We are counting down to the final days of the challenge my friends. Six days to be exact! You still have time, don’t stop now!! Please refer to the Challenge page for more information and to see the many amazing prizes that can be won! I’ll also post the final questions in the next couple of days for you as well.
To help us with a little push on how to cut ties with our sentimental clutter is my friend Tanna of Complete Organizing Solutions and guest judge for this challenge. I actually parted with something very valuable to me just two days ago and used this very advice to preserve the special memory. I will share with you tomorrow what this special item was that I was able to part with.
Do you have boxes of STUFF that you are holding onto because of the memories? Maybe it is Grandpa’s coin collection or Grandma’s teacups. You feel guilty if you try to let go of the item so you just let them sit there in the box collecting dust.
Surely Grandma and Grandpa didn’t want their stuff to be in boxes, they held on to them because they wanted the items to be loved. Maybe you don’t love the item as much as they did but you really love the memories.
Next time you come across a box of sentimental items, ask yourself if you can use it or display it. Do you really love it enough to have it displayed on your wall? Does the item work now or can you put it to good use?
If not I want to challenge you to let these items go. It is time to reclaim your space! Let the stuff be loved by someone that can use it. Instead of hanging on to the physical item, take a picture and journal your thoughts. This would make a great paper journal or even a blog! Each time you revisit these pictures you can write down your thoughts.
Think down the road 30, 40, 50 years from now when you are passing on these things to your children. They won’t have a clue why you held on to this stuff or the memories they hold. Instead wouldn’t it be wonderful to pass on a book of memories so they can learn more about their ancestors before them?
As you continue working on your organizing challenge this month maybe you can take a couple of steps forward and write down some of your memories attached to the stuff that has been sitting in your garage. Imagine passing down pictures and thoughts instead of stuff!
What sentimental items have you been holding on to?
As founder and “chief organizing officer” of Complete Organizing Solutions, it is Tanna’s mission to help people reach their organizing potential. Tanna is especially passionate about helping busy families find the organizing solutions they need to help them manage their homes more efficiently. You can find her organizing households throughout the Greater Nashville, Tennessee area and online.
Laurah says
Even if you’re not going to get rid of things, I think it’s a good idea to take photographs of them and have the stories attached written down somewhere. I have so many heirlooms from either side of the family that come with, “This came from your [grandmother’s] [jewelry box]. I think it belonged to your [great aunt].” It’s like playing Mad Libs with relative’s names!
Tanna @ Complete Organizing Solutions says
Exactly, I think a lot of people miss the point when holding onto this stuff. We forget the memories and then it is just stuff, it is nice to have something to go off of.
But remember this stuff eventually gets passed on to someone else. Once your children are grown ask them what they would like. See what other family members want and make your wishes known before your pass. We don’t want to pass on that guilt of getting rid of stuff to our kids!
Susie's Homemade says
I am hanging on to EVERYTHING! It is a problem:-(
Allison says
I have a ton of stuff like this, that I’m learning to let go of. I have done the photograph thing a few times now though, and I’m learning to love that as an alternate because you are right. I’m not going to wear that sweatshirt from 18 years ago that all the kids i went to Japan signed. it’s in a box in my crawl space. I should photograph it and put the photos in with my photos of my trip, and get rid of it. I really need to do that.
I did that with my bedroom when I moved from my parents home. I had a very, eh-hem, unique, room. All of my friends and people who came to visit signed my walls. In marker. Or paint. Or sketches. It was a total tribute to my teenage years. I loved my room. but my parents didn’t and they painted it almost the day after I moved out. 😛 but I have my photos of my room! and I love them!
jen says
I wish I could get my mom to do this. Instead, she catalogs everything she has with labels and explanations, thinking that one day we might want this stuff in our own houses. Hate to think about that day coming . . .
Tanna @ Complete Organizing Solutions says
Maybe one day you can help her realize that the explanations are enough, that you don’t need the physical stuff. It is great that she is at least explaining the items but yes, the tough part will be saying no to receiving the actual stuff.
DebraC says
Sentimental items are the hardest to part with. You don’t always necessarily want to display the items. But somehow a part of you is missing when you throw it away.