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Category: #MFRWauthor

Clutter Me This

The difference between hoarding and collecting are three things I collect on a regular basis; socks, ink pens, and hotel keycards.  The pens get left or lost with the same frequency with which they are purchased. Same goes for the socks. Although I think the washer eats those most of the time. As for the keycards, they’re in a box. Not a very big box, but in a box with other mementos. So at what point could or would be considered hoarding?

 

If every available surface of my home contained a sock, pen, or keycard and I maintained an irrational attachment to the items.

 

One definition of hoarding, according to the Mayo Clinic, – is a persistent difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them  A person with hoarding disorder will experience actual stress when faced with throwing away any items, regardless of value.

 

Shows like ‘Hoarders’ and ‘Who Wants a Clean HOuse’ helped to bring this psychological disorder to light. I’m sure you know someone who claims tire “collection” of soda pop bottle caps and bent paper clips are the most valuable thing ever and have a meltdown when you clean up, or even mention throwing away their trash.

 

Collecting on the other hand, is done with the purpose of enjoyment, bragging rights, or profit.  Coins, stamps, baseball cards, and paintings come to mind when collection is mentioned. Many times the owner of those items look to trade, or sell these valuable items, but do not maintain more than a cursory attachment to the items.

 

Getting rid of an old sock, a busted pen, or a tattered keycard will not send me into a n anxiety attack. Now if you touch my stash of chocolate…well that’s a different story.

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Maple Tree, The Best Medicine, Lynn Chantale

The Best Medicine #MFRWauthor

Maple Tree, The Best Medicine, Lynn ChantaleWhen I saw this week’s prompt two things popped into my head. The movie The Wedding Ringer and a scene from Golden Girls. The first is the reception scene where everything goes wrong and the groomsmen are forced to break out their hidden talents which consist of one taking off his shirt to show off his physique, one dislocating his shoulder and another who can speak backward. In the second is where Blanche ties the stem of a cherry into a knot with her tongue.

 

Unfortunately, my odd talent is nowhere near as fascinating, hilarious or traumatizing as the ones mentioned. Two things, I can do is turn my tongue sideways, something I’ve been able to do since I was a kid and the other is puns. Puns are such a lost art form and a dying breed of humor. My dad and I will go back and forth with these until we run out or someone, usually, another family member, begs for mercy.

 

It starts off with a simple enough joke; Why did the maple tree cross the road?

Answer: I’ll go out on a limb and say it was the chicken’s day off. Or

The tree got in a sticky situation. Or

It needed to uproot itself. Or

Maybe it was being sapping and pining away. Or

it just had to leaf.

See how they just stick out for me or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Darn, I think I’m stumped now. Maybe I can pulp out one more. Whew, that last was a real ringer or knot.
 

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Seconds and Cents #MFRWauthor

What if time and money were not an issue? This is like asking what would one do if one won the jackpot in the lottery. The possibilities. For me, time isn’t an issue. There’s enough time in the day to do the things needed or which I like to do. However, if I had enough money to do what I wanted . . .  

 

I would travel on a regular basis. at least once a month or every other month to see my family in Michigan.

 

My family would be provided for, and those who have issues handling finances would have their bills paid and receive a stipend.

I’d build a house.

Clean up my credit.

 

But that’s easy and simple. To provide a legacy I would advocate for better services for mental health. This isn’t just a reference to someone dealing with #depression, #anxiety, personality disorders, or the like, but to anyone who needs a mental health break. This could be the family of special needs children, single parents overwhelmed with life, active service members and/or their families dealing with yet another assignment or deployment, children and adults suffering from #PTSD arising from abuse, neglect, bullying, or any other trauma.

 

I’d also like to provide a safe place for transient or the homeless. In SWFL there is a high population of both.

 

There’s a church in Columbus, OH, Church for All People, that provides an interesting and unique outreach. It’s more than providing a hot meal. This church has managed to provide clothing, housing. medical services, including medication, as well as food for no cost to those who truly need it. If money and time were no issue, that’s would I would do. 

 

#LynnChantale #Love #World #Hope

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