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Post by seashell on May 29, 2012 9:25:25 GMT -5
Thank you, Lioness. If you can do that much, surely I can do a few minutes a day.
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Post by tangerine on May 29, 2012 9:44:58 GMT -5
Thank you for your story! Very impressive and inspirational!
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Post by ccd on May 29, 2012 9:54:56 GMT -5
Thank you so much for your story.
I tend to forget that those of you on this board who have your homes (and your lives) under control were once in bad shape, also.
It's a good reminder to me that if I want results I, too, need to make the commitment.
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on May 29, 2012 10:17:55 GMT -5
You are my hero! I've watched Hoarders,, Hoarding Buried Alive, Clean Sweep, all those shows.Where the person moves out, stands by and relaxes while a crew comes in and deals with The Hoard, then clean and paint and surprise the person with their beautiful new home!. I've been waiting for the story of one person who did it all alone, all by themself. Yes you had a paid helper. But you meet my definition of a hero!
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Post by messymommy on May 29, 2012 10:51:04 GMT -5
Thank you for opening yourself to share your honest journey out of squalor. I WISH I had read this years ago, when I was first trying to get cleaned up. I think I wouldn't have been in such a panic every time i would back slide a little. It makes me smile to think of all the people you will help, now and for years to come, by sharing your story.
I hope everyone takes away from this a) there is no single RIGHT method that works for everyone and it may take you a while to figure out what works for you, and b) keep trying, even if you have tried and failed before.
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Post by moonglow on May 29, 2012 11:13:02 GMT -5
Lioness, thank you so much for sharing your story. You are an inspiration and a great asset to the community!
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Post by mouseanne on May 29, 2012 16:49:28 GMT -5
Beloved Miss Lion! If you paid your helper for 980 hours, you also worked 980 hours, plus your extra 200 hours. I make it 2160 hours.  |
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Post by crazycatlady on Jun 23, 2012 8:32:01 GMT -5
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Post by PaperGrace on Jun 23, 2012 9:57:31 GMT -5
 Wow Lioness. Thank you so much for sharing that with us. I'm still absorbing it all. Just, wow. 
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Post by Freedom on Jun 23, 2012 13:25:48 GMT -5
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Post by catcat on Jun 23, 2012 15:26:03 GMT -5
Dear Lioness, Thank you for sharing your wonderful story. I am having a hard time & need the inspiration.
Blessings to you, catcat
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Post by Ally on Jun 23, 2012 15:43:32 GMT -5
Lioness,
I have a question for you.
How did you go about finding a "helper"?
Did you look in the paper?
Was it word of mouth?
Was it someone you already knew? A relative?
Ally
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jun 23, 2012 17:38:51 GMT -5
Lioness,
I have a question for you.
How did you go about finding a "helper"?
Did you look in the paper?
Was it word of mouth?
Was it someone you already knew? A relative?
Ally When I first met Ms.XYZ, I admired her integrity as a human being and wanted her to be my 12step sponsor, but she wasn't available for that then. It turns out that Ms.XYZ was both a professional organizer and a professional housecleaner -- but I never knew because we had never discussed career stuff. Meanwhile, I did find someone else to be my sponsor. I told my sponsor I needed help with unhoarding but was afraid to hire anyone because I had trust issues. My sponsor said, well you know ... Ms.XYZ does that work. I was stunned. I had no idea. Ms.XYZ was someone I already trusted! I immediately called and hired her. And we began work a few days later. Here is how I worked with her: takeonestepatatime.proboards.com/thread/16916 |
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Post by misssue on Jun 23, 2012 17:55:56 GMT -5
This is very encouraging and you have my heartlfelt WAY TO GO! I believe that for so many of us, an example of someone who did do it, and did it over a time period is the way for many of us. So many people say things to people in our situations, like just do one day at a time.. not realizing that this is not the way it is going to go, even with help. The media attention and shows have their place, but imagine the 100's hours and dialogues that went on in a half hour show.. it takes hard work and the willingness to ask for help if you need it, and do it.
I enjoy reading all the "stories" and yours does spur me and I am sure others onward. Thanks!
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Post by messyme on Jun 23, 2012 18:25:55 GMT -5
Paying my helper cost me a TON of money. But I considered this to be like a drug addict going to inpatient rehab for a month or two. It costs a ton -- but it was necessary for ME ... to do it this way ... in order to have a CLEAN base to stay clean from. It is worth it to me ... to be "SQUOBER". (sober from squalor) I wish I had had been bold enough to toss faster. But I wasn't. So I spent more time, energy, and money to do it perfectionistically. I have kind of an impossible question for you, Lion -- what would you have done if you didn't have the time and money do get out of squalor the way you did? Reading this post is very inspiring -- you worked SO hard! And obviously it was worth it, and it was the best thing for you to do, and you obviously knew yourself and what you needed because your hard work really paid off! I keep thinking that I'll make time and that I'll get out of this eventually -- but in 10+ years, it hasn't happened yet!  I think about that saying -- "if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you always got". I keep trying, but really, I'm not doing anything different! So I'm trying to be optimistic, and your posts are very inspiring  but I'm not sure what else to do. Like you mentioned in your post -- I feel as if, because both my personality/mental state and the state of my house, I need the equivalent of "inpatient rehab" to work my way out of this mess. I don't consider myself a hoarder; or if so, a very mild hoarder, and I feel as if I could work on this issue quite easily. I feel as if, if I could get my house clutter-free and well-organized and develop some good habits, I would do well with maintenance. It's the getting rid of thousands and thousands of items (incl. paper) and trying to organize and maintain it all while I'm going that's difficult for me. I don't have very much time or money though, so I just keep plugging along. But if I really wanted to, with drastic changes in my lifestyle for the next couple of months (and lots of financial and other consequences, and asking a lot from my parents, ex: watching the kids for long periods of time), I could maybe take some desperate measures. But, before that, which I may have to resort to -- I'm wondering if there is another way for someone like me to do this? So this is where my impossible question comes from -- looking back on your journey, do you think that there would have been alternatives to your "inpatient rehab", or do you think that, for you, that was the only way to go? |
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