WHO Are You Saving This Stuff For?
Life Lesson Series
If you are like most people of a certain age, you have likely kept all of the “important” things that document your life’s big moments. Photos, letters, souvenirs, travel documentation, diplomas, uniforms, gowns, artifacts – a whole lot of stuff.
Do you know exactly what you have and where it is? Do you review it every so often?
No? Why do you keep anything, especially things that are important, stashed and hidden away in boxes that you don’t look at or even enjoy?
Now’s the time to make some changes!
I recommend you review your collection of goodies once every five years – you can enjoy an afternoon sauntering down your own personal memory lane AND perhaps thin out the collection a bit. I know you don’t want to be THAT person that keeps everythingand then forgets about it and the eventual task of sorting through the collection falls on someone else’s shoulder. DON’T. BE. THAT. PERSON.
Personally, I like the idea of enjoying one’s treasures and actually living with them or, better yet, creating STORYTELLING DISPLAYS with them. That’s my jam and what I try to promote.
Those “important” things aren’t doing anyone any good moldering away in box. Ugh!
And – I suspect you probably don’t just have your personal life’s-big-moments artifacts but also your family’s. Perhaps your parents or grandparents things too. Then this opens a whole ball of wax because this collection of goodies might expand to include china, furniture, art, linens, figurines and all sort of doo-dads.
I bring this up because you need to hear some HARD TRUTHS now. Whatever you are keeping, collecting and saving for ‘later’ … your kids won’t want any of it. It’s better for you to embrace this idea now so you can put the kabosh on further storing (saving for the kids) and change your mindset for good.
Don’t be distressed or personally insulted that your kids won’t want your (or Granny’s) things. It is a generational thing and today, simplicity and stream-lined living is in vogue.
Take the opportunity to ask your kids now what they might like and what sentimental items mean something to them – then LIBERATE those items. There are SO many opportunities to create really special displays out of these old things – to enjoy and live with them.
A Few Ideas …
The Special China – just use it. Everyday. What good is it sitting in an over stuffed cabinet?
Special Silverware – same thing – use it. Or create other things with it. I know a fellow who turns old fashioned elaborate sterling silver flatware into gorgeous rings – and he does it in a way that maintains the pattern. Or sell it (gasp!) I know another person who creates incredible baskets from old ties or scarves. What a practical and wonderful way to honor that special man in your life. Another friend made a wall-hanging quilt out of her husband’s business suits when he retired – and out went the suits to make room for clothing better suited (excuse the pun! 🤭) for leisure and sports.
There are still collectors for some of the old stuff so don’t just toss it. Have a yard sale or set up at the local flea market. There are plenty of online auction houses as well if you have something of real monetary value. But the truth my friends, is that your treasures probably don’t have any real monetary value. The value is in it’s sentimental connections, so find out who it matters to and divvy the stuff up.
Of course, there may be some important value in the things you hidden away but if no one knows it, there is a real risk those items could be tossed unknowingly. So share the intel about your stash!
If you do decide to distribute those things elsewhere (sell or donate), take photos first. You can always enjoy viewing what the room used to look like over a cup of tea poured in that fancy china pattern.
My Pledge
I am committed to changing the mindset of folks who have way too many things hidden away, stashed in garages, attics or basements (or worse, storage units – egads!) Things they swear are of great importance. I also want to get you thinking about bringing more stuff (or not) into your house. There will be chances to accept wonderful things from aging relatives … but should you? Learning how to make judicious decisions about what you accept and keep is a really important skill to develop now.
Who is with me on this? I will be launching a course in June to take you through step-by-step the process to tackle all of these areas. The goal is to free up some space and create some storytelling displays that you and your family will actually want to keep. Yay!
Stay tuned my friends … the best is yet come!
PS: 👀
I also wanted to include a link to a wonderful article written by Jill Smolowe for Next Avenue where she describes how she made the choices she did when deciding what to keep from her Mother’s estate, and where to put those items to live with and enjoy. Check it out …
https://www.nextavenue.org/want-my-parents-stuff/
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