Growing Out of Over Sentimentality
Realizing that most of my “Sentimental Keepsakes” were actually Sentimental Clutter.
I am a sentimental person by nature and from when I was little all the way until I really started my journey to become a professional organizer I was overwhelmed by gifts/cards/art from students from when I was a dance teacher, cards from family and friends from birthdays and holidays, mementos from family trips and random “collections” I started but didn’t stick with, or gifts from friends and family when they traveled. I kept everything! In addition to just keeping everything remotely sentimental, I also added sentimental value to any and everything. Bags, shoes, clothes, toys, stuffed animals, you name it and I could tell you why it was special. If things got worn out I would be sad and wanted to keep it anyways… so I started keeping things pristine by just never using it. If I really liked something I didn’t want to use it so I could have it forever.
Through watching a YouTube channel called A Hoarder’s Heart I realized those things were actually hoarding tendencies and I am so thankful that for the most part I naturally grew out of most of my hoarding tendencies… some things still took conscious effort to counter such as using the things I really like instead of “saving” them.
Matthew 6:19 -21 (NIV) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This scripture, combined with working in retail helped me a lot in breaking out of the “saving” mentality. I realized there is always going to be something I can find something that I really like, even if it’s not exactly the same as my previous or current favorite. I should use the things I really like, if I find a pen that I love to write with, write with it! Use the pretty blankets, wear the pretty shirt. Eat my favorite treat instead of saving it till it goes stale.
Now, I wish I could tell you this was an immediate change that happened overnight, but the truth is it took several months if not a couple years. I didn’t suddenly wake up one day and throw away every card I had saved, or donate every childhood toy… it was a process. A successful method I used to help myself let go of the sentimental attachment to everything was I started to take a picture of the item, whatever it was. A lot of the need to hold onto items were because I didn’t want to forget about it, or the memories seeing that thing brings up. By having a picture of it I was able to let go of a lot of items. It also helped to gain some understanding of what that scripture looks like in terms of my own stuff - I had toys that disintegrated or discolored simply due to time… it made me realize I shouldn’t keep a bunch of things for the one days and maybes, I should let someone else enjoy it (whatever it is), rather than hoard it away. I am not saying get rid of everything, I still have things that are sentimental, I still have childhood toys and I will always have too many stuffed animals (it’s kind of my thing). But I no longer attach a sentimentality to every little thing. I can now I can throw away shoes that are worn out, I was able to throw away all my old, stinky dance shoes. I was able to whittle down my sentimental tubs from four large tubs, to just one. I was able to give away a lot of the random childhood toys and knick knacks. I am able to pass on clothes or bags or items that just don’t work for me. Even now, I still will make a pass through the sentimental tub and find I no longer find something sentimental, and then I allow myself to let it go. Seasons change and I change. My priorities change, my interests and likes… all of those things affect what I deem sentimental. So it’s never a completely done thing, but I no longer feel overwhelmed by the amount of things I have shoved in a closet, or bin. However, now instead of sentimental clutter it’s guilty clutter because I or someone I know spent money on the thing… but that is a problem for another day, another post.
“If everything is special, then nothing is” ~ Jenna