The Incurable Optimist (’DAJIANG’, Tourette’s Advocate)

Yes, today's episode is all about what it's like to live in China with Tourette syndrome (妥瑞症). But what it's really about is neurodiversity. Some people still have a defensive attitude towards those of us with mental and neurological conditions, treating them as victims deserving of our fear, pity or even derision. But Dajiang's story reminds us that we should instead focus on dignity, happiness, and mutual understanding.
 
This doesn't mean that all of us should celebrate our deficiencies, nor use them as excuses to avoid self-improvement. But at the same time, we don't need to 'see past' someone's disorders; we don't need to 'tolerate' someone's conditions. Listening to their stories and understanding their distinct points of view is not a sacrifice. It's a privilege. So a big thanks to Dajiang for being the last new guest of 2022, and ending the year on an uplifting note.
 
The episode also includes catch-up interviews with:
Michelle Qu from Season 02 Episode 20
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-20-michelle-qu
and
Sabrina Chen from Season 01 Episode 26
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-26-sabrina-chen

00:00 - Trailer & Intro
01:27 - Part 1
27:10 - Part 2
35:24 - Outro
38:27 - Catch-Up Interview [1]
44:15 - Catch-Up Interview [2]

Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-15-dajiang

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