I make A LOT of smoothies. 

(Well, one a day, but 356 smoothies qualify as a lot—no smoothies on significant holidays or some Sundays for egg-related reasons.)

Ooof, I've already digressed, and we are only 12 seconds into it. 

My point is this: 

While making my 356 smoothies, I've blended roughly eleventy billion strawberries, more than my fair share of bananas, and all the blueberries our local Safeway can supply. While preparing these smoothies, I choose the "bad" fruit first, leaving the pristine straight-A, overachieving students of fruit for another day. 

My rationale for this daily decision is that if I don't use the battered and bruised fruit first, it will end up as putrid frothy green-bin wine in the coming days.
In contrast, the fruit that got braces attended band camp AND played sports will still likely be good for a few more days.

But here's the rub. 

I'm NEVER using the best fruit available. 

I probably couldn't tell the difference between a grade A or C smoothie, but I know. I know I'm choosing to cut soft brown spots from strawberries daily.

Why do we care about semi-fretted fruit?

Because I feel like a metaphor for life lies in the thin white spiderweb-like molds sprouting in the bottom left corner of the green pressed paper strawberry carton. 

I've noticed that I do the same thing with other things, BUT there is sincerely NO good reason for it. 

Maybe you do it too?

I have an irrationally hard time using new brushes. It does not matter the cost of the brush, or if it came from the hardware store or the art store, I buy them and then let them sit in perfect condition for a very long time. And it has held me back from making the best art I can. 

I have evidence. 

I hoard brushes. 
-until I absolutely have no other option but to use them.

I hoard my Audible.com credits. 

-to the point of losing them when they expire. 

I hoard the last cookie in the package. 

-until I can buy more. More often than not, it goes stale before I get to it.

In these areas, I have a scarcity mindset (The idea that there will not be enough or more available, ever.) that has taken hold deep in the folds of my melted traffic cone. Presumably, we all tend to hoard things for various reasons.

With the awareness of these tendencies, I've created some rules to overcome my hoarding tendencies.

New brushes - 

I rip off the plastic and plunge them into the paint straight away. All of them at the same time. Just GO!!! Once they are dirty, they can be used. 

I can't tell you how this makes sense, but it works.

Audible credits -

One day a month, I have data cleaning scheduled. I delete photos and other extra data. During this time, I also look at my Audible account and buy a new book or something from my favs list.

The end of the cookie bag - 

I ask Matt to bring me a snack. He has zero qualms about ending a snack bag.
None!

Ultimately, sometimes using the semi-rotted fruit makes sense not to create waste where none needs to be. Still, there is also value in recognizing when we are holding ourselves back from greatness/growth due to old habits and mindsets that no longer make sense, even if they did once before. 

Do you hoard art supplies or other things? If so, how do you overcome these tendencies? What rules have you made for yourself?