Posted by Kerri Rodley in Declutter Your Life, Simplify Your Life | 5 Comments
5 top tips to letting go of sentimental items
Love letters - keep or toss?
I was watching a fabulous show on Foxtel last night called Real Simple, Real Life (based on my favourite magazine Real Simple in the States). They were going through a woman’s treasure chest (it literally was a chest) helping her to sort through all her sentimental items from the past 50 years. It really got me thinking – why do we have so many emotions tied to “things”?
I love another blog called Small Notebook and what they said on this topic really resonated with me.
When it comes to keeping sentimental things, the fewer things you keep, the more special they are. The opposite is also true. Too many sentimental things become less loved and more burdensome.
Keepsakes are meant to give an inspiring glimpse and momentary remembrance of the past. They aren’t meant to be a full historical archive that will consume someone’s current life.
If you need to lighten up your sentimental keepsakes, follow these important tips:
Keep: love letters your husband wrote when you were dating
Don’t keep: cards and letters from former boyfriends
Keep: an invitation from your wedding
Don’t keep: the paper napkins and matchbooks embossed with your name
Keep: your baby’s hospital hat and bracelet
Don’t keep: your baby’s stroller and car seat
Keep: a photo of your 3rd grade softball team
Don’t keep: all the trophies and medals you won (or take the award plates off)
Keep: a special birthday card from your grandma
Don’t keep: every birthday card from your grandma
It’s hard to let go of sentimental items, believe me, I know. But do we really need all of them?
To read more go to: http://smallnotebook.org/2008/09/22/holding-on-to-sentimental-things/