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	Shedding Sentimental Clutter

	by Harriet Schechter

A vital step in the letting go of clutter process is learning how to manage MEMORABILIA. When you let go of objects that remind you of memories you'd rather forget, you make room for the things that MATTER most to you. Of course, letting go of personal memorabilia, especially if you're a sentimental soul, tends to be hard.

ARE YOU A MEMORABILIAC?

As a sentimental person myself, I'm sympathetic to those who find the process painful. But I also know how important it is to manage your mementoes so they don't keep CLUTTERING up your life. Otherwise, you run the risk of becoming a "memorabiliac": someone who accumulates vast amounts of personal memorabilia.

WHAT IS MEMORABILIA ?

I want to clarify what I mean by memorabilia. I'm not talking about collecting knickknacks. Personal memorabilia means the things we keep that evoke personal REMINISCENCES, pleasant feelings, bittersweet emotions, or a sense of historical connectedness. It's the stuff that we think of as "priceless" because it often has value just to US.

THE HARD OPTIONS

There are a number of creative ways to categorize, organize, and display sentimental stuff, such as scrapbooks, photo albums, and shadow boxes -- none of which will be covered here. Although these options can turn into satisfying hobbies, they are more likely to become stressful "PROCRASTINATION PROJECTS" for those who are already overwhelmed by clutter and commitments.

THREE TYPES

In my experience, there are three types of memorabiliacs:

Type 1 -- someone who actually creates scrapbooks, etc. for keeping sentimental stuff in order

Type 2 -- someone who aspires to being a Type 1, but rarely gets around to maintaining those systems

Type 3 -- someone who has no Type 1 aspirations

TYPE 1

If you identify yourself as a Type 1, that's admirable. But as time goes on, you may find yourself accumulating mementos faster than you can CAPTURE them in your systems. The rules and steps detailed in this chapter are designed to help you deal with any existing overflow and prevent more from building up.

TYPE 2

If you are a Type 2, the most important step you can take now is to be honest with yourself about your priorities and interests. Accept that it is okay if you NEVER do get around to putting your stuff in scrapbooks "someday." Please let go of any PRESSURE you've put on yourself that this project is something you "should" do. There are other ways to master your memorabilia.

TYPE 3

Finally, if you see yourself as a Type 3, your challenges may be simpler -- not easier, just simpler. It all depends on how MUCH sentimental clutter you've accumulated so far, and how much of it you ultimately end up keeping.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

I want to clarify my three-part process for managing memorabilia. I'm going to show you how to:

let go of anything that doesn't TOUCH you in a positive or poignant way

save only what you have SPACE for

keep your meaningful mementoes in simple, easy-to-maintain SYSTEMS

The best way to begin is by gathering together all the things you think you're keeping for sentimental reasons. However, you can also use this process on an item-by-item basis as you come across individual mementoes.

SENTIMENTAL, ORNAMENTAL, OR ACCIDENTAL?

Sometimes there are things we think we're keeping for sentimental reasons that are actually not mementoes at all. Such "memorabilia IMPOSTERS" include:

antique or old knickknacks that have no real PERSONAL HISTORY -- as opposed to inherited items or gifts

outdated but non-historical LEGAL documents that can be archived with your old tax papers

old resumes and appointment books or calendars -- if keeping for HISTORICAL purposes, they can be stored in your archive files

invitations and announcements that you're only keeping as SAMPLES for design ideas -- set up an "Invitation Samples" file

LET GO IF IT DOESN'T TOUCH YOU

It's useful to first separating your sentimental objects and papers into four categories:

HAPPY -- mementoes of positive accomplishments, joyous personal occasions, fun times, and loving relationships

SAD -- remembrances of poignant milestones, deceased loved ones, personal transitions, and wisdom gained from painful life processes

GOOD -- stuff that is potentially useful or even monetarily valuable, but otherwise not particularly meaningful

BAD -- reminders of upsetting incidents, unpleasant events, or unfinished business

FOLLOW THE RULES

Now that you've inventoried your sentimental stuff, I can finally reveal to you my GOLDEN RULE of Memorabilia Management:

"Keep only your most special Happy and Sad items; get rid of all Good and Bad ones."

GOOD ISN'T GOOD

Sentimental stuff that's "Good" tends to be a major clutter contributor. But because it has a sentimental scent to it, so to speak, it can seem HARDER to part with. Yet that's precisely why it's so freeing when you do cut the emotional cord -- you will feel a wonderful sense of lightness, as though you've been released from bonds you didn't know were binding you.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS

Right about now you may be thinking, "My things are different / valuable / special! Also, so-and-so would never forgive me if I ever got rid of the ____ they gave me." The CHOICE is yours. Ultimately you will keep what you want to keep, so don't waste time justifying your choices or making excuses. Just try to let go of anything you feel ready to shed, and keep moving forward.

ONLY WHAT YOU HAVE SPACE FOR

Obviously, the amount of space you feel comfortable devoting to your memorabilia will DICTATE how much of it you can keep. Saving only the memorabilia you have space for requires making difficult CHOICES -- choices you'd prefer not to make. But sometimes we need to shock ourselves into making choices that we're not used to making.

THE FIRE FANTASY

I've lost count of how many clutter sufferers have said to me, "Sometimes I wish it would all just burn up!" Of course, no one really wants a fire to happen. But I think this "fire fantasy" is symbolic of how DESPERATE so many people feel about their clutter. You just wish the detritus of delayed decisions and the overflow of opportunities and obligations would simply vanish in a puff of smoke so you wouldn't have to DEAL with them.

EASY-TO-MAINTAIN SYSTEMS

How many storage containers you need will depend on:

how much SPACE you've allocated
the TYPES of stuff you've chosen to keep
how MUCH stuff you're planning to keep

Of course, you don't have to use plastic storage containers. You can obtain antique or old-style cedar chests and other kinds of wooden trunks -- or archival-quality cardboard BOXES. Furniture with DRAWERS work well for storing many types of mementoes; it's particularly effective to assign one drawer per category.

PURGE REGULARLY

The key to maintaining any memorabilia management system is to establish an annual purge. This is when you spend at least one afternoon to lovingly revisit your sentimental stuff, either alone or with family. The purpose of the ritual is to allow you to REMINISCE as you weed out stale mementoes -- a great way to make room for next year's memories. Focus on keeping only the best and most REPRESENTATIVE items from the past year.

Excerpted from Chapter 6 of "Let Go of Clutter" (2001, McGraw-Hill) by Harriet Schechter. All Rights Reserved. Harriet Schechter (a.k.a. "The Miracle Worker") is an internationally acclaimed organizing and time management expert, author, and speaker. Since 1986 Harriet has helped thousands of people conquer chaos and clutter. She is the author of three books, has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, and has been featured and quoted in dozens of publications. You may visit her web site at www.MiracleOrganizing.com.

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