<p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmeBqmw481EkXh5Vyuv2e5BfkcAwyEwcUVvqzNxpVYxrtJ/stuff.png/</center></p>
<p><center>How do we come to accumulate so much stuff?</center></p>  

I think that there are 2 types of accumulators.  The first type is someone that attaches an item to an experience and it makes them happy.  I believe the second type is someone that likes to shop and build up an inventory of all sorts of stuff for the future.  I know coupon clippers that grab stuff on sale and store it for future use.  This could be a way to relieve tension or maybe some people are getting ready for the apocalypse.  
<p><center>Attachment to Stuff</center></p>
I think the attachment level is what separates collecting for fun with accumulating and hoarding.  If you are emotionally attached to something because you really like it, that seems normal but if you*cannot*live without that thing, then I believe you may be dealing with something bigger.  I used to feel that I collected too much.  
I had things as mundane as little rocks that I thought were magical so I kept them in a secret jewellery box. I still have some of those rocks. I think it's time to give them back to the earth and let go.  It's hard.  I am gonna have a hard time with some things.  I do like a challenge though. 

I think the key when deciding what to keep and what to give away is to not be tempted to fill the void after I dispose of that piece of memorabilia.  I may have a space on the wall where I removed a piece of my son's grade 2 art and instead of crying about it,  I experienced a great feeling when I decided I would fill up a box with all of the kid's gifts and art and let them enjoy those things as I did.  They can pass them along to their own kids.  Voila! I just got rid of another box and I don't feel so bad. 
<p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmP3Q61rLQNPK3gAkPjswyXrSpXYweiU5GoxMfNaXJUS6a/box%20of%20kids%20stuff.jpg</center></p>  
I knew long ago that I would develop some sort of collecting lifestyle because that is all that I saw.  I grew up in a very busy home. When I say "busy" I mean cluttered.  My dad is somewhat of a collector.  Actually, he is not a hoarder but he does have a home "museum" and I love to visit.  Each time I visit my dad, he makes a humorous comment about how he is leaving all of his shit to my brother and I and how much fun it will be to chronicle everything.  He is right about the chronicling.  I think my tiny affinity with collecting may hinder our ability to get rid of stuff.  His stuff is pretty special. He has things that I have looked at in awe for over 40 years.  Some of the things date back to the early 1900's. <p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmYzyR7VgMynhXbhqL3zLmFNFcYJ4VNYsiygcEKTaSpMnE/antiques.jpg</center></p>It is hard not to think those historical pieces would have some rich connection to my past.  Most of my family make fun of me because I am so old fashioned. They always say "How'd they do that back in the 1800's Shannon?" HAHA. I get it. I am a bit of a history lover.  I tend to live in the 70's. My favorite time!
I decided a few days ago that I have exactly the same issue as my dad.  I keep things that I think add value to my life.  I have small collections of bits and pieces of things from all over the world.  I have been to many different countries and one observation is that I can never find the little trinkets I bought in those places.  Guess where they are? Who the hell knows? Probably in a box in a cupboard.https://steemitimages.com/DQmeVaBRzSqKh49BAHd2EhMQbf1RDuMJeN8BPdY3hXUTYtB/DSCN0525.jpg Well, this isn't working for me anymore.  I decided that I need to find those trinkets that matter to me and put them all together on one shelf and enjoy them.  The ones that don't bring much emotion can be passed on to the next person.  I also decided that I no longer want to be tied down to the materialistic things of the past.  I mean, I want to keep a few things but I truly do not feel that it is necessary to keep my kids' baby teeth anymore! It has been 16 years since a kid in my home lost a tooth.
<p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmRcqnXw2cAN8aoHM4QgAQWuZDXE2h14yzWWtG3mJs3Y29/P5300838.jpg</center></p>
It is time to move forward and clean the clutter in my space which in turn will clean the clutter in my mind.  

I started weeding through my husband's tools and stuff as we are both sharing the same space for all of our hobbies, crafts and collectibles.  I noticed how many items were redundant.   I mean, do we need 500 zap straps?  I could argue yes, but maybe not 500.  Just keep 100 and send the rest out to the closest thrift store.  It isn't that I don't love tools but we have 3 hand sanders and only 1 piece of sandpaper.  I think it is imbalanced.  If we are going to make a difference, we have to get organized!  So, 2 sanders go and we buy some paper so it's all ready to use when we need it.  
https://steemitimages.com/DQmXKXwxN1rrqgMpMTKJsa25ADdetmCPgKKXbncJufSZoWG/clutter.jpg I have taken over a huge portion of the room with so much fabric, art supplies, photographs, and just odd shit that it will be tough for me to tackle in one day but I am doing it. I have given myself until tomorrow morning to make a serious dent in all rooms of the house but especially the spare room.  I have kept every button, bauble and bobbin for 30 years and each item that I have received went into a sort of brain rolodex. 
<p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmW4yWus4wkpksxdHHZBF6Vp1pmKwXUXBorU1t5g5U9sep/rolodex.jpg</center></p>
I know exactly how much pink ribbon is in the third drawer and how many spools of thread I own.

But imagine if you will that I take all of that extra stuff out of my head, out of my rolodex and clear my mind a bit.  I will have so much room in my head and in my house to create the projects I am really dying to get started.  I am a seamstress, an artist and I create with beads but I have no room...and I have no ideas.  Once it is organized, I can get the ideas flowing.  
My husband loves working with cedar as he is a logger.  He has no room. He can't find the saw. We moved and lost the sawhorses. Its a bit of a shit show.  
So, he is out of town for one night and won't he be surprised to come home to an organized tool room so his ideas can start flowing.
Well, I guess I better get to it...time is tickin' and I have a challenge ahead of me.
Have a great night everyone and if you are just waking up...Good Morning!

<p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmV4FwHeQJGJ8UCMDVDuaqTxKTWUg5VKZGv9pgaaPuxYTF/follow%20me.jpg</center></p>
<p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmW4b8jAMfaSUBJjN9MqTCzie53VmxEwvQDgS1BLHa6Rx8/namaste.jpg</center></p>
<p><center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmRnSGtuJy6wF2NJvQM39RZ5ueyx2ECUG6uyaY27MWirw2/shannon.jpg</center></p>
**the statue and my boys are my photos...the rest are from Google.**