Firstly, they are both items that a lot of people have more of than they will ever use, or certainly all of my clients have a glut of one or the other. But there is so much more than this that they have in common…
They both give tactile pleasure. They just feel so lovely! The packaging of a set of pens or a new notebook, the box that those lovely clips come in. Ooh, you just want to buy them, even if you won’t use them! The same goes for makeup. Those brushes look gorgeous, the lipsticks have a lovely twist action and all of those eyeshadow look and feel wondrous in their packaging.
They also give positivity and the promise of something transformative: a notebook could be where you write your dreams which then come to reality. Maybe you’ll pen your first novel there? Makeup brings the chance of reinvention and glamour.
They both give the chance of control: a perfect pen line or a flawless lipstick application can change everything and make something from nothing.
Ultimately, people love beautiful things and I think this is why so many people have so much stationery and / or makeup. They are beautiful things, full of promise.
But if you are not using that promise, don’t let them clog up your life, share them with someone else and let them use that promise! Food banks, women’s refuges and Olio can take unused makeup and other cosmetic products. And charity shops or Olio will take your unused stationery.
See if you can weed down your collection of one or both. And if not, you know where we are to help you!