Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Managing Memorabilia

Memorabilia, reminders of our past activities and reminders of those we love, are often the most difficult clutter culprits to discard. They are so laden with memories and emotional associations! Why else would crumbling flowers and dusty plaques occupy so much valuable space in our lives? There is no denying the warm feelings that flood each of us as we gaze at old love letters and hold in our hands the musty stuffed animal a special someone won for us at the fair, or relive the thrill that accompanied the winning of a coveted trophy. But often these items are packed away to rust and decay. They will not see the light of day until we are gone and a surviving relative unpacks our hidden treasures wondering what in the world prompted Grandpa to hang on to a broken hammer and an empty bag of Fritos. What had personal meaning for Grandpa becomes fodder for speculation as it is tossed in the trash.

So how do we bring some dispassionate organization to this very personal clutter?

Here a few things our clients have found helpful in clearing and organizing memorabilia.

Ask yourself “Do I really need to keep this object?” If you have a bowling trophy from your first league game at age 10 and the bowling ball and the bowling shirt, can you take a picture of the grouping and let go of the items? This will allow you to have the visual proof of the experience and will be a lot easier to hold as you relate the story to friends and relatives.

Ask yourself, “Is this an item I would like to give to a friend or relative for whom it will have meaning? A hand embroidered sampler may be truly appreciated by a younger family member. A set of golf clubs that have gone unused for years may be an incentive for a new activity for someone who is considering learning the sport. If you cannot think of a particular recipient for the item, you might invite some friends and relatives over to select items for themselves. Sharing the meaning of important objects in your lifetime is a gift to yourself. You might even attach a brief written description of the item and its significance.

A good example of this is a rocking chair my mother-in-law, Virginia, gave my daughter when she was pregnant with her first child. The story that went with the rocker was that it was a gift from Virginia’s father-in-law, a man who seldom gave gifts, when she was pregnant with her first child. The signs of wear on the chair arms were a result of the older children holding on as subsequent babies were comforted by the rocking of the chair. Now, as my daughter rocks her baby, she shares that memory passed on from her grandmother.

Consider displaying items in ways that will give you enjoyment. A display box of collected pins might be a colorful decoration in the den, a shadowbox table top may hold significant collectibles, a quilt fashioned of children’s clothing could tell a tale of special events in the child’s life and warm your legs as you watch TV.

If you are dealing with inherited memorabilia, ask yourself, “Am I holding on to this only to honor a memory of a loved one?” If you are, consider selling the items languishing in storage and donating the proceeds to a charity in the deceased’s name.

When you are sorting memorabilia, deal with each item as quickly as possible. If some things are too painful to handle set them aside and revisit them later. It helps to have an objective friend or professional organizer to ask questions and provide feedback during the difficult process of organizing treasures with such personal meaning.

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.com

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