I Admit It- I Am A Hoarder

I have heard that the hardest part of beating an addiction is admitting that you have it. You must own it and then you can start working to control it. So I am here to announce that I have an addiction- hoarding. Yes, you may have seen people on tv as they are swallowed up by so many goods and material things that one wonders how they can function day to day. I am here to tell you that it is not easy. And I will explain…….

My hoarding started when I was very young. My parents let me soak myself in experiencing the arts through dance and art and painting. My father was an industrial arts teacher and my Saturdays were frequently spent at the school delving into the scrap bin to find my next creation. This was the initial spark- my first drink of creativity so to speak. And the hoarding grew…

I would help my dad with basic home remodeling as I got older and I marveled at the immediate satisfaction of painting an item be it a wall or a piece of furniture. He showed me how to sand, stain, and even paint a house (my summer job with him for years). So creativity began to become an important part of my life. I could not function without it. And the hoarding grew…

I am a mental hoarder. Sigh…The problem is I am running out of room. Just like the hoarders on tv, I don’t want to let go and anxiety rises when I think of ridding myself of my beloved project ideas.I collect them and even carry a little notebook to jot down the latest brainstorming that thunders in my head. But as soon as I put it to paper a new idea takes its place somewhere in my brain matter. I am driven to spend precious late night hours sipping the sweet intoxicating pictures on Pinterest never satisfied that I have had enough. And I gather and gather until at this point I believe my head may explode. And I make promises to myself that I know I will not keep. Tomorrow I will stop I say, full knowing that tomorrow will not change.

The effects of my mental hoarding are clearly evident when I enter Home Depot- well frankly any DIY, craft or hobby store will do. In the DIY store I linger at the paint samples…the possibilities sweep me off my feet, ok I admit I may also wander to the tile section as the glass tiles entice me like candy to a baby. My husband’s heart must sink when we enter and I grab a cart…I am sure of it. Let’s talk of  the craft or hobby store. They steal my time from me like a good book can. I have been known to walk in there in daylight and out in the dark. You know, like when you go to that late matinee movie and the shock of walking out into the world after you have been so lost in what was playing out in front of you for hours. Yes that is what I mean. Hubby doesn’t even venture into those places with me. Just too painful to watch I guess.

I believe my co-workers are suspect of something happening with me. I have been known to be a scatterbrain from time to time but as of late it has gotten out of control. I can’t hide it anymore. They politely smile and hand me what I misplaced, remind me of my appointments, and point me to my car at the end of the day. My multi-tasking abilities are beyond strained to say the least and I fear an intervention may be planned.

Well, I have taken the first step in admitting the problem. I am proud of myself. I can beat this. But tomorrow I have some projects to finish…new ones on the drawing board and Christmas isn’t that far away. Have you seen what all you can do with mason jars?