It’s almost Valentine’s Day! This is the time we show special people how much we care about them. Depending where you are and where you are in your life, you may receive just a few cards and gifts or a ton.
If you have small children, they will make you gifts and cards. If you are a teacher, you will receive cards from your students. You might have a secret pal give you gifts at work. Special friends may send you fun cards. A special someone in your life may give you a card and a gift.
Nice.
Now, let’s think of someone 60+ years of age. What if they kept every card, every gift, every dried flower or deflated balloon? Wow! That would be overpowering.
I have heard clients say, “But, my friends made these things for me. My friends put a lot of thought into these gifts. I love the reminders that people care for me.”
This is a very personal decision, but I am pretty sure you don’t want to dedicate a whole room to storing these items.
Consider these options:
Chose the most special mementos – like the year your son wrote his own special poem in the card or your mother wrote you a special note – then box them up in a lovely box and label them. Put them away on a shelf and revisit them once a year.
Spread out your favorite gifts and cards and take a picture of them. Then let them go.
Make a collage of the best cards and bring it out for decoration each Valentine’s Day.
Pass on old cards to schools or nursing homes so that they can re-purpose them in projects.
Keep in mind that if you toss out a card that your mother or child gave you 25 years ago, you are not tossing out the person or the love for that person. By all means keep a couple of cards, but not all.
Letting go of some of the memorabilia will clear up space for more happy memories to come your way.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Jonda S. Beattie Professional Organizer
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