Give Someone Else A Chance To Love Those Heirlooms
Organizing gurus say that we only use 20% of the items we own. The other 80% is stuff that we keep “just in case” we might need it someday.
I freely admit that I have a lot of that “just in case” stuff. The only problem, is that it is buried beneath the other debris of my life. When I need it, I can’t find it!
So, I go buy more.
I have to reduce some of the clutter, so I can get everything a place. That old saw about “a place for everything and everything in its place” didn’t become a well used expression for no reason. It means I may have to get rid of things I love!
As I look around my house, I think that most of my 80% doesn’t fit in that category. I have “collectibles” and family heirlooms for which I became the caretaker. To most of these things, I have an emotional attachment.
I’ve realized over the years that I can get over that attachment. I will live over it if I get rid of things I love. I can take a picture and fondly remember owning them. I can pass on the pleasure of owning them (and the burden of maintaining them) to someone else.
For years, I enjoyed an old Victrola that my grandmother bought back in the 1920s when it was new. I had taken out “the guts” and used the cabinet to house a stereo system. It worked well with the other antique furniture I had at the time.
Years passed, and my taste changed. That Victrola got relegated to a back room and just stood gathering dust. I had no room for it. A year ago, I gave it to my sister. Now, that Victrola has pride of place in her home. She is absolutely thrilled to have it, and that Victrola deserves to be well-loved.
I’m trying to keep that in mind as I decide to part with some of my possessions. I keep reminding myself that they will wind up with people who enjoy them and use them. That’s so much better than sitting in my closet waiting for me to decide to pull them out again. I have a lot of family heirlooms and collectibles that I’m prepared to pass to other family members to enjoy. I think I can even sell a few things.
Now, if I can just convince my husband!
