Now that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day aka “The Holidays” have passed we seniors need to consider the cost as it pertains to how much stuff did we bring into the house. Now please understand I am trying to keep a sense of humor and do not wish to offend people who have a serious disorder as it relates to hoarding, being a pack rat, or being a messy person. It just came to my mind that “The Holidays” are just perfect for hoarders.
What are hoarders:
–keep objects with no apparent use
–keeping broken, torn, damaged items in the hope of restoring
–items are saved because someone can use them
–keeper of the family heirlooms, useless ones
–accepting clutter as normal
–save so much, one can not find what they need when they need it
–able to ignore rooms filling up with clutter
–items in rooms that do not belong there–ie. kids toys in kitchen, laundry on the bed
–keep materials to read later
–all flat surfaces are covered
–obesity, isolation, loneliness results of extreme clutter and messiness.
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So here’s why the holidays are such a delight for the hoarder. If our house is not presentable we just count on going to others parties and get ogethers. Now certainly there will be lots of left overs we can bring home in cottage cheese containers. Wow more plastic containers to add to our stack along with some plastic baggies. Certainly that extra food will help fill the already too full fridge.
Now for gifts. Receive a new set of something, we just have to keep the old. Yipee, more pans, lids, another set of clippers to keep as a back up. Who wouldn’t be proud to add another bottle of lotion and potion to the cupboards over flowing with every scent available. With luck a hoarder will receive more than one of the same gift. Don’t even think about kid’s toys. Of course the old broken ones can be fixed so just put them aside for now and we will get to them later. So the sweater and jeans don’t fit, save them and please don’t return them. Someday we might fit into them or at best someone can use them. Never mind that your Aunt gave you grandmothers set of dishes you always disliked. You can be the keeper of the family heirloom as you box it up and store it away in the closet of other unwanted items. Several of the gifts will look so neat sitting out on the shelf or counter, but where? It seems we already have most of the fat surfaces already covered but then what is one more candle or figurine
The holidays mean we have lots of cards to read later. Of course we save them and the envelopes as we need to remember these people next year. Then there are the receipes in the newspaper which we will clip later along with the home made gift ideas articles. Because we have been so busy we certainly have lots of reading set aside to get to when all calms down.
I would certainly be in error if I didn’t point out that we have lots of bows and wrapping paper to add to our collection hidden somewhere. Until we find that box, the new bows and wrappings can put in another box.
Best of all the holidays mean we can indulge in all the foods and drinks of the season. Woopee, more snacking to feed our depression as we look at the overwhelming mess accumulating. All those t.v. shows and magazine featurers of skinny people having a great party only make us want to eat some more as we drownd in the clutter.
Just when you thought I was finished, I think it wise to point out that the neighbors have thrown out some mighty fine things. They can be fixed and certainly someone can use them. And wow, just look at the cardboard boxes at the curb side. They would be great for packing and storing all the great stuff just added to our household.
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Panda picked the subject of hoaders at the holidays because it ALL seems to get out of hand during “The Holidays”. ……Not enough time, obligations we can’t keep, too many activities, too much expense and most of all just too much with which to deal. Again I hope my light hearted attitude toward the subject has not offended. Panda Lady just wants you to know you are not alone and there is a solution.
For more understanding on disposaphobia visit Mayo Clinic site. The subject of hoarders came to me after reading an article in the newspaper about hoarders being put on probation. Yes, the problem is a danger to their safety. I recently came across a book “It’s all Too Much” by Peter Walsh
star of TLC series “Clean Sweep” and began reading to help me understand the article. Everyone can find a little of themselves in the book and hopefully we never get to the level of the pictures listed in the opening paragraph.
Panda Lady
Panda Lady just took 4 bags to Goodwill, threw out your one-of-a-kind sock bag, disposed of old pans and unmatched lids, combined spice containers, and re-orgainized some shelves. Share your successes with the readers here. We can inspire each other.
Resources by Marla Cilley, The fly lady and Pam Young
Meet Catherine, a success story who offers assistance to hoarders and compulsive eaters on nurturing hope com
panda picks
Diane