I eventually realized that almost everyone has a hoarding habit.

Stay somewhere for more than three days, and things begin to quietly multiply. A few extra papers on the table, an extra cable in your bag, a “temporary” pile forming in the corner.

In your head, the same familiar reasons keep repeating: “I’ll need this someday.” “This could be a backup.” “It would be a waste to throw it away now.” And the strange part is when you actually need it, it’s never there. You turn the house upside down, question your life choices, and end up buying a new one anyway. Then, on a random day when you don’t need it at all, the original item reappears like a ghost, quietly mocking your past optimism.

We live in an era obsessed with “decluttering.” I do it too symbolically getting rid of a few things every year, just to feel like I’ve organized my life.

But I slowly realized that what’s truly difficult about decluttering isn’t throwing things away.

It’s daring to use them. Daring to wear the clothes you bought but kept waiting for the “right occasion.” Daring to use the things you invested time and care into, but kept saving for “later.” Daring to let your present self enjoy them first.

We often disguise hoarding as “preparing for the future.” But many times, it’s simply a reluctance to face one question: Do I really need this now? If the answer is no, there’s no need to plan for the future on its behalf. Let your future self decide when the time comes. By then, your taste may have changed. Your lifestyle may have shifted. You might no longer need the reasons you once held onto so tightly.

Hoarding is often not about lack but about a lack of trust in the present.

Having the courage to not keep what you don’t need right now is, in itself, a gentle form of faith in the future.



—— XC Scribbles · 壹佰零陸 CVI 📦