being with my family. They got to be more together without being busy. I like having time to get away from having to be doing jobs and keeping busy. My mom made sure we had fun things to do. My dad made sure to make rest an important part of vacation. 

Many days I swam in the pool and walked on the beach. The weather was so beautifully sunny and warm. My home is so cold for many months. It is terrific to be able to go outside to be in nature with fresh air and sun warming your body. I love being outdoors because my body feels most relaxed. I feel most peaceful.   

My cousins Tommy and Roger were there too. I like being with them. They are lots of fun. They are very entertaining. I think they are great cousins. Aunt Kit and Uncle Mike are nice.  Lolo and Lola make me always feel understood and loved. Mr. and Mrs. Gough are kind to me. Lia is my dear sister always. 

One day we went to Santo Domingo for an excursion. Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic. I enjoyed taking a tour of the first colonial city in the new world. I saw the castle of king Diego Columbus and an old fortress with cannons. I saw the first cathedral in the western hemisphere. It was very beautiful. I am glad I get to be able to be among other site seers even though I am autistic. 

I am getting to become better at traveling. Being able to see the world is really great. 

Copyright 2019 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.

New York City

Last weekend I went to Manhattan to see my sister compete in gymnastics. I learned about New York City a long time ago from a book mom used to read me. It was called My New York. In the book there was a girl who showed us her favorite places in NY like the Statue of Liberty, Chinatown, and Empire State Building. I wanted to go see those places. I tried to make myself enjoy the sensations of the city rather than hide from them. I tested myself by taking in the sights and sounds and smells and letting them go without letting them become overpowering. I found myself enjoying the loud sights of the city. 

I paid attention to the ethnic diversity all around me. My favorite thing about the city was seeing so many different cultures. We ate at Korean, Colombian, Italian, Filipino, and bagel places. Everywhere I walked I heard different languages. I loved seeing so many different people living together.  

Filipino fast food at Jollibee's

I met my mom’s friend Nate. He works at the Empire State Building. He showed us around his office. It was really cool. I saw the city from high up. It was full of tall buildings. I could see very far. I could see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. It must have welcomed so many people to the USA. I love that my ancestors came to America. I think it is the best place in the world because anyone can make a good life here. 

 Mom and Nate

 View from Empire State Building

I saw my first Broadway show. It was Aladdin. It was amazing. I loved the Genie. He was so funny. There were some special effects. It looked like magic. I hope to see more theater in the future. 

Being in New York City was good for a weekend but I don’t think I could live there permanently. I think there are too many sensations to feel all the time. I would never get to feel totally rested. I mean to visit New York again. There is so much more to see.

Copyright 2019 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.

New Year's Resolution 2019

This year I want to get fit. I made my New Year’s resolution to exercise everyday. Practicing moving my body purposefully is learning. I have to learn both for my mind and body. Moving my body the way I want it is my biggest challenge today. I mean to overcome this challenge like the many challenges I had in the past. I have overcome not being able to express my intelligence. I have overcome being excluded from my public school. I have overcome some of my sensory challenges so I can handle going out more and having fun. There is hope I can overcome my wild body too. Being able to control my body will help me so much. I could make more meaningful actions to become more independent. I could get more control to stop impulsive behaviors. I would be more confident because I wouldn’t have to worry about my body embarrassing me with its crazy antics and weird tics.

My mom has been learning about exercises and reflex integration to help mature my brain so it works better. I believe my body will make more necessary neural connections. I am also trying to strengthen my muscles by lifting weights.  I want to feel my body in space better. I feel my limbs better with weights. More muscle should help me feel my body better. 

Meaningless body movements make me mad. I am now destroying all my shirts by mouthing them. I don’t want to look like a homeless person in rags but I am powerless to stop my habit. I want my body to listen when my mind tells it not to bite or do other annoying things. Perhaps I can get better at impulse control with my new exercises. 

I love exercising because it makes me feel good. I hope to meet my goals. I mean to give it my all. 

Copyright 2019 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.

My Own Path

I have recently changed my school path from being diploma bound to life skills. I am at peace with this decision.  I tried very hard to be a regular student but it was more than what I could handle even with my supports. My autism is really my biggest hurdle. Making my body cooperate for long periods of time was more than I could manage. I fell behind in doing work and got frustrated to the point of having too many meltdowns. Learning was becoming more difficult because I tried to control my body . It took up most of my energy so that I had none left for getting educated or typing. I was starting to not enjoy school. I am really feeling more at peace making the change to life skills. 

I am still going to some regular classes. I really love Global Studies and Music in Our Lives. I will learn everything I can and do all the work I am able to do. But I won’t have to do everything if it is too much. I am in some special ed classes too. They are not a lot of work. I can still learn and become better at working on my skills. 

I am meaning to make the most of my opportunities.  I try to make myself more calm so I can participate more easily. I am forging my own path.  I think I can still make a meaningful and productive life without a diploma. I can try to enjoy my high school years more by taking the classes I really like and not worrying about meeting all the graduation requirements. I can also make friends with people more like me. I want dear teachers to keep challenging me to do as much as I can. Learning is more fun for me again.  

Philip

Keyboarding in Music in Our Lives

Copyright 2018 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.