Devotions

Happy 3rd Week of Holidays!  ​1. Volunteering (Walk for Autism) ​Completed previously.  ​2. Fitness (Nature Walk) ​Evidence:  ​Walked with Lilianna at her Bright Sparks ASN trip to Tubing at Midlothian snowsports.  ​3. Hobby The Digital Parish & Prayer ​Activity: Prayer using the Northumbria Office and documenting reflections on this blog. ​ ​4. Personal Challenge: Previously submitted.  5. Lifestyle (Sensory & Advocacy): Managing daily regulation through Squiggle Society, fidgets and other art supplies. Still exploring church ideas This week for Faith activity we returned to Gorebridge Parish Church. The two middle children had to come out to the play space a while as they were a bit overwhelmed and Sunday school wasn't on. However, still a win as they got to church.  Still using the Finch app to continue routines.  The end of this award is almost here! Just about ready to submit! 

Happy 2nd Week of Holidays!  ​1. Volunteering (Walk for Autism) ​Completed previously.  ​2. Fitness (Nature Walk) ​Evidence:  ​Examples: Walked around bird gardens with family. Only took one photo as I wanted to be present to the moment.  ​3. Hobby The Digital Parish & Prayer ​Activity: Prayer using the Northumbria Office and documenting reflections on this blog. ​ ​4. Personal Challenge: Previously submitted.  5. Lifestyle (Sensory & Advocacy): Managing daily regulation through Squiggle Society, fidgets and other art supplies. Still exploring church ideas This week for Faith activity we visited The Logos Hope ship that is docked in Ocean Terminal. I also did a Muddy Church style walk with my children. I have also been in touch with a minister in Newtongrange.  Still using the Finch app to continue routines.  This is the second last week of these updates. It has been a jo...

Happy Summer Holidays! ​As we hit week 24, the pace of life feels a little different. Whether it’s the shift into summer mode or the gentle routine of daily life, there is always something to celebrate. This week has been a unique mix of digital reflection, sensory grounding, and some much-needed travel time. ​Here is a look at what I’ve been up to for this week’s Mencap Gateway Bronze Award progress. ​🌿 Fitness: A Moment in Nature ​Even when the schedule gets busy, there is immense value in simply stepping outside. This week’s focus was a Nature Walk , a perfect way to clear the mind and get moving.​ ​✍️ Hobby: The Digital Parish ​My commitment to The Digital Parish and Prayer  remains a cornerstone of my week. ​ Activity: I have continued my practice of prayer.  ​ Reflection: Documenting reflections on this blog has been a rewarding way to process my thoughts and keep a record of my spiritual journey. It remains a peaceful anchor.  ​🧠 Lifest...

Weekly Reflections: Milestone Moments & Autism Acceptance ​ ​Welcome to this week’s update! Week 11 has been a massive one, aligning perfectly with Autism Acceptance Week . Between hitting physical milestones and staying on top of the "life admin" that keeps things running smoothly, it’s been a productive and meaningful seven days. ​1. Volunteering: Walk for Autism ​This week marked the official Walk for Autism . I am thrilled to report that I’ve been clocking up the steps and officially completed the challenge on Autism Acceptance Day . It felt incredibly rewarding to finish such a significant personal goal on a day that means so much to the community. ​ Status: Completed & Submitted. ​2. Fitness: Nature Walk ​Staying active remains a priority for my physical and mental well-being. This week’s fitness focus was nature walks, allowing me to decompress and appreciate the outdoors. ​ Evidence:   ​3. Hobby: The ...

Eight days. Done. I'll be honest — when I signed up for this, I wasn't sure what the week would look like. As an autistic person with social anxiety, and a house full of beautiful, complex, neurodiverse children, some days were a big ask. But here we are. Today is World Autism Acceptance Day. And I can think of no better day to finish. Acceptance isn't a one-day event. It's a daily choice — to see people as they are, to make room, to listen, to include. I hope these thousands of steps through ordinary streets, quieter days, and harder ones have nudged that forward even slightly. Thank you to everyone who donated, shared, and cheered us on. You are, as the Walk for Autism team said, absolutely amazing. 💙 Donations are still open: 👉 walkforautism.co.uk/fundraiser/DavidHoldsworth We are not missing pieces. We never were. ♾️

Seven days. One to go. Tomorrow — 2nd April — is World Autism Acceptance Day. And here we are, walking right into it. That feels fitting in a way that's hard to put into words. This whole week has been a journey — literally and figuratively. There have been big step days and quieter ones. Days where the motivation came easily and days where simply getting up and going was the whole victory. That's real life. That's autistic life. And I think it's worth naming that, because the world Autism Initiatives is working to build isn't a world where autistic people have to perform wellness or pretend the hard days don't exist. It's a world where every person is accepted — on the difficult days as much as the good ones. Tomorrow we mark Acceptance Day. Not awareness — acceptance. There's a difference. Awareness says "we know you exist." Acceptance says "you belong here." One more day. Let's finish strong. 💙 If you haven't y...

Six days in, and we are officially on the home stretch. ​If Day 5 was about crossing the halfway line, Day 6 is about steady persistence. The initial novelty has faded, replaced by the rhythmic reality of the task. Much like the autistic experience itself, this challenge isn't always about big breakthroughs—it’s about the quiet strength of showing up day after day, moving forward despite the sensory noise or exhaustion. ​With only two days left, the finish line is finally in sight. Every step taken today is a reminder that while the journey can be long, we don't have to walk it alone. ​ The Goal is in Sight: I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me so far. Every penny raised helps Autism Initiatives continue their vital work. ​If you’d like to help me finish strong, you can donate here: 👉 walkforautism.co.uk/fundraiser/DavidHoldsworth ​"We are not missing pieces. We are the whole picture." 💙

Five days in. And that means we're over halfway. There's something that feels significant about that — crossing the midpoint of a challenge. Monday has arrived, the weekend's slower pace is behind us, and the week stretches ahead with a little more structure. For those of us who are autistic, that can actually be a relief. Routine is a friend. After a quieter Sunday, today felt like a return to rhythm. One step at a time, one foot in front of the other. That's really all any of us can do, isn't it? Not the whole eight days in one go — just today's steps, today's effort, today's small act of showing up. I've been thinking a lot about why this walk matters — not just the fundraising (though every penny is genuinely needed and appreciated), but what it represents. Walking is ordinary. Everybody does it. And yet, for families like mine, ordinary life carries an extraordinary weight. The sensory load. The waiting lists. The appointments. The a...

​It’s Sunday, which means it is time to check in and see how I’m progressing with my Mencap Gateway Bronze Award. Week 9 has been all about movement, reflection, and staying organized. ​Here is a look at what I’ve been up to this week: ​ 1. Volunteering: Walk for Autism 👟 ​I’m currently in the planning stages for the Walk for Autism . I plan on joining a walk with friends from No6 one stop shop in late April as well as my virtual walks. It’s exciting to see the logistics coming together! ​ 2. Fitness: Nature Walk 🌿 ​There is nothing like a bit of fresh air to clear the head. My fitness focus this week was more nature walking to get those steps in. Spring has sprung!  ​ 3. Hobby: The Digital Parish & Daily Office 📖 ​My hobby continues to be a source of quiet reflection. I have been practicing daily prayer using the Northumbria Office . ​ Activity: I’ve been documenting my reflections right here in relation to my faith connecting my digital...

1. Volunteering — Walk for Autism This week's volunteering continues to be centred around the Walk for Autism.  Sponsor here! 2. Fitness — Nature Walk For fitness this week I've been getting out for a nature walk.  3. Hobby — The Digital Parish & Daily Office My hobby this week has been continuing with The Digital Parish and the Daily Office. I've been using the Northumbria Community Office for daily prayer and documenting my reflections here on the blog. This rhythm has been a real anchor. This week also brought some significant movement in my online ministry. I revisited my Simply Fellowship idea — the dream of launching an in-person meeting — and sat with some honesty about where I actually am right now. With my autism, social anxiety, and the realities of family and work-life balance, an in-person meeting simply isn't the right step at this moment. Maybe it will be one day. Maybe it won't. And I'm learning to be at peace with not ...

  Mencap Gateway Week 7 Evidence Checklist Sunday check-in · approx. 5 minutes   Sunday reflection on advocacy, faith, community, and daily life Here's this week's evidence checklist and reflection. It's been a full, tender week — plans changed, ideas grew quieter and warmer, and small acts of advocacy continued behind the scenes. As always, progress isn't always loud. Section 1 🚶 Volunteering — Walk for Autism Evidence:   This week's advocacy and visibility work for Walk for Autism: Fundraising link posted on the   No. 6 One Stop Shop Facebook group   to reach a wider local audience. Used the   @highlight   feature to boost the post's reach and engagement. Section 2 🌿 Fitness — Nature Walk Evidence: Pictures of walk around the Scottish Bird Gardens in Lauder. Section 3 📖 Hobby — The Digital Parish & Daily Office Activity Daily prayer using the   Northumbria Community Office , with reflections on faith and life on this blog. This week also ...

🚶 1. Volunteering — Walk for Autism This week's volunteering evidence centres on the Walk for Autism project. Preparations are taking shape and I'm looking forward to getting out there during the actual walk week.  🌿 2. Fitness — Nature Walk Fitness this week came in the form of a nature walks. Getting outside into natural surroundings — whether spotting birds, photographing trees, or simply walking the path — is a meaningful and grounding way to stay active.  🙏 3. Hobby — The Digital Parish & Simply Fellowship: This has been the biggest and most exciting area of growth this week. What began as a personal spiritual practice has evolved into something genuinely significant. Daily Office & Blog: Daily prayer continues using the Northumbria Community Office, with other faith based reflections documented here on the blog. This consistent practice forms the spiritual foundation of everything else in this section. Simply Fellowship — A New Visio...