Keepsakes_HowTo
Remember, the fewer things you keep, the more special they will become to you — and to those you love. Begin to think of yourself as the editor of your life story. When someone peeks into your boxes of treasures, what story will the photos, papers and objects tell? It is up to you to define the arc of your life's tale. To highlight the best times, the things that have been most meaningful to you, and to let the less important details fall out of focus. What to Keep Reminders of triumph over adversity. Remember how I said to toss photos of your no-good ex-boyfriend? Well, do that if you haven't yet. But if you have a photo of you on that awesome postbreakup road trip with your best friend, put that puppy in a frame! The most compelling stories include hardship; the key is to focus on how you have grown because of your challenging experiences.
Things that have not, or will not, age well. Some objects are just not meant to last. Give crumbling flowers, ancient pasta sculptures and badly damaged photos the heave-ho, and be aware of an item's potential longevity before you save it the next time. For instance, consider taking a photo of your son holding that Thanksgiving centerpiece — you can still save the piece itself for a few years, and enjoy bringing it out as a table decoration, but when it begins to fall apart you can let it go without feeling bad.
Inherited stuff. Oh, this one is tough. I think it can help to think of the loved one whose belongings you now have as they were — in other words, as a person struggling with editing their own possessions, just as you are right now. Grams certainly wouldn't want you feeling weighed down by her china set, would she? Be honest about your feelings about the stuff you have inherited. Are you ever going to use it? Do you love it for what it is, or do you love it (and hold on to it) only because you loved the person who gave it to you? My advice is to honor your feelings but respect your space. This might mean keeping a single soup tureen (the one you remember from all those Sunday dinners) and passing the rest along to another relative who really wants it, or selling it on eBay. If you can't come to a decision quite yet, put it in the "later" pile.
Once you move beyond these first categories of stuff (other people's memories, short-term saves, freebies), it gets a little more complicated. At any point in the process, if you are really having a hard time letting go of something that you want to let go of, put it in a separate bin or pile. Don't worry too much about how big this pile gets; these are tough decisions to make, and you can't get something back once it's gone. The goal is not just to get rid of stuff but to feel good about your decisions. You will be dealing with this pile, so it's not a cop-out; it's just buying you some time. What to Consider Letting Go Next Oversize mementos. Sports trophies and giant school projects come to mind, but perhaps you have some other bulky items taking up space in your storage area. If something is too big to fit in a file box, give some serious thought as to whether it is worth keeping. A photograph of the sports event, awards ceremony or science fair will take up far less room, and will probably feel more meaningful down the road anyway.
Short-term saves. Some things, like birthday cards, event programs and invitations, are nice to keep around for a while. Looking at your cards lined up on the mantel or pinned to your bulletin board after a birthday dinner can be a pleasant reminder of the people who love you, and a friend's pretty wedding invite can look lovely on your bulletin board. But you don't need to keep them all forever. Freebies. Swag from conferences, wedding favors and workplace giveaways have no business taking up valuable space alongside true keepsakes. Make a mental note to kindly turn down freebies the next time they are offered to you, unless you really want them. So often we take something just because it is free!
Begin box by box. It's emotionally draining work sorting through keepsakes, so don't push yourself to take on more than you can handle. This is not the same thing as going on a clutter-busting spree — some of the items you will be looking at may call up memories of people and experiences you haven't thought about for many years. You may cry, get angry or get the urge to call up an old friend. In other words, don't march down to your storage unit bright and early on Saturday morning and expect to go through the entire thing by the end of the weekend. Pick up one box and go through it piece by piece, at your leisure. When it's done (and only then), go get another.
The most loved. The teddy bear that went with your child everywhere, the little corduroy overalls that turned velvety from being worn and washed so many times, the toy with the most teeth marks — these are the sorts of things worth saving. And this applies to grown-up stuff, too! If there is a special piece of clothing that instantly brings to mind a delicious time in your life, go ahead and keep it, even if you know you will never wear it again. One of my own most treasured keepsakes is my grandfather's hat. In so many of my memories of him, he is wearing this hat. I have a picture of myself as a little girl wearing the hat. And it still smells like his pipe tobacco
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