Why is it so tough for me to get rid of old keepsakes ?

Question

I am 38 years old. My father died when I was 16, my mother died when I was 29. I am married and I have a small room that is designated for my stuff. I want more free room in my--room, so I have quite a few keep sakes to get rid off. I keep most of them in boxes, out of sight. But when it comes time to either donate of them or throw them out, I don't. I feel guilty over throwing out old gifts or keep sakes, despite the fact they are in packed in boxes. Any suggestions ?

Answer 1

For alot of people, including me, even though the keepsakes are boxed up, they still have great meaning. I don't know how much of them have to do with you parents, especially because you lost them so young. There is nothing wrong with keeping them. They obviously still have great meaning for you if you're having a hard time getting rid of them. I would say it's not time yet. And that's O.K.
What I did was build shelves in my room to display alot of them to free up space. I've also got some on my dressers, a curio cabinet, my fireplace mantle., and some still in boxes. I'm 42. I did give away some, to people in my life that knew what they meant to me, and they have kept them. But the minute I gave them away, I regretted it. I know if I ever ask for them back, they would be given to me. Maybe giving them as gifts to people who understand the importance and would value (treasure) them as much as you have is one way to go.
I have tons of Christmas ornaments. I'm talking about 7 of the large plastic Tote boxes. Ornaments given to me, some from my childhood, some my son made in school over the years. What I started was thinning some out to save for my son (age 22 now) so when he gets married he'll have some from his childhood. When I told him this, even though he no longer helps decorate the tree, he was thrilled. He gets disappointed when certain ornaments are not displayed.

Answer 2

No sugesstions... I'm exactly the same as you... I can't bear to part with anything that has a meaning to me... My advise is don't.

These things are helping you cling to the only memories you have of your past... they are objects that you can see, feel, and smell... Its like "being there" without actually.

Try and organize them as much as possible (in the boxes and stuff) and at least once a year plan a day that you will take time for yourself to go threw the boxes and look at everything and re-visit the past... helps to give clarity of your present and future...really.. I do it about twice a year....

My wife also had this problem recently... she couldn't part with any of our 2 year olds baby stuff... lol!! Like undershirts, sleepers, blankets.. EVERYTHING... In that particular situation where your clinging to something that could be useful to someone else... you really should try your best to thin out the collection... My wife didn't need to hold onto like 20 undershirts... (she did keep one though :P)

Answer 3

I understand. You want to keep the gifts because they are dear to you and you feel like you might regret throwing them away. I think that if you feel that way, you should keep them to look back on a few years from now.

Answer 4

Mine is an 18" X 30" poster of the cover of my first book which was featured by my publisher at the Annual National Publisher's Fair held in Chicago the year my book was published. They were kind enough to save the poster and send it to me after the show had successfully launched the book to some fanfare and solid reviews. It still hangs above my desk in a brushed chrome frame that I added. It is a psychedelic picture of a Merry-Go-Round with the title of the book: "Stop the Merry-Go-Round: Stories of Women who Broke the Cycle of Abusive Relationships."

Answer 5

Because you’re a packrat.
My husband has the same problem but that’s were I come in and sort through the stuff and make more space.

Answer 6

Overly Compulsive Disorder. OCD, and don't worry, I think i have that too, cause i hate throwing gifts and stuff away.