From a ‘thing in my life’ to ‘TIML’ to ‘timmle’.
I’ve often had to say that “I have to contend with a bipolar disorder” instead of saying “I have a bipolar disorder.” If I have this disorder, perhaps it will go away? It doesn’t work this way, though. If I have it, it’s unlikely to become lost.
However, a bipolar disorder is a ‘thing in my life’ – a timmle. “One of my timmles is a bipolar disorder.” Perhaps a pedant would object to “my thing in my life,” but I’d like the word ‘timmle’ to lose its literal origin and to become a regular word.
This new word is neutral. “Intelligence is a timmle that is a blessing. You may have this timmle, too.” Neither of us deserves intelligence. We were born with it just as I was born with a bipolar disorder. It is basically a ‘thing in our lives’.
A timmle may also be temporary. “The tire with a slow leak was a timmle until I bought a new one.”
The neologism came from an advertisement for a medication that I heard of. “Psoriasis was a thing in my life until I took this advertised medication.” I’d rather say that than “I am a psoriasis sufferer.” I’d much rather say ‘timmle’ than use bipolar as an adjective – “I am bipolar.” I myself have an extensively composite identity, and the mild bipolar symptoms are just a timmle since my medications reduce symptoms. Here again, “Medications are a timmle, probably for the rest of my life, though.”