Making Space for the Sentimental
source: nadja.robot
Last week I broke a Washington Redskins glass that had been passed down to us after my grandfather died. Although we do use the glasses regularly, we’re extremely careful with them, and we had made it seven years without breaking one….until I knocked it off the shelf.
It’s ironic because I already had this post about decluttering and sentimentality scheduled, but I’m really not very sentimental. However, breaking that glass was a good reminder that things can hold special meaning for us. And that’s okay.
However, most of us have limited space for holding these special items, and holding onto everything doesn’t leave you much time or space to enjoy any of them.
Here are a few tips for balancing the sentimental with the practical:
Unpack the Boxes
If you have boxes full of things packed away in storage because you can’t bear to part with them, it’s time to make some tough decisions. You either need to unpack them or let them go. They aren’t inspiring memories in your basement; they’re simply collecting dust.
Use it or Lose It
As I mentioned, we do use the Redskins glasses from my grandfather, even though we always run the risk of breaking them. But if they were packed away, how many opportunities would I miss to tell my girls about how much their PawPaw loved the Redskins and how we used to collect the glasses every time we got gas at the local Mobil or how we would watch the games on his gigangamongous projection TV while eating Combos and Pinwheels? The risk is worth each of those opportunities to me.
Of course, you can get creative about what using those special things means for you:
:: My mom uses my great-grandmother’s old sewing machine as decor in her home, and then she folds it down to use as extra serving space for special dinners.
:: A friend of ours lost her husband, and she eventually had many of his favorite pieces of clothing turned into quilts for herself and their son.
:: You can frame old letters or fragile linens and hang them on the wall.
Take Pictures of Your Memories
We often take pictures or scan my kids’ artwork because there simply is not enough room to keep them all. However, Tanna from Complete Organizing Solutions recently shared her Picture Your Memories challenge, and I love the idea of taking pictures of all of the things that hold special memories before I send them to their new homes.
Set Limits…and Stick to Them
Of course, we all have things we want to store for the next generation…special books, toys, etc. I’m not completely against storage of all kinds, but it’s important to set limits based on the space you have available and stick to them.
Are you sentimental? Do you have trouble letting go of “clutter” that holds special memories for you? What creative ways have you found to use the things that have special meaning?
We actually have quite a bit of stuff in boxes (although we don’t have a basement or anywhere to really stash it). I have a bunch of frames and paintings in the closet, extra toys for my son (I put some away to rotate since we ended up with so many after the holidays and birthday), and Hopi pottery and katsinas. Those I am not planning on parting with just because I don’t currently have space to display them. We had a really great in-wall shelving area a few years ago where we displayed this stuff. Unfortunately, I don’t have any display areas right now. Cats and toddlers make finding places for lovely things difficult! Now, those things actually have decorative value (not to mention real monetary value), rather than just sentimental. So, I think I’m justified in keeping them. It will be so fun someday to actually get to display them again! (I don’t have anything on display right now at all – nothing on the walls even)
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I learned the “hard way” about letting go of sentimental items, but it taught me a lesson that I’m moving forward with.
We lost most of our “belongings” in Hurricane Katrina. It was really hard to sort through a soggy mess of things (most of which were stored in boxes on the floor), trying to decide what was salvageable and what wasn’t. I sounded like a broken record “I remember this!” “My grandma gave me that!” and unfortunately most of it had to go in the garbage pile. It made me realize however, that, like you said, the memory is of the PERSON or the EVENT and the THING was just the reminder. But did I really need the THING my grandma gave me if it was sitting in a box not reminding me of her? No.
So now I try not to just keep THINGS around, but make them useful if I’m going to keep them. When my great aunt died (with whom I was very close) I got a bunch of handwritten recipes from her kitchen. They weren’t anything I would ever make, so I framed them and now they hang in my kitchen (a lot higher than I hope water could ever get into our house!!).
We still have a lot of stuff packed away in boxes b/c we haven’t completely unpacking, but I’m going to be sure to keep what we need and get rid of the rest! Even if it’s just passing it on to another family member.
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Oh, and I do have photographs of all of the katsinas, actually – in case they decay (as they are made of wood, feathers, and some have organic – read, unstable – paint).
I was just re-reading your post and I seem to recall that Papa (my grandfather) has a redskins glass. Weird. I don’t even think he’s a fan! Mu (my grandmother) has recently become obsessed with giving things away (you know, in case of her death), and gave my mother most of her silverware, and desperately wants to give her cedar chest away. I think my mom wants to keep the chest… but I’m not sure what we should do with the wedding dress and Papa’s marine outfit. I’ve never even SEEN them! Obviously they aren’t doing us much good stored in that chest, huh?
sarah´s last blog ..But I Don’t WANT an Ugly Camera Bag
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I have so many sentimental things around. I made a point of using them all instead of storing them in boxes even if they are not used in a conventional way. Some of my pieces are large, like my great grandmothers kitchen table, that’s easy to use. I love having them around me to reming me of the peolpe they were from and the fact I can share the stories with my children instead of forgetting about them.
As for my own children’s things. I finally settled on a sterlite storage bin for their save box. Everything I want to save goes in there. The size of the bin will limit what I can save so it has to be pretty special. I have their first shoes, first outfit, some drawings, and can add to it as they get older. I have always wanted to take pictures of these items, hopefully I can get that done this year.
I am finally tackling my art work fomr college. It’s the only thing taking up wasted space in the basement. I plan to photograph it and then toss what I don’t want to display. Many of these projects are 3 feet wide and way to big to do anything with, but so hard to part with with all the work that went into them. It’s taken me 13 years to get to this point!
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This hit me where I live. I have a very hard time letting go of sentimental items. I’m not tv-show bad, but it’s a hard situation for me. I am trying my hardest to sort and purge–and it does get easier with time. And that’s the other thing I try to remember–I’ve already lost my parents. Losing their “things” brings back that loss a little but moving on with my life and making space for new family members and new memories is very important as well.
MemeGRL´s last blog ..MPM–Sorry, I Lied Edition
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I’m so glad you wrote this post! I have been thinking Spring Cleaning and how and what to get rid of some of things that we have in storage in the basement. One of the things that I am finally ready to get rid of is my teaching supplies. I doubt that I will returning to teaching any time soon, but it was such a part of me that it was hard for me to imagine parting with some of those things…but I’m ready to turn our storage room into a crafting room and I’m ready to get rid of some of the stuff! I’m ready to purge, purge, purge!
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This is great! I am a pretty sentimental person, but I hate the *fear* that is really at the root of not using or displaying things that are important to you. I don’t want to live in fear. If it’s worth keeping, then it’s worth looking at or using, and it’s worth the risk of getting broken — that’s life!
Jessie´s last blog ..Norman’s Birthday
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I’ve been clearing out containers in our basement and I had one that was full of the twins baby clothes. I paired it down to only 4 or 5 outfits a piece. I gave some of my baby clothes that my mom kept for me that my daughter also wore to my daughter for her baby dolls. It was hard to let go of some of the outfits. I sat there and cried a few tears, but I know the clothes are going to be worn by little people that need them. That makes me happy.
Rana´s last blog ..Growing up!
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I, too, had a hard time of letting go of sentimental items. We only have one son and I know he will not want it ALL once we are gone. I have given some to my brother’s three children. I gave my mother’s silver tea set to my brother and his wife for their 40th wedding anniversary as it was used at their wedding reception. It’s easier to part with keepsakes when you know they are going to a home where they will be treasured.
My husband took an antique frame that was my parents and built a shadow box on the back of it. I display some of my keepsakes in it such as my dad’s baby dress, buttons from my mother’s wedding dress,
my grandmother’s pin, hatpin, and button shoe hook, a pearl collar that belonged to my aunt, etc. They take up much less room and they are displayed so we can enjoy them.
I love all you suggestions and thought I would share some of mine.
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