You’re staring at your display case—300 enamel pins arranged by color, theme, and acquisition date. Your partner says, “You haven’t worn a pin in eight months.” They’re right. The case is full. The closet has overflow boxes. Yet your hand trembles at the thought of listing even one on eBay. What if you need it … Read more
You spot the vintage camera at the flea market—its leather case cracked, lens cloudy—and your pulse quickens. You don’t need another. You have three others at home, all functional, all rarely used. Yet your hand reaches for your wallet before your brain can finish the sentence “this is irrational.” This is the collection instinct overriding … Read more
You stand at the craft store checkout with $87 worth of yarn you don’t remember picking up. The dopamine hit is immediate—those colors! that texture!—but by the time you’re home, guilt has settled like dust. You hide the receipt from your partner. You stash the yarn in the back of the closet. Your hobby, which … Read more