Sometimes letting go of sentimental stuff is hard. In this post I’m going to share with you why it’s hard to let go and what you can do about it. Keep reading!
When I was in fifth grade, my teacher gave me an ivory-colored stuffed teddy bear. It was wearing a green dress with white lace around the bottom.
The thought of getting rid of that bear when I got older made me feel so guilty. This teacher took the time to go out and purchase a teddy bear just for me. She spent her time and money on me.
And it was more than just the time and money; it was the fact that she thought and cared enough about me to do something so special.
I could never let go of that teddy bear, even though it just sat on my bed and later stored in my closet. When I moved out the bear came with me and now my daughter has the bear sitting on her shelf.
Why do we have the hardest time letting go of sentimental stuff?
Why letting go of sentimental stuff is hard to do
Emotionally attached: Sometimes your emotions take over and you start feeling attached to your stuff. When you think of the items you have that you have an emotional attachment to, they often represent an important relationship, accomplishment, or experience. However, holding on to the stuff might actually be keeping you from having new relationships, accomplishments, and experiences.
Guilt: Oftentimes, guilt gets in the way of letting go of sentimental stuff (as in the case with my teddy bear). Perhaps someone has given you a family heirloom and you feel obligated to keep it. Maybe you were given a gift from a friend that you feel guilty for getting rid of. You may also feel guilty about getting rid of something because of how much money you spent on it or because the item is still in perfectly good useable condition.
Representing the past: It is so easy to hold on to stuff from your past life. For example, I have a lot of craft items stored away that haven’t been touched in years. Maybe you used to have a hobby that you loved in the past but haven’t enjoyed it for years. Chances are you’re not going to pick it up again.
Waiting for “someday” More than likely “someday” has been dragging on for years and it’s not ever going to come. Don’t hold on to things just because you think you’ll pick it up again one day.
How to let it go
Acknowledge what’s worth holding on to While going through your items, ask yourself what exactly it is that you’re sentimental about. More than likely it’s not the object itself, but the person, time, or place it’s associated with. The memory will still be there even without the object, but if you just cannot part with the object, then there’s nothing wrong with keeping it.
Save an item virtually Documents and photos can be scanned and backed up as long as you don’t need the originals. Toys do not need to be saved, either as long as you have photos of your kids playing with them. Or consider making a photo book to keep memories in.
Donate notable items Do your research before you get rid of documents or photos that you received after the death of a loved one. Depending on who they were and where they live, the documents valuable to a local history museum.
Pass it on Consider handing over unwanted family heirlooms to another relative because they might be happy to keep it in the family. Also, it might just be something they’ve always wanted.
Put it in a box After the death of a loved one, put their things in boxes marked with question marks and save them to sort through after grieving. Give yourself at least 6 months or longer before sorting through the box.
Tell its story Grab a friend to help with sorting through things. Sometimes it helps just to tell someone the story behind the item and it may also help let it go.
Keep in mind that all the stuff doesn’t define who you are. Pass things along that you no longer need and hold onto the memories. It’s time to start a new chapter.
And remember: you can’t take it with you when you die.
What’s something you’re holding onto that your’re finding hard to let go of?
Michelle lives on a small homestead with her husband, daughter, 6 silly hens, 1 crazy rooster, 2 lazy cats, and 1 rescue dog. She loves DIYs, frugal living, crocheting, and reading. She's also a full-time proofreader.
I'm sentimental. Sometimes I like what I made too much to let it go!
Sometimes what holds me back is the time or two I gave something away and wish now that I had kept it. Sigh. I don't want to wish I had kept something, or have to repurchase it later!
But I do agree and know we can't take it with us and I am very much in favor of others using something rather than it never being of any use and sitting around forever.
I have done the same thing - giving something away and wishing I'd kept it. It really is hard to let go because you just never know!
I think my wife and I have a tiny bit of this problem...
I completely understand! I still have all the letters my husband wrote to me when we were just dating! I've finally narrowed all my childhood stuff down to one box. I'm just not going to say how big that box is. :D
Lol!!! I don’t judge you!
Between my wife and I, we only have a few things. But, all the stuffed animals we’ve got our son has got a bit much lol.
Oh I know that feeling. My daughter's room is completely full of stuffed animals. I have no idea how she even fits in there! lol
I've regretted getting rid of stuff in the past, even though I had no choice at the time. I try to keep things now!
I understand. I've done the same thing! And I think that's why I started keeping so much stuff. I just eventually ran out of room. :D
you sound like my wife dear Michelle ? I know you both are right but it's not so easy?????
PS; it looks like you are almost finished with your construction site and cleaning up ?✌
Yes! We're almost finished with the bathroom and I'm so excited!! :D
It really isn't easy at all to let go of some things! I think that sometimes it's hard to let go of a loved one's things because you feel like you are letting go of them, too.
Yes it is, I would agree to keep some just as good memories but we don't have to exaggerate ??
I have trouble getting rid of stuff, I have saved hundreds of cards that I have been given. These are excellent tips, thanks for sharing them!
I used to do that, too! I eventually started throwing some away or repurposing them. I have kept the ones that have a special message inside, though. Thank you!!
I don’t always tend to keep everything but some things are hard to give away. I just wait till I reach a place when I am ready to sort it into either giving it away or storing it properly for keeps.
I agree that it is hard to get rid of some things. That's a good idea to save it to sort through later. :)
Several year ago I asked my kids to stop buying me knick-knack type gifts and instead buy me more practical, useful things - something I can plant, something I can wear or perhaps even kitchen gadgets are better than something that sits on a shelf or needs to be stored and the gift still reminds me of the giver.
That's a great idea! Useful gifts still have the same meaning and you don't have to feel guilty about keeping it stored away and forgotten about. Thanks for sharing!
Sounds like you had a wonderful teacher, Michelle.
I am a minimalist, and like a streamlined environment, but my husband is very sentimental about keeping items.
I respect this difference, and so we have created a room in our house where he can display his treasures.
It is important for us to respect individual differences, and I know that he appreciates the fact that I understand the importance of his treasures. ??
That's a great idea to have a treasure room for your husband! I agree that we need to respect individual differences. Sometimes that can be hard, but in the end, it usually ends up working out great. :) Thanks for sharing!
The things I find the hardest to get rid of are the things that belonged to my mom and dad. Not because it is important to me, but because of how important it was to them. With that being said, my sister and I have a few boxes sitting in our garage marked "mom and dad." I guess we will leave them for our children to dispose of! :)
I can understand that. I have a lot of things from my grandparents that I can't seem to part with. To me, it feels like if I let go of their stuff I'm letting go of them. That's a good idea to save it and let the children take care of it! :)
I am caught in the middle on this one. Let me explain. My mother is very sentiment and keeps everything. I really mean EVERYTHING! My father does not like clutter and will easily get rid of things. I am more like my father but also have a lot of my mother. It can be difficult. I like the idea of taking a picture. Thanks for sharing!
I completely understand!! My parents are the same way. When they moved into their new house I helped her go through her things to pack. I was so surprised at the amount of stuff she got rid of! We made so many trips to Goodwill and the trash with truckloads of stuff! I keep things to a point, but I also get rid of some things, so I understand how difficult it is. Thank you for sharing! :)
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I'm sentimental. Sometimes I like what I made too much to let it go!
Sometimes what holds me back is the time or two I gave something away and wish now that I had kept it. Sigh. I don't want to wish I had kept something, or have to repurchase it later!
But I do agree and know we can't take it with us and I am very much in favor of others using something rather than it never being of any use and sitting around forever.
I have done the same thing - giving something away and wishing I'd kept it. It really is hard to let go because you just never know!
I think my wife and I have a tiny bit of this problem...
I completely understand! I still have all the letters my husband wrote to me when we were just dating! I've finally narrowed all my childhood stuff down to one box. I'm just not going to say how big that box is. :D
Lol!!! I don’t judge you!
Between my wife and I, we only have a few things. But, all the stuffed animals we’ve got our son has got a bit much lol.
Oh I know that feeling. My daughter's room is completely full of stuffed animals. I have no idea how she even fits in there! lol
I've regretted getting rid of stuff in the past, even though I had no choice at the time. I try to keep things now!
I understand. I've done the same thing! And I think that's why I started keeping so much stuff. I just eventually ran out of room. :D
you sound like my wife dear Michelle ? I know you both are right but it's not so easy?????
PS; it looks like you are almost finished with your construction site and cleaning up ?✌
Yes! We're almost finished with the bathroom and I'm so excited!! :D
It really isn't easy at all to let go of some things! I think that sometimes it's hard to let go of a loved one's things because you feel like you are letting go of them, too.
Yes it is, I would agree to keep some just as good memories but we don't have to exaggerate ??
I have trouble getting rid of stuff, I have saved hundreds of cards that I have been given. These are excellent tips, thanks for sharing them!
I used to do that, too! I eventually started throwing some away or repurposing them. I have kept the ones that have a special message inside, though. Thank you!!
I don’t always tend to keep everything but some things are hard to give away. I just wait till I reach a place when I am ready to sort it into either giving it away or storing it properly for keeps.
I agree that it is hard to get rid of some things. That's a good idea to save it to sort through later. :)
Several year ago I asked my kids to stop buying me knick-knack type gifts and instead buy me more practical, useful things - something I can plant, something I can wear or perhaps even kitchen gadgets are better than something that sits on a shelf or needs to be stored and the gift still reminds me of the giver.
That's a great idea! Useful gifts still have the same meaning and you don't have to feel guilty about keeping it stored away and forgotten about. Thanks for sharing!
Sounds like you had a wonderful teacher, Michelle.
I am a minimalist, and like a streamlined environment, but my husband is very sentimental about keeping items.
I respect this difference, and so we have created a room in our house where he can display his treasures.
It is important for us to respect individual differences, and I know that he appreciates the fact that I understand the importance of his treasures. ??
That's a great idea to have a treasure room for your husband! I agree that we need to respect individual differences. Sometimes that can be hard, but in the end, it usually ends up working out great. :) Thanks for sharing!
The things I find the hardest to get rid of are the things that belonged to my mom and dad. Not because it is important to me, but because of how important it was to them. With that being said, my sister and I have a few boxes sitting in our garage marked "mom and dad." I guess we will leave them for our children to dispose of! :)
I can understand that. I have a lot of things from my grandparents that I can't seem to part with. To me, it feels like if I let go of their stuff I'm letting go of them. That's a good idea to save it and let the children take care of it! :)
I am caught in the middle on this one. Let me explain. My mother is very sentiment and keeps everything. I really mean EVERYTHING! My father does not like clutter and will easily get rid of things. I am more like my father but also have a lot of my mother. It can be difficult. I like the idea of taking a picture. Thanks for sharing!
I completely understand!! My parents are the same way. When they moved into their new house I helped her go through her things to pack. I was so surprised at the amount of stuff she got rid of! We made so many trips to Goodwill and the trash with truckloads of stuff! I keep things to a point, but I also get rid of some things, so I understand how difficult it is. Thank you for sharing! :)