Jen

It’s been six months, and so far I’ve not gained a pound back. I just focus on daily small choices and try not to overdo it. But, being human, of course, at some point, we all will overdo once in a while (esp. around the holidays); and I’ve learned that that’s okay. We just get right back on that horse and keep galloping toward our goal and don’t look back and fret!
Jen

I visited the huge Sri Siva Vishnu (sp?) Temple that happened to be just two miles from me in Lanham, MD, and I happened to do it without even knowing on a day of the “puja” to Lord Vishnu. It was mostly my own curiosity about other religions and my feeling that there are many ways to the same God “force” that led me to do this on my own. I was one of the few non-Indians or non-Nelapese there, but it certainly was a wonderful spiritual feeling to connect with so many others and a learning experience for me. I met many wonderful, nice people who were welcoming and open to sharing their religion with me and made a couple of friends as well. I met two other Caucasians, one blonde middle-aged lady from Utah wearing a slightly traditional pantsuit with her Indian husband accompanying her and a gay male couple who had come to share in the festivities. It was very spiritual and very eye-opening, even though I wish I’d understood more and been able to translate better : ) Jen

To someone who does not have this problem, it may seem easy and like a joke, but I assure you it is not. I own so much stuff, and have boxes of it from over the years. I have been carrying around stuff from the past 10 years from place to place every time I move. I would even say that it’s part of the reason for my second divorce, because I kept saying and meaning to get rid of it all and I never did and my ex just got tired of my depression and of trying to help me with something I could never seem to accomplish.

I need sincere help from someone who has had and beat this problem. View my photos and you will get an idea, and yet over the course of the past two years, I’ve heaved out garbage bags and boxes of stuff—I recall selling at least 10 huge bags full of clothing and getting rid of boxes upon boxes of books, and still the clutter is here. It seems to actually deplete me, to take away from my life, and to cause me subconscious stress. Not to mention my car is just as bad as my living space. It causes a lot of embarrassment to have people over or have people ride in my car because of my pack rat syndrome.

I’ve even read books on it and books on reaching goals and beating procrastination. I’ve tried hard and many times to make a dent in it, but the problem is that there is SO much, that, at this point, it will really take another hand or two to help me with it. I’ve had a friend offer here and there, but it’s even too daunting for them. I am sanitary and do my dishes and such, but I keep skirting the real issue I don’t seem to be able to do anything about.

This is not a joke. It’s not funny, and I am slowly going crazy and hating myself for my inability to do anything to cure my problem. Please offer any advice or help if you can.

I’d even get a maid no matter the cost, but this is far from just needing a cleaning. It takes going through each and every thing—so much stuff; and it is just unmanageable. It keeps me tied to my past and bad memories and it keeps me having to step around everything to get around my small place.