Am I a Closet Hoarder?

Back in December I had an ‘inside yard sale’ to get rid of most of my Pampered Chef items. I used to be a consultant so I had a ton of things that were large and never used. I shocked myself with just how much stuff I had and wondered how in the world I’d stored it all in my two bedroom apartment. (Huge thanks again to everyone who bought stuff and contributed to my PC Fund!).

I had started purging things in July when I applied for the Peace Corps – slowly going through drawers and cabinets. From July to December I took a couple of car loads of stuff to Goodwill.

In mid-January I decided to move out of my apartment (that I’d lived in for 18 years!) and move in with a friend who had space for me and my ‘stuff’. In a two-week time frame I packed everything I owned, took more stuff to Goodwill and threw out 30 bags of garbage. The packing process included piles (or areas really) of what I needed currently; what was going with me to Morocco; personal keepsakes to store at my moms; household items and keepsakes for my son; and yard sale stuff – which was basically everything that didn’t fit in one of the other categories.

On moving day my dad said ‘I’m glad we didn’t get a smaller truck’ to which I replied ‘I should have taken more to Goodwill’.

I have 4 large tubs of clothes and 2 of shoes I haven’t come to terms with parting with yet. This doesn’t include what’s hanging/sitting in my closet/ drawers right now. And don’t ask me about my scarves and jewelry. Oh vey!

I’m slowly going through photos and organizing them. I’ve managed to reduce my personal/important/legal papers to one small file box. I still have all of my son’s school papers/drawings to organize.

While the purging process is good for my soul and helps me question what’s truly important in life, it’s also made me wonder if I’m a closet hoarder?