As an organizer, I hear it all the time...people have 'special' things and simply can't bear to part with them. I understand. I accumulate things too. There are always things that are special from our loved ones. Of course, the really important memories need to stay, but there needs to be a limit to what you keep.
The problem starts when people can't get rid of anything. If it isn't something that you are able to have out and enjoy to remember those who gave it to us, owned it before us or made it...then why keep it? I will tell you what my husband said to me just today as we were going through a box of his departed father's belongings and I asked him the same question. He said,...."So that I can keep it packed in a box and every 10 years or so go through it and remember it." But really...think about it. Is that really worth the space it may be taking up?
I suppose if you have extra storage space it's fine, but many of us simply do not have the space.
So what do you do?
1) Evaluate how important an item REALLY is.
a) Do you love it? Or do you feel "obligated" to keep it?
b) Can you use it or display it?
c) Is it valuable?
d) Do you have room for it?
2) If you decide to keep it you need to decide:
a) How can I use it?
b) Do I have room to display it?
c) Do I have room to store it?
d) If I think it's worth something, then how will I get that value out of it?
3) If you decide to store it you need to decide:
a) Where?
b) Why?
c) How will this benefit me if kept in a box? (Limit yourself to 1 box per family member)
d) Does it spark a positive memory? Let go of things that conjure up the negative.
How can I keep the memories without keeping the item? Here are some ideas.
1) Take pictures. Works for artwork too. Pose your child with their pictures & take a picture of them.
2) Take small items and use in a display or shadowbox
3) Pictures can be made into jewelry. Here is an Etsy site I think is great."http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22472308
4) Make it into a quilt. You can get ideas at http://www.campusquilt.com.
5) Make a memory notebook or album. You can use pictures or small items in it.
Mostly, remember: you do not have to have the item to have the memory.
Proof everything has its place! Sandy Jenney of Organize with Sandy is a mom and stepmom of 8 who knows it’s critical to stay organized…and actually LIKES to clean and de-clutter(what?!). She’ll show you how to clean up your act! She runs www.OrganizeWithSandy.com and appears weekly on www.MomTV.com.
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