Things That People Use for Emotional Support in Times of Extreme Life Events, and What Purposes They Serve.

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Thesis: Things that people use for emotional support in times of extreme life events, and what purposes they serve. Why do people carry certain things? Soldiers, athletes, children and even abused individuals carry things be it tangible or emotional; but why? Some athletes carry things for good luck, soldiers carry mementos to keep their minds engaged to a specific occurrence from their past. The carrying of some things is apparent but others may require a certain discernment to understand what has caused the person to hold on to a certain object. For instance, my 10 year old niece that is roughly one year from a divorced family. She saw and heard things that her fragile mind didn’t need to contend with and now she has started to hold on to certain things; but, for what, security, identity, consistency? In the story, “The Things They Carried” (O'Brian) a platoon of several young soldiers fight in a war that they don’t understand and hold on to certain objects for some of the same reasons my niece did. Following orders; they endure physical and mental stress that would be unbearable in a normal situation. Three soldiers, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, Ted Lavender, and Kiowa, show how in the face of the horror of war, they cling to things that help them find comfort, peace of mind, bravery and something to fight for. I feel there are many things humans do to feel human in an inhuman experience. They carry things for survival of their physical and mental well being. Imagine a nine year old girl that loves to be outside, playing with pets and enjoying nature. She has a good relationship with friends her age, does above average in school and still has some trouble keeping her room clean; a pretty normal child. This normalcy is rearranged by a conversation from her father telling her that he hurt her mother real bad and there was blood. Soon there is

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