I sometimes catch an episode of hoarders or some such show. My first reaction is why and how do individuals wind up in these circumstances? I have been doing some sincere thinking on these questions and have come up with some insights as to the answer to these questions.
I doubt very much that someone who finds themselves buried under a pile of stuff set out to be a hoarder. It seems to happen in stages from my observation. First, you want to have what you need, then things that make your daily existence more enjoyable, things you want.
If you have ever helped someone pack to move you can understand some of the motivation behind holding on to stuff. Some people are adamant about taking as much stuff as possible with them, not as much of an issue if they are moving to a larger place, but if they are downsizing it's another story.
I've never been too big on accumulating, although there is one exception, books, all types of books, all through my life.
First, I would save all the books I read, then it grew to books I would find at our church's semi-annual rummage sale. As I was in charge of locking up said church, I would get first look on the 3 nights they were setting up. Then I started rescuing books from the side of the road. And since moving down here I discovered the free little libraries.
But each move brought a thinning of my collection. I even had to drop off some at Goodwill in the middle of the night when they weren't accepting books.
After my divorce, I filled the back of my SUV, seats down, with books that I sold at flea markets and thrift stores on my way south.
So I'm guilty of hoarding books and have a new understanding of what can happen by accumulating too much.
Thanks for listening. God bless.
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