I posted this exact same message under the 
previous thread, but I really don't want it to 
get lost up there.  I also initially posted 
anonymously, but after rethinking it, I don't see 
the point in taking my name off the letter.  (I 
feel kind of silly for admitting that I dealt 
with this addiction at one time! ^^;)  Although 
not everyone is going to agree with me (be nice 
in flaming!), if some of you out there can 
identify with this, it will be worth putting this 
on the line.  I'm not trying to sound preachy, 
but I do hope it will prod everyone struggling 
with this issue to think.

Original message---------

Most people think of addictions as only having to 
do with drugs, or alcohol, or some other physical 
dependency.  Most of us here know that it is not 
limited to that; in fact, I see people make jokes 
about their "cel addiction" all the time, and 
then laugh it off.  But it can become very 
serious!  After a certain point, your material 
possessions can become overwhelming, and they can 
start to own you.  It doesn't matter if you're a 
cel newbie or an old collector.

Ask yourself why you are collecting.  Are you 
doing it because you like the animation art?  
Probably yes.  Is it the thrill of the hunt?  
Partially, maybe.  But are you doing it because 
you find self-worth in how extensive your 
collection is?  Are you overly concerned about 
the level of respect you get from your collector 
peers?  Are you buying a cel just because you 
know other people will find it desirable, or 
because you want to display it on your webpage 
and make them jealous?  If you are doing these 
things for acceptance, or are feeling badly about 
others who seem to have more than you, check your 
desire to collect and do some serious thinking 
about why you do it.

Honestly, I reached that point some time ago.  I 
looked at the quality of my life and realized how 
far it had declined since I started collecting.  
I had no money, I was checking "Keep Track" 
several times a day, and I was getting almost no 
sleep.  Suddenly I realized that although I loved 
my cels, it wasn't worth my whole life!  I knew I 
needed to take a step back, but it wasn't so easy 
to do.  As a Christian, I had to bring this 
problem before God.  I know that everyone here 
does not share that belief, but praying about it 
and turning that problem over to Him was the only 
way I could break out of the addiction.

I still collect, and occasionally, I will still 
buy cels that sometimes are so expensive that my 
family has to question if I know what I'm doing.  
^^;  But I enjoy this hobby much more than I used 
to.  I love sharing my collection with friends, 
but it's not the all-consuming predator of my 
life that it used to be.  I don't find self worth 
in my collection, and to be honest, I can deal 
with loss or gain in the hobby much better than I 
used to be able to do.

The desire to own things (i.e., cels) is 
dangerous, because you can never have enough.  
You have to make sure that you're not misplacing 
that desire that really ought to be tied to 
something else.

End of soapbox!  I hope I didn't offend everybody 
here.  ^_-