Today I received an email from “Jenna” who is in middle school and is doing a research project on disorganization. Here is her email with the subject line: this iz really important i need this back before tomorrow!!
hi im a grade 8 student and im health we are doing this project and im doing organisation and i need some help. i wuz wondering if you could answer a few questions??
what happens to peoples emotions and mental health from not being organised?
what can these things lead to?
thank-you sooo much!
My reply was:
Disorganization primarily leads to stress. Stress can cause you to lose your temper with others, to forget things, to be irritable and to become depressed. Disorganization can be either visible – like having papers, clothes or stuff everywhere – what I call “visual clutter”. Or it can be less visible – like poor time management, tons of emails, or haphazard computer files. It can lead to people not wanting to work with you, depression, missed meetings, wasted time recreating things, spending of money because you buy something you already have, and loss of job opportunities.
Hmmm…some thoughts rolled through my head in this experience:
Things to ponder and watch what will happen as the different generations communicate!! Let me know your thoughts.
{ 4 comments }
Oh, Debbie, I don’t know HOW you resisted correcting this poor girl on her grammar, spelling, and lack of manners! Her email was appalling, even for an eighth grader! I don’t think I could have been as charitable as you were!
Debbie:
I was heart broken to see “Jenna’s” errors, both with spelling, grammar, punctuation and the question about the emotional side to being unorganized. All of these signs are symptoms of both Dyslexia and/or ADHD.
I test for Dyslexia, and these are very common problems that dyslexic people make. They often do not even know that they have dyslexia.
1/5th of the WORLD’s population is dyslexic; dyslexia is not a “disability” but a difference in the way a person’s brain is “wired” and how they learn. They are often very artistic or musically gifted, among other areas.
She needs more information on what dyslexia “looks” like. Please refer her to a website: http://www.BrightSolutions.us
I also have my website: WhatsGoingOnWithMyKid.com
Also, there will be a free seminar at Coast Hills Community Church on Sun. November 6th, from 2-5 pm featuring Susan Barton, an internationally known expert on dyslexia (and founder of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia). I would recommend that this young gal and her parents attend.
Jenna needs understanding and some very specific training to help her with her dyslexia – and yes, she will internalize your comments about her needs. Dyslexic people “compensate” often in the areas they struggle in, but need the tools that are available to help them.
I welcome you, as well as Jan Davis who wrote a previous comment, to attend the seminar on Nov. 6th. God made ALL of us different and for a very good reason. I would love to talk to anyone who needs more information.
It is time people recognize the “differences” in God’s children!
In His service,
Deborah Haag
(949) 489-9320
Debbie H:
Thanks for your perpective and information. The hard part these days is we don’t know whether this is the norm for this age group or if they have a problem. My teenage boys looked at this and saw nothing ‘wrong’. Yes, they saw the grammar errors but that is acceptable in their world. Glad I am not a teacher having to decipher what is going on! Many blessings in your efforts to help those will real needs – wherever, and whomever they may be!
Debbie,
My comment isn’t about the child, but about the insightfulness of the paragraph in italics in your response. I had to read it over several times, because it really covered the essence of why we need to be organized. The “less visible” results when listed like that are so powerful!
And even if we are mostly organized, we have all had times when unexpected life changes create disorganizatioin for awhile. (Like a new baby, new house, job change, etc). How great it feels when we dig out of that and get organized again!
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