Hoarder
A short story on how hoarding fuels my passion.
Since a little girl, I've always found interest in unwanted things. Forgotten things. Discarded things. Looking back, you could probably find some deep psychological reason as to why that was. You could say I found interest in these things because maybe I saw myself in them. That when I looked at this trash, it were as if I was looking in a mirror. Unwanted, but useful. You could tie the absence of my father and my constant failure of romantically keeping a boy in my life since the age of 5 was/is the reason I held these unwanted things so dear. Maybe one would say it's because I felt unwanted and I, as we all do, desired to be surrounded by things like me. Maybe it's because I wanted to make sure nothing and no one felt the feeling i have basked in my whole life. It would make sense. The way I overcompensate in relationships in efforts to make sure the other party stays. The way I try my hardest to do everything right so I'm seen as a good person so people can stay. The way I befriend more people than whose names I can remember so that someone always likes me which i turn would make sure at least one person stays. It's interesting to ponder on.
HOWEVER, my younger braid didn't come up with this profound explanation as to why this was. When I was 7 years old collecting box fulls of old worksheets, past church programs, PathMark circulars, and my family's scrap mail (which my older cousin later brought to her school and won a prize with for earth day), i just knew I didn't want to throw this stuff away. When I was 9 years old taking the cardboard boxes piled next to the recycle bin in my house to build a life size (well, life size for a child) refrigerator, I was just bored and wanted to make something. When I was 10 or 11 using my older brother's pairless sock as a dress for my Barbie doll, all I knew was that I didn't like the outfit my doll was wearing and I wanted to give her another one. My feeble mind couldn't understand the gravity of what I've always done and how that could and eventually did play a role in my development as a person. But my passion filled heart led me to the purpose I was destined to walk in.
Now, most people would consider me to be a hoarder. From paper to cardboard, plastic wrappers, dead batteries, used light bulbs, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, empty water bottles, egg cartons, fabric scraps, naked spools, old notebooks, broken bed frames, dingy sheets--even food scraps, I collect it all. I take joy in storing the things most people want to throw away. Rescuing these items from the hands of those who don’t find use or value in their existence. And transforming them into the beauty they were predestined to be. And that, my friend, not only makes me a superhero, but it makes me an artist.
The beautiful thing about artistry is that it's almost synonymous to innovation. Most of the time, the things we create are out of necessity. And artistry is simply that, but with some added love. Take soul food for example. Things like pig feet, turkey neck bones and chicken liver were and are very much engraved into the food culture of southern black Americans due to necessity. These parts of the animal that were normally thrown away, were all black people had access to post slavery and they had to use that for food. And they, in their pure artistry, found a way to make the food that no one desired, taste amazing. Even God, in his grandeur, when creating mankind did not use his already formed animals to create us humans, which would make sense, but he took the dirt of the earth, formed our bodies, and breathed life into us.
So, I draw from both my ancestors and creator in this journey of creativity. That as I take the seemingly useless trash I come across, I then form it into a beautiful, cultural, revolutionary masterpiece that I can call my own. In the image at the top of this story, I show mannequins, woven mats, and a caste of my face I created out of mostly recycled items. And I could not be more proud. As I've gotten older, I learned about the dangers of simply throwing things away. I learned how much waste we Americans, especially New Yorkers, contribute to landfills. And with that knowledge and realization of this problem and this need, I have gained the creativity to find ways to redirect this trash from my home to my hands to create art rather than going to landfills. With this newfound caution for the earth and the enhancement of my personal creativity, I have discovered the beauty of my hand's work and gazed upon some unknown masterpieces.
Masterpieces from unwanted things.
About the Creator
Diamond Pearl Jones
I’m an artist, I’m every sense of the word.
I can list the things I can do, but I’d rather allow my work to do the talking.
I hope you see it soon.
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Britain in Talks With NATO to Boost Arctic Security
The Arctic Is No Longer a Frozen Backwater For decades, the Arctic sat quietly on the margins of global politics—remote, frozen, and largely ignored. That era is over. Britain is now in talks with NATO to strengthen Arctic security, acknowledging growing risks posed by Russia and China. In a notable shift, London’s assessment aligns closely with warnings long emphasized by Donald Trump, particularly as he continues to express strategic interest in Greenland. What once sounded like an eccentric fixation has evolved into a serious geopolitical conversation. The Arctic is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most contested regions, and Britain is positioning itself to play a larger role. Why Britain Is Paying Attention Now Although the UK is not an Arctic nation, it is an Arctic-adjacent power with significant strategic interests. British officials increasingly view the High North as critical to national and allied security. Melting ice is opening new shipping routes, exposing untapped natural resources, and making military movement easier than ever before. Britain’s talks with NATO focus on intelligence sharing, joint exercises, surveillance capabilities, and protecting undersea infrastructure such as communication cables and energy pipelines. These are not abstract concerns. Any disruption in the Arctic could have immediate consequences for European security and global trade. In short, what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. Russia’s Expanding Arctic Footprint Russia is the dominant military power in the Arctic, and it is not slowing down. Moscow has reopened Soviet-era bases, deployed advanced missile systems, expanded its icebreaker fleet, and increased patrols across the region. The Arctic coastline represents a core part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent, making it strategically vital to the Kremlin. From NATO’s perspective, this military buildup creates both risk and uncertainty. Britain, which has long been vocal about Russian aggression—from Ukraine to cyber warfare—sees the Arctic as another front where deterrence must be strengthened before tensions spiral. The concern is not necessarily an immediate conflict, but miscalculation. In a region with harsh conditions and limited communication infrastructure, even minor incidents could escalate rapidly. China’s Quiet but Steady Arctic Ambitions While Russia’s presence is overt, China’s Arctic strategy is more subtle—and equally concerning to Western planners. Beijing calls itself a “near-Arctic state,” a label that has raised eyebrows in Europe and North America. Through investments, research stations, and partnerships, China is laying the groundwork for long-term influence. Britain shares NATO’s concern that China could use civilian projects for dual-use purposes, blending scientific research with intelligence gathering and infrastructure control. As Arctic shipping routes become commercially viable, China’s interest in controlling parts of the supply chain only grows. London’s alignment with these concerns reflects a broader shift in UK foreign policy: China is no longer viewed solely as an economic partner, but as a strategic competitor. Trump, Greenland, and Strategic Reality Donald Trump’s repeated interest in Greenland—most famously his suggestion that the United States should buy it—was widely mocked at the time. Yet behind the headlines was a strategic logic that many Western governments now openly acknowledge. Greenland sits at the heart of the Arctic, hosting vital air and naval routes between North America and Europe. It is also rich in rare earth minerals critical for modern technology and defense systems. As ice recedes, Greenland’s strategic value only increases. Britain’s current position, which aligns with Trump’s warnings about Arctic vulnerabilities, shows how quickly political perceptions can change. What once seemed unconventional now appears prescient. NATO’s Arctic Awakening NATO has traditionally focused on Eastern Europe and the North Atlantic. The Arctic, despite its importance, received less coordinated attention. That is changing. Britain’s talks with NATO reflect a broader alliance effort to integrate Arctic defense into its core strategy. This includes: Increased joint military exercises in cold-weather environments Enhanced monitoring of Russian and Chinese activity Strengthening cooperation with Arctic nations like Norway, Canada, and Denmark Protecting critical undersea and satellite infrastructure For Britain, this is also about credibility. As a leading NATO member and a key military power, the UK wants to demonstrate that it can contribute meaningfully beyond its immediate geography. Climate Change as a Security Multiplier One of the most striking aspects of Arctic security is how closely it is tied to climate change. Melting ice is not just an environmental issue—it is a strategic one. New sea lanes shorten travel between Asia and Europe, while access to oil, gas, and minerals becomes easier. This transformation increases competition and reduces natural barriers that once limited military movement. Britain’s involvement reflects recognition that climate-driven changes are reshaping the security landscape faster than traditional institutions were designed to handle. In this sense, Arctic security is a preview of future global challenges where environmental change and geopolitics collide. Domestic and Diplomatic Balancing Acts Britain’s Arctic engagement is not without challenges. Increased military involvement raises questions about defense spending, priorities, and escalation risks. Diplomatically, London must balance deterrence with dialogue, avoiding actions that could unnecessarily provoke Russia while still protecting allied interests. There is also the question of public awareness. Arctic security lacks the visibility of conflicts like Ukraine, making it harder to sustain political attention. Yet policymakers increasingly argue that prevention is cheaper—and safer—than crisis response. What This Means Going Forward Britain’s talks with NATO mark an important shift in how the Arctic is viewed: not as a distant frontier, but as a central arena in 21st-century security. Agreement with Trump-era assessments on Russia, China, and Greenland underscores how geopolitical realities can outlast political controversies. As competition intensifies, the Arctic will likely become a testing ground for cooperation, deterrence, and strategic foresight. Britain’s involvement signals that mid-sized powers are no longer content to watch from the sidelines. Final Thoughts The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth—and so are the geopolitical tensions surrounding it. Britain’s move to boost Arctic security with NATO reflects a growing consensus that ignoring the High North is no longer an option. Whether driven by Russia’s militarization, China’s quiet expansion, or lessons drawn from Trump’s blunt warnings, one truth stands out: the future of global security may well be shaped at the top of the world, where ice, ambition, and power now intersect.
By Muhammad Hassan2 days ago in Earth
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