The Papers (and Other Stuff) of Our Lives
The Papers (and Other Stuff) of Our Lives
I have a problem.
I like to keep papers. I kept them at the office for 43 years, and now have kept them at my home for (when did I retire?) almost 6 years ago.
Melodie, it is time to clean the stash. Let go.
My husband has myriad bolts he won’t let go of, he might need them some day. But do I really need to keep the Mennonite Convention papers from 30 years ago because I might need to know what seminar or workshop to go to next. Those were precious, wonderful, fun, and explorative years. I loved going to conferences, going to seminars, collecting papers and mementos. But do I need to keep an office newsletter (See the “Alert” below) from 1975? Um … Melodie, you have a problem.
Do you have a problem too? Write to me, I will love it and probably keep your email or letter for 20 years. Until I die.
Okay, I’m 73. Do I really want my kids to have to decide what to keep and what to throw? I remember when my dear mother began throwing stuff away, I was surprised about some stuff. Truth be told, I have some of her keepsakes. My sisters and daughters do too. And that’s okay, to a certain extent. But oh paper. Paper paper paper. It will go. Soon.
Some things have gone to a local Mennonite & Brethren Heritage site. I gave them them freedom to throw the stuff they didn’t want. Some items have gone to local libraries and Elkhart, Indiana archives. We like to be remembered. Our work likes to be savored. Especially writers who write things down. Like now.
But here goes:
[Melodie closes her eyes and plops some old old columns into a very black plastic bag and takes them to the dump. One chore done. Many more to come.]
You know what? It feels pretty good to be finally getting rid of some things. Decluttering, they call it, yes? I still have plenty of things to hang on to but slimming down our closets and garage and basement … pretty nice. And you know what else? I can keep things I’ve written here on the blog forever and ever if I want to. Oh yeah, my kids will have to delete some stuff. Some day.
For now, I need to go throw some more papers.
One daughter and husband recently talked their sons into allowing a darling little “play kitchen” that they had given their oldest son when he was just two, I think, to be given away. But when the three boys (now 11, 9, and 6) realized they’d be giving it to the little cousin they adore, they were happy–even excited–to do so.
That little two-year-old girl cousin is eating it up. She loves it. She serves tea in very tiny metal cups to her dad while he works at his job in their home.
Oh the beauty of passing things on.
(The cat finds it interesting, too.)
What do you need to get rid of?
What have you gotten rid of that was difficult?
How do you choose?
findingharmonyblog 
Melodie, If it’s a paper or item you cherish but know you shouldn’t keep, take a photo of it on your phone, and created an album for those kinds of photos.
In the last ten years, my sisters and I have gone through mountains of paper and other stuff in my mother’s and my aunt’s houses. All of it enticed me to read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. You read all of my blog posts (Bless you!), so I know you’ve read this one.
At the moment, we have way too much stuff even though when we moved nine years ago, we got rid of lots. On a bedroom dresser, I have this wise nugget: “To save, one must value, and to throw out, one must value moving on.” ~ Mary Peacock
I’m glad to be in the company of others who have a hard time saying goodbye to certain things. And yes, taking photos of things is a wonderful way to keep those precious things of the past in our lives.
We enjoyed sharing many items from Mom’s stuff with others in the family, and there were family members who were happy to get the extra furniture that some of the rest of us didn’t need.
Bruce, you’re brilliant! I have thought of that in the past but haven’t used it in this go round. Great reminder, thanks!