Childhood Holidays Inspiring Lifelong Fascinations

What if a simple summer holiday could ignite a lifelong passion for exploring natural wonders? Join me, Stephen McHugh, as I recount my childhood experiences traversing the UK, where every coastal visit and geological marvel like the Giant's Causeway sparked my insatiable curiosity. From observing the unique qualities of water in various regions to uncovering the celestial mysteries behind tidal changes, these adventures laid the groundwork for my fascination with the interconnectedness of our world.

In the next part of my journey, I reveal how overcoming early language development challenges led to my deep-seated interest in idioms and metaphors. Learn how my logical thinking and attention to detail, traits shaped by my autism, helped me craft a beloved blog that invites readers to visualize idiomatic expressions creatively. Through personal stories and practical tips, I'll guide you on how to cultivate your curiosity, observe the world around you, and embark on personal projects that can transform your understanding and connect you with like-minded individuals. Join the conversation and share your insights as we embark on this collective journey of learning and wonder.

Thanks for listening. You can find me on my website stephensevolution.com, or on twitter here. You can sign up to receive news of new episodes when they're released here.


Artwork produced by Elena Designe
Music composed by Nela Ruiz

Transcript

Hi there, and welcome back to another episode of the Stephen's Evolution podcast. I'm Stephen McHugh, your host, and on this podcast I share my personal experiences on the autism spectrum, covering topics including education, independence and employment. My goal for this podcast is to provide practical tips, inspiration and insights based on how I've navigated challenges related to being on the autism spectrum and, at the same time, developing new skills. Whether you're on the spectrum yourself, a family member, educator or advocate, there's something here on the podcast for you. 

In this episode, I'm going to be diving into the theme of summer holidays. What I'll be doing is I'll reflect on how past holidays sparked my curiosity, and how they link into a previous episode titled Unlocking Potential Through Curiosity and Inquiry. Let's now explore how these experiences can be fun, fascinating and educational.

And now I'm going to dive into some summer holiday memories that really sparked my curiosity. I found these experiences fascinating and they left me with plenty of questions and insights. They left me with plenty of questions and insights.

I remember visiting different parts of the UK, and one thing that stood out for me was how the water felt different depending on where I was. In one part of the UK, I found the water had a distinct quality compared to what I was already used to. I remember it took more soap to wash yourself and more of it to create bubbles. I couldn't help but wonder why the water was different in other parts of the UK compared to what I was used to. Was it the mineral content or something different entirely? This simple yet powerful observation forced me to think more deeply about how even everyday elements like water, for example, can vary and affect us in a variety of unexpected ways. 

I also remember seeing particular beaches from time to time. One intriguing aspect I would notice was that I would observe the tides. On one occasion, I noticed how far the tide had gone out, like in the case of low tides. It was in an evening, and in the daytimes the tides could be higher. To me, this was a clear demonstration of the power of nature, well, one example of the power of nature, and the influence of celestial bodies far away, like moons and the sun. Watching these events made me ponder the vast forces at work, and the ways in which they impact our environment. It was a real-life example of how interconnected everything is, from the moon's gravity to the changing shape of the shoreline, and also not forgetting the influence of the sun's gravity on the planets, helping them to stay in orbit around it. 

But having said all that, if there was one thing that stood out for me the most, it was the Giant's Causeway. What I was struck by here was the unique hexagonal rock formation that seemed like from another planet. I had been, until that point, so used to seeing beaches with sand pebbles or just ordinary rocks. However, the giant's causeway presented me with something entirely new and unique. The hexagonal columns rising out of the ground, I found, were both mesmerising and, at the same time, puzzling. What I wondered about here was the geological processes that led to the creation of such a remarkable structure, and why I hadn't ever encountered anything like it before. 

Looking back, each of these experiences was a catalyst for my curiosity, making me ask questions about the world around me, and how it all works. To me, they illustrate how different environments and natural phenomena can capture our imagination and attention, and prompt us to explore even deeper. 

And now I'm going to delve into how my curiosity would lead me into deeper understanding in each of these topics. In the case of high and low tides, at first I would be fascinated by the tides themselves, wondering how something as distant as the moon could have an impact on them. Through my research, and when I had enough education, and gained enough of an understanding, I learned and understood that it was the gravitational pull of the Moon itself and, to some extent, the Sun. But, as it turns out, it's mainly the moon that influences the earth's tides.

What the moon's gravity does is that it creates a bulge of water on the side of the earth closest to it, and on the opposite side, there is a high tide there too. The areas between these bulges, as it turns out, can experience low tides. What amazed me here was how such a distant celestial body could exert such a significant influence. What this made me more aware of was the powerful forces at play in nature, and how interconnected our world actually is, from the moon and the sun to the oceans, and also how interconnected the solar system is, like the planets, under the influence of the sun's gravity.

The Giant's Causeway had been, without doubt, a very captivating puzzle for me. After research, what I discovered was that it was linked to the cooling and contracting of molten rock, or magma, which can be seen during periods of volcanic activity in volcanoes. As molten lava cools anything that has, with, like ice cooling, contraction occurs and eventually this creates stress that will eventually lead to cracking. What's remarkable here is that, this cracking of the rocks in the Giant's Causeway, and how it formed hexagonal patterns. 

As it turns out, hexagons are nature's way of efficiently relieving stress, here in a way that minimises wasted space, enabling more stress to be released efficiently and effectively. This shape isn't just present in rock formations. As it happens, it appears in honeycombs created by honeybees and even in the design of pencils. When you buy a pack of pencils and open it, you'll notice how efficiently the space is used and taken up. The hexagonal shape allows for maximum efficiency with minimal material. The hexagonal shape showcasing just how nature actually optimises its processes. 

And lastly, in this section, going back to my curiosity about how water led me to understand how it felt, it contains higher levels of dissolved salts, like calcium sulphate, and magnesium sulphate. This made me wonder whether ocean and sea water was harder, because it may contain minerals from rocks and shells. I would also learn that in documentaries that some shallow coastal waters are rich in green plants, which is due to chlorophyll, a substance allowing photosynthesis, during which process, plants make food. This substance of chlorophyll contains magnesium. To me, this suggested that sea water could indeed be harder due to these mineral ions. Over time, my growing understanding of these scientific concepts would help me to see the connection between water hardness, minerals in the environment, and how these factors affect our everyday experiences. 

As I reflect on how my experiences tie into my perspective as an autistic individual, what I begin to realize is how my logical and inquisitive nature both play a significant role in how I approach and try to understand the world. Being logically minded, what I often like to do is make predictions based on what may seem reasonable, given my knowledge and understanding of a subject. What this logical approach does in every case, is that I feel it helps me to form a hypothesis, and seek out possible answers and solutions, which is, I believe, particularly evident in my explorations of natural phenomena like tides and rock formations. The way I look at it is, this methodical thinking is a way for me to satisfy my curiosity, and make complex questions easier. 

My natural inquisitiveness, I’ve seen, encourages and drives me to dig deeper into subjects that capture my interest. This quality, I find, combined with my logical thinking, can enhance my ability to spot subtle details and clues, leading to even further questions and deeper understanding. For me, it's this blend of curiosity, and detailed observations that can fuel my exploration of new concepts and phenomena.

During my younger days, many years ago, I would face challenges related to language development, and I would find it difficult to grasp and apply new concepts. As the years followed, my language skills improved. At the same time, so did my determination to explore and understand more complex topics. The way I look at this journey is that it's helped me to dive into areas I once found challenging. Such examples here are idioms and metaphors.

I've developed a great interest in researching idioms and metaphors. What I like to do is, often, is read up and explore their origins and then create my own short stories inspired by these expressions. By visualising idioms in a non-literal way has become more of a creative outlet for me. I have a blog post featuring short idiom stories, which, over time, has become one of the most popular pieces of content on my site, stephensevolution.com, reflecting on how this approach resonates with readers. I even left a message in the blog post to invite readers to create their own drawings based on these stories, encouraging them to visualise the idioms in their own unique and imaginative ways. Whenever I see positive responses from my readers, such as seeing that they find them imaginative, this gives me the confidence that my explorations and creative works and expressions are having a significant and positive impact. I find it very gratifying to know that my efforts to translate my unique perspective into content that others find engaging and valuable are successful. 

To summarise here, my autistic traits, such as my logical thinking, curiosity and my keen eye for detail, have helped to shape how I explore and understand the world around me. What I have found is these traits have not only helped me to overcome challenges, but have also helped me to connect with others through my blog and podcast. One of my more popular episodes is where I talk about how I navigate language on the autism spectrum. 

And now, as I begin to wrap up the exploration of curiosity and personal experiences in this episode, one thing I'd like to do now is share some practical tips and takeaways that I believe can help you, or those you may support, tap into curiosity and deepen your understanding of the world around you. 

You can start by identifying your own personal interests and favourite subjects, what things normally and naturally capture your attention. It can be related to nature, technology, art or something else entirely. By focusing on such interests, you can make your exploration more engaging and, at the same time, enjoyable. 

Secondly, try to pay close attention to the details in your environment. Look out for interesting facts, and any unusual details that may stand out to you. This could be anything from unique and unusual patterns in nature to any intriguing historical tidbits about the places you go to visit. By being observant, you may notice finer details and spark more curiosity about the world around you.

Thirdly, don't hesitate to share any interesting facts you may come across, whether it's something you've learned from a book, a website, a documentary or even a conversation passing on. Fascinating information can be an example of a great way to engage with others, foster discussions, and form supportive communities. It also can encourage a culture of curiosity and learning. 

In the past, when I was young, I encouraged myself to undertake my own personal projects based on my interests. This is something you could do. For example, in my younger days, what I did was I pursued personal projects at home, and during one, I liked to calculate my own scale for planet distances from the sun, and, in addition, I liked to study tree rings to determine how old they were. 

This reminds me of a time when I was allowed to do a project of my own on trees. One other thing it allowed me to do was use a way to measure a tree's possible height by measuring the shadow it cast on the ground. Such an approach here can open doors into how you can discover new knowledge and take understanding to further depths. Such projects allowed me to dive deeper into subjects I found interesting and apply my knowledge in practical ways.

What I have found is, starting personal projects can be rewarding ways to explore particular topics more thoroughly. They could be anything from as simple as creating a visual representation of data, writing a blog post or even conducting a small and simple experiment. One small, simple experiment I did, during cold weather, was to fill an empty can with water, leave it outside and see how liquid turns into solid ice, giving me an insight into the change of state from liquid to freezing. 

The key here is to choose something that excites you and gives you the opportunity to learn and grow from. By integrating tips like these into your routine, what I have found is you can cultivate a more curious and investigative mindset, whether you're exploring your own surroundings, sharing knowledge or embarking on your own personal projects. By embracing curiosity, you can find yourself on the way to a richer and more fulfilling experience. 

And now I'm going to make this next section all about you. What I'd like to hear from you is, and engage with is, your own experiences related to what I've already talked about in this episode. 

Based on curiosity and exploration, your stories and insights can be incredibly valuable, and sharing them can be fun, interesting and educational for everyone involved. You can send me your stories or comments through fan mail. Just text the podcast using the contact details provided in the description of this episode on my podcast host site, Buzzsprout. You can also find a link to me on Twitter via a link at the footer of my website.

And, don't forget, you can subscribe to stay updated on new and forthcoming episodes and any other podcast related news. You can find the subscription link close to the footer of the homepage on my website, stephensevolution.com. By subscribing, you'll receive all the latest news about the podcast, including episode releases and other updates. Any engagement can potentially mean a lot to me, and I look forward to hearing any from you. Let's continue to explore and, at the same time, learn together.

And now, as I wrap up this episode, I want to now let you know and remind you that I'll be taking a short break for the summer holiday season to spend more time with my family. I see it as a great opportunity to recharge and enjoy some quality moments with loved ones. 

In the meantime, feel free to explore more episodes of the podcast and dive into the blog for additional practical tips and insights on living with autism. I cover a variety of topics based on my lived experiences. There's plenty of content available that may pique your curiosity and provide you with some valuable information. Have fun exploring and embracing your own curiosities while you enjoy your holidays. Thank you for joining me on this episode and I look forward to connecting with you again in the second week of September in the next episode. Until then, take care and enjoy your holidays. Thank you.