Alright, folks, wanted to share a bit about the ongoing Lia situation. It’s been a journey, let me tell you. Not the scenic kind, more like wading through treacle uphill. But today, well, today felt a little different.
The Long Haul with Lia
For those who don’t know, I’ve been trying to help Lia, a dear old soul, with her… let’s call it ‘collection’. It’s a classic hoarding scenario, and it’s been going on for years, long before I stepped in. Her place was, and still largely is, a maze. You navigate, you don’t just walk. Safety was my biggest worry from day one. Still is, if I’m honest.
My involvement started pretty informally. Just checking in, you know? Then it became clear this was more than just a bit of clutter. It was heavy. Emotionally, physically. For her, mostly. And for anyone trying to help, it takes a toll.
My “Process” – If You Can Call It That
I wouldn’t say I have a foolproof method. It’s mostly been trial and error. Lots of talking. Cups of tea. More talking. Sometimes I felt like a broken record.
- Starting small: We’d try to tackle just one tiny corner, one bag of obvious trash. Even that could take hours, sometimes days of gentle persuasion.
- The emotional side: Every item has a story, a connection. It’s not just “junk” to Lia. Understanding that, or at least trying to, has been key. Patience is more than a virtue here; it’s a survival tool.
- Setbacks are normal: There have been days I’ve left feeling like we’ve gone backwards. It’s frustrating. You want to just get a skip and clear it all out, but that’s not how this works. Not if you want to keep the person on your side, or respect them at all.
I’ve tried different approaches. Sometimes just being there, listening. Other times, very gently suggesting, “Lia, what about this pile of old newspapers? Can we look through them?” It’s a dance, a really slow one.
So, The Update for Today
Right, the reason I’m writing this. Today, something shifted. It wasn’t a massive clear-out, no dramatic transformation. But Lia, on her own accord, pointed to a stack of old magazines – a huge stack, mind you – and said, “I think these can go.”
You have no idea. That’s a breakthrough. A small one, maybe, in the grand scheme of things, but for Lia, that was a big step. We actually managed to fill two whole recycling bags. She even helped sort them for a bit. Didn’t last long, she got tired, but she started it.
It wasn’t me pushing. It wasn’t me nagging. It came from her. That’s the bit that feels like a win. A tiny, flickering light, but a light nonetheless.
What Now?
Honestly, who knows? Tomorrow she might be back to not wanting to part with a single thing. That’s the nature of this beast. But today, there was progress. And I’ll take that. We just keep showing up, keep trying, keep being patient. One day, one bag, one magazine stack at a time. It’s slow, it’s hard, but moments like today remind you why you bother. It’s for Lia, at the end of the day. Just trying to help her find a bit more space, a bit more peace, in her own home.
So yeah, that’s the Lia hoarders update for today. A small step forward. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
