by Marie Vonow (follow)

Clutter (17)      Personal Memorabilia (1)     

Some people don't accumulate much clutter. They may have a personality that doesn't desire to collect possessions beyond what they need or they may move house frequently. Other people do acquire and keep far more than they need. For some the most difficult category of stuff to keep under control is personal memorabilia.

Personal memorabilia may be school reports (if you got good ones), letters (if you are old enough to have a collection of snail mail personal correspondence), photos, cards, out dated glowing references and recommendations (from a time before email and references done over the phone) and things the children have made, drawn and written.

It is lovely to have some of these precious memories. However, for some of us it is easy to become swamped. (I am talking from experience.) Sorting through my large case of memories is proving to be an exhausting and emotionally draining task.

Some of us have a tendency to save lots of birthday and Christmas cards. We may save cards our children were given too. Over the years these pile up. As I write this I wonder if the current generation and those to follow will avoid much of this type of clutter as so much communication is now electronic.

Sometimes we keep things which don't have good memories but we feel a need to hold on anyway. Once you have ditched the letters or whatever they are you will feel relieved but that emotion may not come straight away. Initially you may feel sad, confused or exhausted.

Perhaps when we originally saved certain items they represented hope for a wonderful future. Yes, I am referring to engagement and wedding cards. Years after the divorce you may look at them differently. There can be a temptation to hold onto this sort of thing because you haven't really thought whether they have any value at the present time. They have always been in that case or chest, Perhaps you think your children might want them. (It is very likely they won't.)

There are those things that were important to us years ago but don't matter now. Once you realise this, they can be disposed of.

It can be difficult to decide what to do with things your children created and gave you. Sometimes things can be photographed to preserve the memory rather than holding onto the object. Perhaps keeping the best of the cards and written notes is the way to go.

Reducing the amount of personal memorabilia does not mean you don't care about the events or people they are a reminder of. It just means you want to keep the best of the memorabilia and don't want to drown in out dated reminders of days gone by. It also gives you the freedom to live in the present and enjoy today.


# Clutter
# Personal Memorabilia

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