Hoarding Challenge

My name is Marie and I am a Hoarder.

I know I'm not alone. Lots of people hoard things - maybe you call "collecting".

The dictionary defines HOARD this way:

"An accumulation of food, money, etc. stored away for future use."

Apparently in older people it's a sign of illness. I found this info on a website:

"Hoarding Fact Sheet

Hoarding is the excessive collection and retention of things or animals until they interfere with day-to-day functions such as home, health, family, work and social life. Severe hoarding causes safety and health hazards.

The collection of newspapers, magazines, old clothes and other items may cause fires while animal hoarding can spread contagious diseases. It is estimated that older adults represent a significant number of people who hoard.

Why do People Hoard?
The behavior of hoarding is seen in various illnesses. Because of that, it has been difficult to place in a diagnostic category. Time and/or age of onset are variable and the behavior differs from person to person.

Frequently, older adults have been found to hoard for the following reasons:
Items are perceived as valuable
items provide a source of security
Fear of forgetting or losing items
Constant need to collect and keep things
Obtaining love not found from people
Fear others will obtain their personal information
Physical limitations and frailty
Inability to organize
Self neglect
Stressful life events"

If you look around my place, specifically my stamping space, you'll see that I have a LOT of unused/unopened embellishments, ribbon and paper.

I don't want to run out of anything so I'll buy lots. Whenever I input a Stampin' Up! order I always add some paper. I go through my solid cardstock drawers and if I've got an opened package of something I will restock it "just in case".

As you know I LOVE TO SWAP. I'll join swaps whenever I feel like it and I host quite a few. I never have any trouble with running out of stuff because I have so much.

Right now I'm looking at 3 unopened packages of Confetti Tan paper that Stampin' Up! retired 2 years ago. What am I saving this for? Ok I know it's not going to go bad - but really why am I saving it??

I'm going to use as much as this paper (with matching envelopes) for my Kids' Father's Day Classes this week.

Really I'm taking it out of the drawer now....

Did I mention it's discontinued and I can't get it anymore? If I use it then it really will be gone...

On the bright side I'll have more room for new stuff!

I'm going to use it to make the Father's Day card. I'll post it later today!

For the sake of your mental health I challenge you to use some of your stuff that you have been hoarding!