Purgerer

Is that even a word?  Okay, we've all seen those "hoarding" shows on television. The media hype on the 'pyscological problem' it is and the horrors of mental/physical health and personal relationships it causes... well, imagine now,  the extreme opposite!  That's me!

My house has not been without a million labels in the past, although now that my kids are practically grown, they know better where I like to put things, and some labels have come down. I have labeled everything from dresser drawers to refrigerator shelves to socks. But more than just simple organizing techniques, it's the need to purge!

I find great satisfaction in pitching! Days that creep by without me purging something, leave me frustrated. Seriously! I begin to feel the angst of the overwhelming feeling of stuff! The feeling of my house caving in on me, it's stifling and the anxieties build fiercely. The refrigerator is always a quick fix, with boys, 'fridges are always cluttered.  Nothing irritates me more than to have two or three open bottles of ketchup!  On the other hand, nothing pleasures me more than condensing all those bottles together, and purging the bottles!  Same with cereal!, is it really necessary to have four boxes open all at once? Can we not just enjoy one or two, before opening the others? How about shampoo?  I now have four bottles in my shower and I feel aggravated that two of them are the same, why?  Why is that necessary?  I cannot understand the need to open everything and to have oodles of stuff just taking up space.

Every month I purge the bills I paid the month before, however I find myself not resisting the urge to do it before the next month comes.  Once I see it post to my account, I want to get rid of it.  Papers of all kinds just annoy my psyche in such a painful fashion.......I have called and taken my name off more mailing lists than anyone would expect, I opt for every 'paperless' statement/bill whenever I can, because I don't want to have papers to purge.  I throw away EVERYTHING that does not have an immediate use or significant value. I purge computer files, digital pictures, emails, I purge childrens clothing on an approximately two month rotation, dishes, utensils, paper files (which are very few), phone numbers from my cell, even kids! (kidding!!) I cannot just have 'stuff'.  I like things to be important, necessary.  Hanging on to old jars, magazines, clothes etc., seems to be without purpose for me and creates confusion.  I even purge at work, everything that is dirty/outdated/without purpose, gone!  It makes me happy and I feel more productive when I am surrounded with the things I feel are of importance. Plus, I like to know exactly what I've got and how much of it.

The joy it brings, the sense of accomplishment, the peace I get from simply purging is mindbogglingly superior, it's hard to know unless you are an extreme purger.