From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism
Aug 5, 2026 · 27 min · 11 segments
In this episode: - Why we imitate the visible “tree” without seeing the seeds, sacrifices, and choices that produced it - How individual values spread through imitation until they become culture…
We see the visible moment, but we rarely see the invisible growth that preceded it.
The thousands of thoughts, the repeated compromises, the small acts of courage, the tiny resentments, the moments of attention, the conversations, the values quietly rehearsed over years.
We see the tree.
We didn't see the seed.
And I think that matters enormously when we look at other people because we imitate trees.
We don't imitate seeds.
We imitate what has become visible.
The successful person, the powerful person, the beautiful person, the courageous person, and the merciful person.
The person who appears to have something we want.
We are comparing ourselves to others.
How do we know who we are comparing ourselves to knows anything about life? And something within us begins to ask, "How do I become that?" Sometimes that's wonderful.
We see courage, and it awakens courage within us.
We witness forgiveness, and suddenly forgiveness seems possible.
We encounter someone genuinely humble, and for the first time, we realize that humility is not weakness.
We watch someone suffer without becoming cruel, and it changes our understanding of strength.
But the opposite happens, too.
We see wealth without seeing what was sacrificed to obtain it.
We see power without seeing what the pursuit of power did to the person pursuing it.
We see attention without seeing the dependence it created.
We see the fruit that is advertised.
We don't see the roots, and then we imitate.
Other people see it.
We see the visible moment, but we rarely see the invisible growth that preceded it.
The thousands of thoughts, the repeated compromises, the small acts of courage, the tiny resentments, the moments of attention, the conversations, the values quietly rehearsed over years.
We see the tree.
We didn't see the seed.
And I think that matters enormously when we look at other people because we imitate trees.
We don't imitate seeds.
We imitate what has become visible.
The successful person, the powerful person, the beautiful person, the courageous person, and the merciful person.
The person who appears to have something we want.
We are comparing ourselves to others.
How do we know who we are comparing ourselves to knows anything about life? And something within us begins to ask, "How do I become that?" Sometimes that's wonderful.
We see courage, and it awakens courage within us.
We witness forgiveness, and suddenly forgiveness seems possible.
We encounter someone genuinely humble, and for the first time, we realize that humility is not weakness.
We watch someone suffer without becoming cruel, and it changes our understanding of strength.
But the opposite happens, too.
We see wealth without seeing what was sacrificed to obtain it.
We see power without seeing what the pursuit of power did to the person pursuing it.
We see attention without seeing the dependence it created.
We see the fruit that is advertised.
We don't see the roots, and then we imitate.
Other people see it.
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