My daughter, Jenny, recently returned from living in Italy and was faced with the task of sorting through boxes from her college years. She had to decide what still held meaning for her and what she was ready to let go.
Making decisions about possessions that represent your life is difficult. You wonder where to start. What is the reasoning process to use?
Then you can get bogged down with the question, “If I don’t keep it, what should I do with it?” The object represents history, or still has a useful life.
One strategy to use when the task seems overwhelming is to turn the process around. Rather than looking at what to get rid of and how, start by looking for treasures.
Ask yourself:
- What can I not bear to live without?
- Does anything give an emotional tug that holds good memories?
- What feeds my soul because it is of such great beauty?
Set aside these treasured items; these are “the keepers!”
All that remains is to determine what you use on a regular basis or you must keep to stay out of jail. The rest can go. Isn’t that a freeing thought?
Remember, you don’t have to keep inherited items or gifts if they do not hold meaning for you! Let someone else cherish those.