On my recent trip home, I was the very last vehicle to be loaded on the ferry. As we were returning to our cars; a lady asked if she could take a photo of my bumper sticker.

I have had this sticker on for a couple of years, it says, “Hoarding Hurts” and www.childrenofhoarders.com. She mentioned that they were “recovering junkers” and wanted the photo as “a joke” to show someone.

Since I had just come from a hoarded property, I wasn’t really in a “hoarding is a joke” frame of mind.

BUT the bumper sticker reminded me, that sometimes, we don’t have to say anything to make an impact. She took the photo, I sort of smiled, but let the moment pass.

Had I been a vehicle tucked into the middle of the ferry, it is likely no one would have seen the bumper sticker. Had I not been “running late” I may not have been in the position to see the setting sun on the aft part of the ferry.

Had an engine room employee not been running late, I may have missed that ferry altogether. For someone who enjoys being on time or “early,” running late isn’t a popular notion to me. In this case though, it seems like it was and is just the way it was supposed to be.

What I wonder is, how many others have seen the bumper sticker? Did it cause them to think or maybe just reflect on the damage that hoarding can cause?

My hope is that by becoming fearless about talking about hoarding, that we can and will change HOW we handle it.

How we approach the people struggling with hoarding. How we approach the folks like me who were #YLITH and who are now #AKOPTH.

I am glad to see more conversations and collaborations starting. I am glad to be a part of the solution for trauma reduction and healing of people and families, where possible. We can do more. We can do better.

Let’s keep the conversation going!

Tammi Moses is the founder and Chief Encouragement Officer of Homes Are For Living, LLC which is a Veteran Woman Owned & Operated business located in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, WA. She provides consultations, assessments and workshops on the issue of hoarding and inspiring others to take their adversity and use it for the greater good. She is the voice of #AKOPTH-Adult Kids of Parents That Hoard. You can connect with Tammi at homesareforliving@gmail.com on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.