I’m so excited to share this with you. Tedx has been one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had!
I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Forgive me! You’ve been so kind to follow and read my posts in the past. I’ve been busy. Not too busy for my readers; I deeply appreciate you. Just busy.
Last fall, I committed to speak at conferences in Washington State and California on the lasting effects of growing up with a parent who hoards (PWH). It was tough to speak on such a personal topic. Fortunately, I know you understand.
Before things with my PWH happened back in 2009 and our appearances on “Hoarders“, I had never done any public speaking. Sure, I had taken the required public speaking class in college, but I’d had no opportunity to put those experiences into use beyond my education. Now, I speak all the time. I’ve gotten opportunities to speak to many different groups: social workers, municipal employees and agencies, mental health providers, the community-at-large, and to magazine, TV news, and newspaper reporters.
But recently, I took on a new stage, literally, at TedxSpokane–‘Knowing It Again.’ How appropriate is that theme? So many people think they “get” hoarding, but so few really understand what it means to grow up with a hoarding parent (HP). Mistakenly, many people think it’s all about the stuff that filled our childhood homes.
Why did I decide to do this?
I did it for you in hopes you might have a voice. Additionally, I did it for your friends so that they make better understand what we’ve been through and are still dealing with. As well, I did this for your PWH that don’t yet recognize that there’s a problem and that they need help. Finally, I did it for our children because I believe that their generation can be better and healthier than we area.
Please feel free to share this. As far as I can tell, this is the first Ted Talk done specifically on hoarding. Our message needs to get out.
Not just my story.
Your story.
OUR STORIES.
Change begins with stories told and shared. Let’s start a movement!
Yours,
