What do an empty Rainbow Bread bag, red dirt from Oklahoma, and a 45 RPM of Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” have in common? They’re all things I discovered in my memorabilia bins. Being sentimental may seem contrary to being an organizer, but I find it gives me empathy with my clients as they sort through their own assemblage of keepsakes.
Sorting memorabilia meets more resistance than most organizing projects. Julie Holland, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, acknowledges that it’s normal to hold on to meaningful possessions. "Sentimental clutter is the adult equivalent of a teddy bear," says Holland. By the way, you can add teddy bear to the bread bag, red dirt, and record list.
During the pandemic, I’ve embarked on my back-burner project of organizing my keepsake bins. Maybe it’s time for yours to move to the front burner too. Here are some Timely Tips from my journey down Memory Lane.
Timely Tips - for Memory Lane reconstruction
Why take the time to organize memorabilia?
There are precious memories I’d like to revisit. When faced with decades of anniversary, Mother’s Day, and birthday cards, it's not an enjoyable stroll down memory lane.
I don’t want to burden my kids. If I get bored doing it, which I have at times, I can only imagine what it would be like for my kids after I’m gone.
It opens up space. I’m reducing my number of bins—yay!
It connects me with others. During the process I took pictures of fun things from the past and texted them to friends and family. Like the Mother’s Day card from my son when he was young which read, “You’re as pretty as a cow.” To his defense I had a cow collection back then. A blast from the past can be a good distraction during this challenging time.
What should I keep?
What sparks joy? Marie Kondo talks a lot about keeping things that “spark joy.” I found this to be a good measure with keepsakes. I let go of things that aroused memories of struggles or were simply benign.
Keep a sampling. The drawback to Kondo’s criteria is that every Mother’s Day card where my kids wrote about how great I was, sparked joy. When that happens, I gather the cards together and chose a sampling from each. I’ve also kept kept a sampling of things from my grandparents. A couple rocks my grandfather tumbled, one page from his journal, and one apron from each grandma (see pics below). The sampling idea is an excellent solution for collections too.
Remember it’s ongoing. Each time I go through things I let go of a little more. With the kids’ college days long gone, three folders went out this round. Don’t hold back from letting go if you’re ready to, but also don’t feel like you have to pare down to nothing on the first go-round.
How to keep it?
Use it. Whenever possible I put my keepsakes to use so they’re not tucked in the back of a closet somewhere. My granddaughters play dress-up with my mom’s old costume jewelry and make mud soup with my grandma’s red and white pots and pans. My daughter and I wear my grandmas' aprons every Thanksgiving when we bake pies. I keep a photo of them wearing their aprons in the apron pockets.
“Spontaneous Reminiscing” One of my clients puts sentimental cards into the books on her bookshelf so she can be “surprised” by them at a later date.
Display it. A shadowbox displays my grandfather’s tumbled rocks, diary page, grandma’s birthstone pin, and quilt square. My son's old Tonka truck decorates the yard outside my kitchen window. My teddy bear sits atop the guest bed.
Store it. I use a small antique suitcase that belonged to my aunt to store some keepsakes. Others are stored in decorative flip-top storage boxes. All are labeled so that it’s clear which era or type of keepsakes are stored inside.
Book it. Phase two of my keepsake organizing includes photographing items and creating digital photo books. This is a beautiful and space-saving way to remember the past.
“My Most Treasured Things” My goal is to single out my most treasured keepsakes (that aren’t used/displayed) and put them in a special bin labeled as such. Then, at the time of my passing, my kids will know they are free to discard everything else without feeling obligated to look through it all.
Wise Words
Make choices about your possessions that feel right to you, and remember that some objects are valuable not because of how much they’re worth but because they connect generations and preserve a familial bond. --Nicole Anzia