Confession...

I seem to have developed a bad habit. It's been going on since August... and it's gotten to the point that I'm finding it difficult to control and contain. I just can't get enough, even though I try to tell myself to slow down.

I've been...hoarding... boxes. There. I've said it. It's out there and there's no denying it now. It started when I applied for a job back in August. I told myself to gather empty copy paper boxes from work whenever one was available. Box by box, they added up. I smiled when I thought about how prepared I would be when the time came to move. Now empty boxes are stacked in the garage, in my spare closet, and a few on my bedroom floor...even 2 more at work in my office!

It doesn't stop there, though. At work we've had a lot of people moving from one building to another and for weeks there were all these collapsed boxes stacked by the back door. I kept telling myself not to take them without asking ... I promise I didn't take any without permission, but when I got permission, oh joy! I took quite a few sturdy boxes! The collapsed ones take up even less space in the garage! More room for more boxes!

Tonight I actually eyed-up an empty box at my friends' house. A nice-sized amazon.com box was sitting near where I left my shoes and I wondered if they were going to use the box, and if not, could I have it? I got a small box from my mom the other day and was irritated that she covered the whole thing in so much packing tape that getting the box opened basically ruined it so that I couldn't use it! Dammit!

This problem of mine may have been going on for a long time. I just thought it was common sense to save the computer box. And the blender box. The humidifier box, the microwave box, the weed wacker box, the box from my cell phone, and even the tiny boxes from my jewelry.

But now I'm starting to wonder if I've always been a closeted box hoarder.