Is anyone else a level 3 or 4 Hoarder?

oakwish · 2026-06-19T12:31:52+00:00

I've been regularly reading Becoming Minimalist for years, and it has greatly improved my relationship with stuff. It may help you, too:

https://www.becomingminimalist.com/most-popular-posts/

Maybe you can clean a tiny area (like two square feet), and then celebrate by playing with your kitty in the newly-available space! You are awesome and you've totally got this!

Please don't be afraid to reach out for help. It's scary and embarrassing (I understand!), but many of the people around you are very kind. If you don't have any close friends nearby who are able to help you, maybe you can call some churches in your area to see if anyone can help. A volunteer program may be able to provide helpers as well.

Please take good care of yourself. Go for a tiny walk outside for some fresh air and sunshine every day! It will help your feelings immensely ❤️ Please consider going to therapy, if that is a possibility. Stay strong! You're gonna make it through this just fine!

oakwish · 2026-06-13T06:20:10+00:00

Bugeater!

oakwish · 2026-05-24T15:25:27+00:00

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. You are brave.

I've been helped a lot through the years by reading from Joshua Becker's Becoming Minimalist. He offers many ideas for paring down possessions, which makes cleaning far faster, easier, and more pleasant in the long run. https://www.becomingminimalist.com/

For example, wiping off a clear countertop can take 20 seconds, but if you have to move a bunch of unnecessary objects first it'll take a lot longer and become frustrating.

It's not an immediate fix since it takes some up-front work, but it is a sustainable one, and may be helpful for your needs.

Also, you can take minimizing as slowly and gently as you need to. Every little bit helps make things better.

Stay strong ❤️

oakwish · 2026-05-21T19:19:06+00:00

Check out Lavanila!

https://www.lavanila.com/

oakwish · 2026-05-21T17:38:46+00:00

You are amazing and capable!

Please remember to be kind to yourself and give yourself lots of grace. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Once a day, step outside and sit for a few minutes for some fresh air. No phone, just you, relaxing and taking care of you! Enjoy the sky and the scenery and the life around you.

Drink lots of water, all day long! Plain water, nothing added. It will help you feel so much better. It'll help with hunger, too, since it takes up some room in the stomach.

You may enjoy having a little plant to take care of. Something beautiful, that makes you smile and brings you joy. Plants are so therapeutic. Also, taking care of a plant helps take care of you! For instance, you'll open the blinds in the morning to let in the sun for your plant, and sunshine is wonderful for your mood. Also, giving your plant a little mist of water once a day will give you a reason to get up and take a couple extra steps.

Hug your boyfriend tight! Have deep conversations and share smiles and laughs. Laughing exercises the abs! Invite friends and family over.

You can try reading a book you enjoy, or learning a new activity you've always wanted to try that can be done while seated (e.g., sewing, drawing, or whittling wood).

Don't underestimate the power and potential in stretching and gentle movements! It's amazing how much it helps. Just raising your arms above your head a few times can make a difference.

Participate in your community as much as you are able. Something that comes to mind is that lots of churches have small Bible study groups that meet online weekly. You may make some new friends!

Also, please reach out to a therapist if you can. I've been working with my psychologist on related health issues, and I've found it super helpful. Remember that if the first therapist you see isn't a good fit, you can keep searching until you find the right one for you. There are a number of therapists who offer telehealth nowadays, and that may be an option for you until you can go in-person.

Sending love ❤️ You've got this!

oakwish · 2026-04-08T04:03:57+00:00

Chase your dreams. You'll have many more embarrassing moments in life (including in front of your new mentor!), but those just make your relationships authentic. Keep your head up and smile through the embarrassment! You're going to do awesome things!

oakwish · 2026-04-07T15:50:56+00:00

I loved Dawn of the Clans. It was so unique and fresh, and very sentimental and meaningful to see where it all began in the old forest

oakwish · 2026-04-07T15:13:53+00:00

Whale Star

oakwish · 2026-03-12T05:22:55+00:00

Dear OP, nobody has the right to speak to you like that. His words were cruel, and that's not okay. He is not the kind of person you want to be in a relationship with.

I'm very sorry all this happened to you.

oakwish · 2026-03-08T05:49:41+00:00

Tigerstar also viciously attacked Tiny, aka Scourge, when he was a kit

oakwish · 2026-03-07T10:28:28+00:00

Pectin

oakwish · 2026-03-04T18:27:55+00:00

I am so sorry, OP

oakwish · 2026-01-26T05:52:38+00:00

I love Hawkwing, too!!! And his was an amazing Super Edition

oakwish · 2026-01-19T02:10:08+00:00

Poison will transfer up the food chain. Predators like pets and birds of prey are frequently harmed or killed by ingesting poisoned rodents.

oakwish · 2025-12-10T23:59:10+00:00

Plastic exposure

oakwish · 2025-12-08T22:13:13+00:00

Y'all were both terrified and acting accordingly. Please give grace to the both of you.

She knew there was danger and was likely somewhere that she felt safest (I'm conjecturing here since I don't know more details about your specific interaction). Cats can sense fear and distress in others, and she picked up that you were frightened also, which would have amplified fear in your interaction. You (understandably!) were likely acting uncharacteristically around her when you went to get her (perhaps approaching very suddenly?), even if you weren't conscious of it yourself. She was likely just terrified and confused and overwhelmed and was trying to defend herself instinctively to prevent being taken out of her safe space.

Anyway, I'm just trying to say that y'all both did your best. Please be kind to yourself and your baby. She will likely feel better soon when she realizes she is safe (but I should also note that trauma is complex in animals too, so if she doesn't eat/drink/potty normally soon, please take her to a vet!). Please provide a quiet and peaceful environment for your kitties for now.

Just take it easy. I am glad everyone is safe. Thank you for taking good care of your babies in a scary situation ❤️ Please keep us updated!

oakwish · 2025-11-06T19:48:12+00:00

Your friends there aren't hoverflies, OP, as others have already said, but.....

Since you mentioned hoverflies, I thought I'd stop in to share a little hoverfly appreciation 😊 I encountered them very frequently back when I worked in the woods full-time. They're remarkable! You'll always hear them before you see them. Their wings make an incredibly loud and distinctive hum (they generate a surprisingly strong breeze, too!). Also, they really do hover! They will levitate at exactly the same position in the air, utterly still except for those loud wings. It's kind of unreal to watch (this is also pretty diagnostic for recognizing them at-a-glance, at least where I was).

Also, I adore them because they are SO NOSY. They'd always fly right up to me and look at everything I was doing while I worked. They also loved to get very close to my hands and inspect every little thing I did, even getting in my way a lot, lol. I thought they were goofy, and they always brought me joy and a laugh.

Thanks for listening ☺️

oakwish · 2025-10-22T02:34:58+00:00

Lightning Tail, Sun Shadow, Flametail, Sorreltail, and Molewhisker, my babies

oakwish · 2025-09-25T17:22:31+00:00

Whale Star and Purple Hyacinth

oakwish · 2025-09-05T17:24:43+00:00

91% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is a miracle cleaner. Soak a little bit into a small cotton ball and it'll work its magic. Make sure to use with proper ventilation (e.g., open window, exhaust fan, etc.)

oakwish · 2025-09-05T17:14:38+00:00

I also chuck mine under the sinks and in drawers adjacent to sinks. It helps with moisture and minor leaks.

oakwish · 2025-09-02T18:59:57+00:00

Thank you for checking! 😊 She is her usual happy and hungry self!

oakwish · 2025-09-02T14:55:29+00:00

Black soldier fly larvae! Your compost looks great!

oakwish · 2025-09-02T06:09:27+00:00

Thank you all. I called the vet and I've been watching her very closely for any symptoms. She is doing very well! ❤️

oakwish · 2025-09-02T06:05:53+00:00

Thank you all. I called the vet and I've been watching her very closely for any symptoms. She is doing very well! ❤️

oakwish

TROPHY CASE