Spellebrity Interview!

Thanks to my amazing community, I was selected as the Four-Star Spellebrity for I-ASC’s Spelltember! This is a wonderful honor that I truly appreciate. I was interviewed by my hero Elizabeth Vosseller about my views on communication and inspiration.

The interview is posted here. Below is an excerpt:

“I find so much inspiration from so many. My mother is my most amazing source of strength and love! My late father was my biggest cheerleader, and his spirit keeps me feeling so loved. My older sister is my true ally and soulmate. My younger sister is my best friend and accomplice! They all inspire me with their love, determination, integrity, and joyful hearts.

“My friends are so inspiring, too. My Best Buddy showed me that I am worth befriending. She is so full of happiness and kindness! In my friends, I find truths that I previously had not believed: that people can learn to value me; that my existence is important; that friendship is a powerful thing. They inspire me with their openness and support.

“My community of spellers inspires me to be an advocate for us. We have so much to offer, yet so much to overcome. I am inspired by their stories and triumphs!”

It was wonderful to have a chance to share my views. You are all part of my inspiration!

Spellebration!

Wow! What an honor to be selected as a Spellebrity alongside these shining stars!

So many of you nominated me that I was selected as the Four Star Spellebrity! Thank you to my community for nominating me. I am so moved by this! It is my first time being recognized like this. It feels amazing!

Look at the Spellebrity profiles and look for more blog posts from us coming soon.

Thank you I-ASC for spellebrating us! We are a wonderful community thanks to you!

Garden Soup

This is my first created recipe. It is inspired by summer’s bounty. If you don’t have these vegetables, it is easy to substitute tomato and squash. I made this with my sister and it was so good!

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 Onion diced
5 cloves Garlic
~1 cup Red Bell Pepper diced
~1 cup Zucchini diced
1 ear Corn off cob
3 cups Broth
1 teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
~2 cups Arugula
1 stalk Celery

Steps

  1. Heat Olive Oil in a large pot
  2. Brown Onions
  3. Add Garlic and cook on medium heat for a few minutes
  4. Add the diced vegetables and cook until just browned
  5. Add broth and seasoning and simmer for 5 minutes
  6. Blend arugula and celery with 1/2 cup water
  7. Add arugula mix to soup. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  8. Enjoy with Salad and Garlic Bread!

Man Overboard

This is a poem I presented in July for International Association for Spelling as Communication‘s Neurolyrical Cafe open mic night. It is about disillusionment and conflict.

Man overboard by Danny Whitty
Farther than an isolated atoll,
Adrift alone.
Weakened and forgotten.
What am I?
What is this place?
What am I to do?
Adrift.
Alone.
Weak.
Forgotten.
You forgot me.

I Friend You

Written August 2020. I was inspired to write this after learning more about social media from my sisters.

I friend you by Danny Whitty

They do not really feel,
But instead of really feeling
Bow down to their egos.

Merely to scratch lightly
At the nagging itchy
Conscience.

Merely to display mediocre
Virtue to the world
In the screen.

They are thoughtless and
Without soul.
Riddled with self-centered aims.

Absorbed in a world
Where approval is easily bestowed
But asinine.

What can you do
To remain rooted?
Without pretense?

Be my friend
And I will be
Yours.

Body, Voice, Vision

I presented this at I-ASC‘s monthly Neurolyrical Cafe in August 2020. This has been on my mind a lot lately. It is a common feeling for autistics like me. Please try to understand.

Body, Voice, Vision by Danny Whitty

That is the boring
worry in my head.
That is the bland
issue on my mind.
That is the stressful
nagging thought that won’t leave.
What is my fate?
What is my future?
Where do I belong?

With my body that
won’t be in line with
my beautiful mind,
With my voice that
won’t speak my words,
With my vision that
sees too much.

What can I do?
am I of any value?
What is my chance
of being loved?

You protest that
I am so loved.
That I am special.
With all you say,
you try to show me
what I mean.

Yet I still feel
that I am alone.
So alone in this
Body,
Voice,
Vision.

While this ever-present,
ever-mounting bank of fog
rolls in over my budding thoughts.
What is my future?
with my body,
my voice,
my vision?

Salsa with Ease

This was written for the Cow Tipping Summer Writing Workshop earlier this summer, in about 10 minutes. The prompt was to write a humorous how-to article. I actually would love to do more like this.

HOW TO SALSA WITH EASE by Danny Whitty

When you salsa dance it is important to stare intensely into your partner’s eyes. Really get into it. Rarely look away. When you step on their toes, stare harder. Remain positive! When you are a really skilled dancer, you should stare without blinking. Even if it hurts. Never mind physical pain! It is part of the art of salsa.

Seaside Vigil

This poem was written for the Cow Tipping Summer Writing Workshop earlier this summer. It was written in 10 minutes, but I love how it turned out. It is about missing my dad.

Seaside Vigil by Danny Whitty

Walking on the sand I am at peace,
The saltwater puts me at ease.
Waves roaring in my ears,
It brings me to tears.
How will I survive the years
Without you here?
The saving grace is my dreams
Where we dance on moon beams,
Really dance our hearts out
Among the stars and clouds.
The same clouds I see while walking by the sea,
Falling in the water and allowing my soul free,
Doing a dance and a song for you and me
And waiting for eternity.

Yes you are so good

This was my first shared poem. It was inspired by the social unrest of this year. I hope that you all enjoy this poem. Nobody likes to be told to change but we all need to change. My poem is a call to all of us to be better.

Yes you are so good  by Danny Whitty

You are so good at lying to yourself about the world
You are so good at telling yourself that everything is fine
So good at finding excuses
But it is not the truth

So good at hiding from problems that you are unaware
So good at listening to voices that tell you it is ok
So good at hearing what you need to hear

You don’t hear me
You don’t see me for me
You don’t know me
You don’t care
You don’t ask if I want to be included
You don’t ask if I have feelings
You don’t care

I am calling you to care
I am calling you to come to my side
I am daring you to be a better person
I am daring you to be a stronger you

Yes you can be stronger
Yes you can be better
Yes you can do good things
Yes you can see the world for what it is
Yes you can change it
Yes you can think different
Yes you can be different
Yes you are so good

Yes you are good
Yes you are a human
Yes you are human

Yes you are humanity

Yes